Remote graphics unit

RGUs have been mostly associated with high end workstations running Unix-like operating systems or Windows since the late 1990s.

Generally RGUs are used for special applications like remote sensing, financial services commodity trading desks, computer-aided design, etc.

Unlike other technologies used to achieve this, such as KVM Extension (or Remote KVM) and DVI Extension for example, a remote graphics unit will effectively split a computer's PCI or PCI-Express bus and transmit only bus commands over to the user side.

An example of a product line that was commercialized using RGU as the description of the technology is the Matrox Extio series.

Various types of bus extension technologies are available including the DeTwo System from Amulet Hotkey as well as products from Avocent.