AMD powered NVv4 instance now certified for PTC Creo

[george_watkins]

PTC Creo 3D CAD software has been certified to run on NVv4 instances of Microsoft Azure, an announcement that opens the door to bring the many benefits of virtualization and the Cloud to design and manufacturing. This new certification means PTC Creo has been extensively vetted to assure that it does more than just run on NVv4, but that it delivers a fully optimized experience that preserves the productivity, responsiveness, and rich feature set that users expect.

More significantly, this important certification means that businesses which rely on PTC Creo for their design needs can now seriously consider taking full advantage of cloud-based virtualized desktops to enhance the flexibility of their workforce and encourage collaboration, while also better managing IT resources and expenditures.

Why NVv4 Matters

NVv4, the latest instance for Azure, brings important firsts to desktop virtualization powered from the Cloud. It’s the first instance that’s powered by 2nd Gen AMD EPYC processors and Radeon Instinct GPUs, making it possible to provision the computing resources needed for virtually any computing task, from common office applications to professional-caliber workstation platforms, entirely from the Cloud.

For the first time, it is possible to allocate a portion of the GPU, CPU and memory processing available to match the needs of specific categories of users, even sharing the resources of a single GPU, for example, among multiple users. This innovative approach is far more cost-effective than dedicating an entire, underutilized GPU to each user. In addition, NVv4 instances powered by AMD offer a license-free GPU architecture that delivers graphics and visual compute functions and workstation-caliber drivers with no surprise licensing fees.

2nd Gen AMD EPYC processors pack the NVv4 with many more vCPU cores than previous generations, providing more cores for better multi-tasking, greater performance in multi-threaded applications or deploy more users in WVD deployments.

PTC Certifications:

With certification by PTC, virtualized workstations NVv4 instances running on Azure further have the support of the critical workstation drivers that ensures a great user experience, performance, and reliability.

Azure, a New Landscape for Design

With virtualization, it becomes possible for designers, engineers, and other experts to tackle any task from anywhere --the office, the home office, or on the road-- using even modest hardware. Having both data and the PTC application tools in the Cloud ensures full, continuous access in almost any circumstances. 

Since the vital data for projects can be both stored in the Cloud or data center and processed remotely by NVv4, the only things sent to the user's device are the encrypted pixels needed to display the information and application environment. This has several major benefits.

• Globally-provision, on-demand Windows 10 desktops for CAD and design-engineering - NVv4-series offers user experience comparable to that of desktop and mobile workstations. End-user deployments can be scaled up or down with changes in staffing or other business demands or supporting ‘follow the sun’ resource utilization for global enterprises with connected teams.  

• Real-time collaboration & PLM – Centrally managed, collaborative design and manufacturing processes become much more efficient as teams communicate changes and modifications of the project data from multiple locations, seamlessly, without having to sync up large datasets before a design / review session.

• Reduce data transfer- When 3D data is stored in Azure in a Product Data Management (PDM) or Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system, large 3D assemblies will load much quicker as they are not pulled down from the Cloud to the local desktop.

• Beyond the design team – 3D data is not just for design, engineering, and manufacturing; increasingly, it’s also needed by those in PLM, PDM, procurement, sales, marketing, operations and maintenance to help drive smarter decisions or to generate 3D assets.

• Robust Cloud Security – NVv4’s security focused, SR-IOV-based GPU virtualization couples with the obsessive security measures in Azure together offers a tightly secured environment where project data existing anywhere in the system – including in GPU memory while 3D models are being worked on- are fully protected. In fact, the only thing that leaves the data center is encrypted pixels data which is streamed to display on the user’s screen. Remote desktop approached ensure that sensitive project data never needs to be distributed outside of the datacenter.

• Great user experiences from the Cloud – NVv4’s powerful CPU, GPU and memory resources make this platform ideal for designer-engineers who deal with 2D & 3D CAD, visualization, and simulation workloads. Users can enjoy a smooth and responsive experience helping to enhance workplace productivity.

• Move to flexible OPEX mode: Since the virtual desktops are in effect, rented it means IT operations can switch from a rigid CAPEX spending model, requiring the purchase of server hardware, to a flexible OPEX model, paying for cloud-based services on a monthly basis and adjusting as dictated by needs.

Workforce flexibility and business agility is essential for today’s unpredictable trading environments and moving to a virtualized IT deployment can help support businesses with this requirement. With certification by PTC for NVv4, it means businesses that have Creo at the heart of their design engineering functions can feel confident in moving their vital teams to cloud without the concern of delivering a sub-par workstation experience.

For more resources:

• PTC platform support: Link
• NVv4 Microsoft GA blog: Link
• NVv4 pricing: Link
• AMD.com/Nvv4: Link
• NVv4 for Design and Manufacturing: Link

George Watkins is a Product Marketing Manager for AMD. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies, or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.