---
type: concept
title: Virtual Desktop Systems
tags: [vdi, remote-desktop, gui]
related: [apphub]
created: 2026-06-30
updated: 2026-06-30
sources: ["output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_allgemein_sonstiges_high_performance_computing_apph.md"]
---

# Virtual Desktop Systems

**Virtual Desktop Systems** (often referred to as Virtual Desktop Infrastructure or VDI) provide a complete remote desktop environment that is streamed to a user's browser. Unlike a simple web app, this provides a full OS-like interface.

## Use Cases
Virtual desktops are used when software requires a complex Graphical User Interface (GUI) that cannot be easily translated into a web-native format. Examples include:
- **3D Modeling and Reconstruction:** Software like Blender or Metashape that requires GPU acceleration and a visual viewport.
- **Specialized Statistical Software:** Proprietary GUI-heavy tools like SPSS and Stata.

## Advantages
- **Device Independence:** Users can run high-end 3D or statistical software on low-powered devices (e.g., tablets or old laptops) because the rendering and processing occur on the server.
- **Centralized Licensing:** The institution can manage software licenses centrally on the server rather than deploying them to individual machines.
