The role of the archive server is to store and host the physical files that are saved into the file vault, as well as manage the users and their credentials for the SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional system. In order for a user to access the files, they must connect to one of the archive servers hosting the files.

This document discusses loading the archive server components and configuration of the archive server to access it.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional is used to manage design documents. The software used to control this data runs as a service on your Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2 (Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 are not supported in 2015 and later).

This is not a troubleshooting guide.  If you have any technical issues with SolidWorks, please contact Hawk Ridge Systems technical support.

This document is only to be distributed and used by Hawk Ridge Systems customers.  Any other use is prohibited.

©2016 Hawk Ridge Systems

Contents

2017 SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional Archive Server Install

SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional Archive Server

Before Installation

Root folder access

SQL user account

User and group accounts

Performing the Archive Server Installation

Opening Ports for Client/Server Communication

Adding Archive Servers in WAN Environment

Verifying That the Server Name Can Be Resolved

Configuring the Hosts File to Resolve the Server Name

SOLIDWORKS PDM PROFESSIONAL ARCHIVE SERVER

The archive server service runs from the system it is installed on in order to send and receive files from the users.

To reduce the chance of problems coming from attaching to the archive server, it is recommended that the server name is 15 characters or less.

BEFORE INSTALLATION

Set up the users, accounts and permissions required to complete the archive server installation.

Root folder access

Full access must be granted to the system account in order for it to create the folders and files in the designated root folder of the archive server. Alternatively, the root folder can be located on a network share as long as the archive server service has the ability to read and write files to it.

The log-on account can be changed in the service properties under the archive server service.

SQL user account

A SQL user with at least db_owner permissions to any existing file vault databases on the SQL server is required to relay information with the file vault.

Typically, the default sa account created during the SQL server installation is used.

User and group accounts

In order to specify the access rights for users and groups during the install, create them beforehand.

To use domain users, create a domain group on the controller containing the users who will be accessing the PDM vault.

• Add the domain group using the Find User or Group dialog during the install. Users will then populate into the PDM administration tool.
• Afterwards, you can add or change the user and groups using the Archive Server Configuration tool.

PERFORMING THE ARCHIVE SERVER INSTALLATION

1. Login to the system under a user that has local administrative rights.

   Insert your SolidWorks 2017 DVD or execute the “Setup.exe” file to begin the installation.

   You will be shown the following screen. Click the Server products radio button and Install SOLIDWORKS PDM SERVER as well as Install SolidNetWork License Manager if a 2017 version is not yet installed.

2. You may add the EPDM serial number in the SolidNetWork License Manager Screen.
3. Click on SOLIDWORKS PDM Server, Change
4. Select SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional (formerly Enterprise PDM) as well as Archive Server. You may select Database server and client as well if you wish to put these on this same machine.
5. You may now click Back to Summary and Install Now.

Once the initial installation has completed, complete the configuration using the following instructions:

1. On the Welcome Screen, click “Next.” 
2. Enter the company information in this next screen. Please note that this will have no effect on the EPDM software or its operation. 
3. This next screen shows the location of the install files. You may feel free to change this location. 
4. Choose to setup the “Server Installation” and click “Next.” 
5. Choose the “Archive Server” selection. Please also note that you may be able to install the Database Web, and License Server portions at this point, if you intend on doing so. 

Complete the installation using the following instructions:

1. Select Next on the welcome screen. 
2. Select the folder path to where the root folder of the PDM vault should be installed and select Next. 
3. Select a password for the default “Admin” user and select Next. 
4. Input the SQL user and login that PDM will use to log into the SQL server and select Next. 
5. Select the Windows accounts/groups that should have either normal or administrative access and selectNext. 
6. Choose the default login type for the PDM vault and select Next. 
7. Complete the installation by selecting Finish.  

OPENING PORTS FOR CLIENT/SERVER COMMUNICATION

Newer Windows operating systems (including Server, 7, and 8) have built-in software firewalls that are enabled by default. These features can restrict network access to applications requiring connections over the TCP/IP interface.

In order for the archive server to communicate with the client systems, TCP port 3030 must be fully opened by the firewall.

You should also open up the UDP port to allow the server to announce itself, by name, on the network. This means that the users will see the name of the server in the drop-down list.

The ports required to be open for the SQL server to talk with the client systems are TCP ports 1433 and 1434. SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional Web Server requires ports 80 and 443 to be open.

Microsoft disables outbound filtering by default. However, your administrators may have created outbound rules that restrict traffic to approved applications on your network. If the client or replicated server cannot reach the SQL or Archive server, ensure that the ports are not restricted in the firewall settings.

ADDING ARCHIVE SERVERS IN WAN ENVIRONMENT

SolidWorks PDM Professional clients are normally set up to communicate with the Archive and SQL server using the server system names. The names must be able to resolve to the correct IP addresses.

If the name lookup fails or is slow, it can cause the following problems:

• Clients cannot find the servers, a common issue when using subnets or WAN configurations.
• Performance degradation using EPDM such as logging in, browsing, or adding files.
• Archive Server replication failures.

Verifying That the Server Name Can Be Resolved

To ensure optimal performance, make sure that the DNS server configuration is set up to resolve names correctly and efficiently.

1. Open the command prompt by clicking Start à Run à CMD.
2. Type ping <server_name>.

If the server can be reached by name, a reply with the server IP address appears. For example:

PING SRV-DEV-15

Reply from 192.168.1.71: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

1. Verify that the correct IP is returned

If DNS returns the wrong IP address, a different system than the server responds.

If the server name cannot be resolved, the DNS server configurations is not correctly configured. For example:

PING SRV-DEV-15

Ping request could not find host SRV-DEV-15. Please check the name and try again.

Configuring the Hosts File to Resolve the Server Name

If the DNS servers cannot be configured or performance is still bad, update the client’s hosts file with the correct server name and IP address. This ensures that the hosts file is queried for the server address directly instead of waiting for the DNS name to resolve.

To configure the hosts file to resolve the server name:

1. On the SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional client, locate the Hosts file.

The default location is:

C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc\

1. Open the file in a text editor. (such as Notepad)
2. Add a new line and enter the server IP address followed by the server name.

For example:

192.168.1.71 SRV-DEV-15

1. Repeat Step 3 for any additional servers used by SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional
2. Save and close the hosts file.