DCV Server Test

A DCV (Desktop Cloud Visualization) server, a.k.a, Amazon DCV (formerly known as NICE DCV) is a high-performance remote display protocol that lets you securely deliver remote desktops and application streaming from any cloud or data center to any device, over varying network conditions. A DCV server running on the target host connects to DCV client running on a user device to deliver high-quality, low-latency remote desktops and applications via Amazon DCV. The DCV server enables the isolation of individual user sessions in the AWS AppStream Multi-session environment while maintaining performance and security, ensuring that one user’s session does not impact another user’s session.

One of the key factors that influence user experience in the AWS AppStream Multi-session environment while applications are remotely streamed is high roundtrip time experienced by the user while connecting to the desktops/applications via Amazon DCV protocol. High round trip time can often slowdown access to applications/desktops, thereby leading to noticeable delays when users interact with the application, affecting productivity and user satisfaction. Hence, monitoring the round trip time when the users access the applications via Amazon DCV protocol is of utmost importance! This can be easily achieved using the DCV Server test.

This test monitors the target host and reports the count of Amazon DCV connections and sessions that are currently active on the host. This test also measures the time taken by the request made by the user to the applications on the target host and receive the response via Amazon DCV protocol. This helps administrators to quickly detect the delays in the transmission due to high round trip time (RTT) and enables them to take necessary actions to minimize RTT to reduce overall latency, improve the interactivity of streamed applications and enhance overall user experience.

Target of the test : An AWS AppStream Multi-session Host

Agent deploying the test : An internal agent

Outputs of the test : One set of results for the AWS AppStream Multi-session Host that is being monitored

Configurable parameters for the test

Parameters	Description
Test Period	How often should the test be executed.
Host	The host for which the test is to be configured.
Port	The port at which the target host listens.

Measurements made by the test

Measurement	Description	Measurement Unit	Interpretation
Active connections	Indicates the number of Amazon DCV connections that are currently active on the target host.	Number
Active sessions	Indicates the number of Amazon DCV sessions that currently active on the target host.	Number
Total connections since server started	Indicates the total number of Amazon DCV connections that have been made to the target host since the host started.	Number
Total sessions since server started	Indicates the total number of Amazon DCV sessions that have been established on the target host since the host started.
Idle disconnections	Indicates the number of Amazon DCV connections disconnected after a period of inactivity.	Number
Minimum round trip time	Indicates the minimum time allowed for a packet of data to travel between the client device (where the user interacts with the application) and the target host through Amazon DCV.	Seconds
Round trip time	Indicates the time taken by a packet of data to travel between the client device (where the user interacts with the application) and the target host through Amazon DCV.	Seconds	Ideally, the value of this measure should be lower than or equal to the value of the Minimum round trip time measure . A high value for this measure is indicative of a connection bottleneck.
HTTP download rate	Indicates the rate at which the data is downloaded via the HTTP protocol while streaming the applications via Amazon DCV.	Kbps	A high value is preferred for this measure. A low value for this measure is an indication of low network bandwidth, excessive load or high network latency and round-trip time (RTT).
HTTP download	Indicates the amount of data downloaded via the HTTP protocol while streaming the applications via Amazon DCV.	KB
Data received rate	Indicates the rate at which the data is received while streaming the applications via Amazon DCV from the target host.	Kbps
Data received	Indicates the amount of data received while streaming the applications via Amazon DCV from the target host.	KB
Data send rate	Indicates the rate at which the data is transferred while streaming the applications via Amazon DCV from the target host.	Kbps
Data sent	Indicates the amount of data transferred while streaming the applications via Amazon DCV from the target host.	KB