Help with network decision

I am a Cad Manager with approx. 180 standalone licenses of various Autodesk products. I have determined that with a network version I could cut the license count potentially in half. The question is this:

We have a central server in our Corporate office that is tied to seven division offices through a WAN. From time to time, the line will get cut which means that division can't get to the Corporate server for a day or two. Also, the server may be down for maintenance as well.
Is there a way to make sure the division won't be without access to Autocad during this time?? We are runnung 2005 based products. (Soon to go to 2006).

Also, what is this Virtual Server??
Thanks for any help.

 

Hi,

Depending on your situation you can either use redundant or distributed
license servers.
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=2893785&linkID=2475323

To have good control on the license usage you might also want to take a look
at JTB FlexReport.

--
Best Regards, Jimmy Bergmark
CAD and Database Developer Manager at www.pharmadule-emtunga.com
Blog: http://jtbworld.blogspot.com
JTB FlexReport (FLEXnet / FLEXlm report tool) -
www.jtbworld.com/jtbflexreport
SmartPurger (Purges automatically) - www.jtbworld.com/?/smartpurger.htm
or download some freeware at www.jtbworld.com
More on AutoCAD 2005 and 2006
www.jtbworld.com/autocad2005.htm
www.jtbworld.com/autocad2006.htm

 

But those options still don't solve the problem. We have to have access to the software at all times. We can't afford downtime. The distributed server scenario defeats the purpose of substantially being able to reduce your license count on subscription. The redundant server won't work for our network setup. If the software could be run for 24-48 hours without a network connection it would be acceptable.
We have Wan lines cut from time to time. Is there not another solution??

 

You may have missed the key point of Distributed server License Management.
All users can check out licenses from any of the servers.
The license manager is distributed in order to have functioning managers when a server is unavailable.
If your network is so unreliable that you must work locally and only check-in periodically the you can "Borrow" a license from the manager and then not worry about connectivity.

John Postlewait
IS Department
George Butler Associates, Inc.

 

Our seven divisional servers are tied to the central server at our Corporate office but are not connected together otherwise. If the connection is severed to the Corporate server, they can't see the other servers in the other divisions. Will their internal server give them access to all the licenses??

 

Good points, John. You can also equip "mission critical" users with a modem
and VPN account. If the WAN goes down those users can VPN into a site with
an active license server and obtain a license either for a session or just
borrow it until the WAN is back up.

 

Out of curiousity - is the connectivity using Frame Relay or VPN?

MD