Administrative images

I'm trying o get a line on advantages vs disadvantages of using an
administrative image to install solidworks over a network. Is there
anyone out there, preferably who is sucessfully using this option,
that would care to share insight on this?

I know there are various procedures for distributing the image. Are
there any that seem to be working smoothly?

Thanks for the help,
-C

 

We use admin images on any install that has 3 or more seats. The answer
really depends on what kind of permissions are setup on the network and
on the individual users workstations. But in all, it's really simple.
Install the admin image on a shared network drive, then go to each
workstation and run the exe file from their station. Updates are the
same way. Update the image then run the exe from the workstation. You
do not have to have physical access on the network drive you install the
image on.....

 

So you're saying you use the "go to the user's machine and launch the
executable over the network" method of distribution. That sounds
easier than a batch file emailed to users, but you have to go to
machines.

Does it bother you tht you can't roll back? Have you figured out how
to get around that?

Also, are you rinning add-ins, and do you patch those in the same way?

Thanks,
-C

 

I do the same at this company by going maching to maching launching
the exe. We have 7 users sharing 5 licenses. It works out fine. We
could roll back if needed but it would take plenty of work. It
doesn't bother me because I myself usually use/test the latest and
greatest on my machine for 2 weeks at least before sending to anyone
else. I also track this group after a new service pack to see if
there is any instant noise about a problem.

Ken

 

I have used an admin image to install and update 8 users here on
solidworks. I used the SWInstall utility on solidworks website to
setup a silent install. All the users have a shortcut to the
swinstall executable in their startup folder. It checks to see if
they are on the current version and if not, it upgrades the package.
There are a couple of things to watch out for. First, make sure
antivirus is turned off before running installs or upgrades. Second,
it seems to take much longer to upgrade the admin image vs. upgrading
a single computer. However, the upgrade from the admin image is fast.
Currently edrawings and other add-ins are not supported in the admin
image so they must be updated manually. Overall I am very pleased
with the admin images. I have read that others have had trouble, but
I've been lucky enough to not have any. I don't mind the fact that
you can't roll back a service pack. In my opinion, its quicker to
uninstall and reinstall. Hopefully, solidworks will add more features
for admins in the new version.

Mike Morris

 

for me, when I've used this method the seats have always been Office or
office professional seats. With the office, everything is taken care of
in the admin image. with professional I still have to do the pdmworks
seperatly. Same with edrawings....

Rollback hasn't been an issue...