Moving PDM Vault Archive Folders

This article outlines the steps needed to move PDM vault archive folders from one server to another or from one local drive to another on the same system. This may be useful for the following scenarios: 

• More disk space is needed.
• Hard drive issues - need to change hard drive.
• Server issues - need to change server.

The Vault can be moved using any one of the two methods below.

Method One

1. Make sure everyone is logged out of the Vault. Files do not have to be checked in.
2. On the Archive Server, open the Archive Server Configuration Tool:
   - On Windows 7 and Windows Server systems prior to Windows Server 2012, from the Windows Start menu, select All Programs > SOLIDWORKS PDM > Archive Server Configuration.
   - On Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 or later, on the Apps screen, under SOLIDWORKS PDM, click Archive Server Configuration.
   - Right-click the Archive Server Icon in the system tray and click Open.
3. Click on "This Computer", then in the right pane of the screen right click on the required Vault and select "Relocate" as illustrated below.
   
   
4. Click the Browse button, and select the folder you want to move the archive files to.
   
   
5. With the new folder selected, click OK.
   
   
   
6. You will see a pop up warning. Make sure that there are no users currently accessing the vault, then you can click OK to start the relocation.
   
   

Method Two

1.  Make sure everyone is logged out of the Vault. Files do not have to be checked in.
2.  Stop Archive Server Service temporarily as shown below.
   
   
   
3. Move the vault archive folder to the new drive (i.e. the folder named as the file vault, containing 16 subfolders A-F).
4. Update the server registry with new path under: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SolidWorks\Applications\PDMWorks Enterprise\ArchiveServer\Vaults\[vaultname]\ArchiveTable
   (Make sure each folder path is valid and points to the new location.)
5. If the original archive folder remains, please rename it or delete it to avoid server accidentally still using that location.
6. Restart the Archive Server Service as shown below.
   
   

Verify Move 

Once the archives are moved, verify that the updates were successful by adding new files to the vault - they should be added without any archive error (if you get an error, verify that you have updated the registry paths exactly as they should be).  Also try retrieving existing files (perform a  clear local cache before using the Get function to ensure they are retrieved from the archive server).

Note that if you are moving the archives to a (non-local) network share location instead,  you should use UNC paths.  You will also have to change the archive server service logon account to a user account that has full local administration permissions on the archive server.

If you have any questions regarding the information above, please contact Hawk Ridge Systems Technical Support at 1-877-266-4469  (US), 1-866-587-6803  (CAN), or support@hawkridgesys.com.