Simplifying Multi-User SOLIDWORKS Implementations

Jared Conway
Product Manager – NVIDIA GRID VCA
Simplify Multiuser SOLIDWORKS
Installations
5 Steps to Setup NVIDIA GRID VCA

2
Agenda
 Introductions
 Installation/Implementation of SOLIDWORKS
 Current Installation Methods
 NVIDIA GRID VCA Introduction
 5 Steps to Implement NVIDIA GRID VCA
 Summary
 Questions

3
Introductions
 Jared Conway, Product Manager - NVIDIA GRID VCA
– 9 years with Hawk Ridge Systems.
– Also manage HRS’ Analysis Services group.
– Previously held positions of Applications Engineer and
Technical Support Manager.
– “Seen it all”, technical sales, training, technical support and service.
– Mostly focused on Simulation/COSMOS but also dabbled in
SOLIDWORKS, with a focus on licensing, installation,
implementation, hardware and performance.
– “Techy”, the guy everyone calls to fix their computer.

4
Installation/Implementation of SOLIDWORKS
 Installation
“Installation of a computer program, is the act of making the program ready for
execution. Because the process varies for each program and each computer,
programs often come with an installer, a specialized program responsible for
doing whatever is needed for their installation.”
 Implementation
“A product software implementation method is a systematically structured
approach to effectively integrate a software based service or component into the
workflow of an organizational structure or an individual end-user.”
 True of all Software, Bane of IT, Necessary Evil in Modern
Engineering Design Environment

5
Installation/Implementation Planning Criteria
 What software? (Just SOLIDWORKS or also add-ins or
other types of customization?)
 Number of users?
 How many locations? (Can installation be centralized?)
 Who will execute the installation/implementation? (Users?
IT? CAD Administrator? Consultant?)
 How will it be maintained? (And by who?)
 How much automation is needed?

6
Current Installation Methods
 Individual Installation
 Administrative Image
 Command Line
– Including Active Directory and Alternatives like SCCM
 Resources
– support.hawkridgesys.com
– http://www.SOLIDWORKS.com/sw/support/Administration_guides/se
rvicepacks.html
– SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal > Knowledgebase

7
Individual Installation
 Tried, tested and true.
 Install from disk or download.
 Source can be shared on
network.
 Fully customizable per user.
 Straight forward process, follow screens step-by-step.
 Updates are done by user through download from internet.

8
Administrative Image
 For small to medium implementations but can be leveraged
in larger or smaller implementations.
 “Automates” the installation
manager.
 Options editor allows user and
implementation customization.
 Updates applied by admin/IT,
pushed out to user automatically.
 Deployment can be automated, silent and pushed to client.

9
Command Line
 Not for the faint at heart, requires knowledge of script
generation.
 Requires every component
and option to be scripted.
 Use of Active Directory, SCCM or other tools for actual
deployment is common. But does not support all products.
 Scalability has potential to be greater than admin image.
 Updates also need to be scripted and deployed separately.

10
Current Installation Methods Summary
 Recommendations
– Individual > Small to Medium Groups, Implemented by Individuals
– Administrative Image > Small to Large Groups, Implemented by CAD
Admin
– CMD Line > Large Groups, Implemented by IT
Method Number Of
System
“Touches”
Time Per
System
Per System
Customizati
on
Difficulty Up-Front
Work
Individual Each High Total Low Minimal
Image Each,
Potentially
None
Minimal,
Potentially
None
Total Low To
Medium
Medium
CMD Line Potentially
None
Potentially
None
Total High High

11
New Installation Method – NVIDIA GRID VCA
CLOUD GAMING
GRID Gaming
ENTERPRISE VDI
GRID
Visual Computing
Appliance
GRID VCA

12
VCA, Visual Computing Appliance
CISCO ROUTER
A Networking Appliance
NETAPP NAS
A Storage Appliance
NVIDIA GRID VCA
A Visual Computing Appliance

13
NVIDIA GRID VCA Architecture

14
Workspace Architecture
Template Workspace
Windows 7
Applications
Workspace_1
Windows 7
Applications
GRID template workspace created on demand for each client connection
Workspace_2
Windows 7
Applications
Workspace_3
Windows 7
Applications
Workspace_4
Windows 7
Applications
Workspace_5
Windows 7
Applications
Workspace_6
Windows 7
Applications
Workspace_7
Windows 7
Applications
Workspace_8
Windows 7
Applications

15
Hardware Resources
GRID
Appliance
4 GRID K2 Graphics Boards (2 K5000 Graphics Chips Each)
2 8-Core Intel Xeon E5 2.6Ghz Processors
256 GB RAM
540 GB of SSD Storage
10GigE and 1GigE Ethernet
Per
Workspace
Quadro K5000 Graphics Card (4GB GPU RAM, 1,536 Cuda Cores)
8 Virtual Cores
30 GB RAM
60 GB of Shared Storage, 60 GB of Application Storage

16
NVIDIA GRID VCA as an Installation Method
 Installation manager level of knowledge or lower required
 Single touch to setup the template for multiple users
 Client installation is as simple as admin image deployment
 Updates/maintenance are done in a single location
 Per user customization is minimal but important aspects are
controllable

17
Additional Benefits of GRID VCA
 Issues due to client system variability essentially eliminated.
 Alternative clients, Mac, Linux, Windows XP and Windows
Vista.
 Security, files can be added but can’t be removed.
 CAD hardware consolidated, made available to all and on-
demand.
 Remote, could be accessed over LAN or WAN.
 “Always fresh” system.

18
GRID VCA Implementation Process
 Really no different than any other implementation process.
 Step 0, acquire GRID VCA(s) and arrange implementation
with HRS so we can walk you through the process.
 5 Steps
– 1. Plan.
– 2. Setup GRID VCA.
– 3. Create template.
– 4. Install clients and test.
– 5. Maintenance and up-keep.

19
1. Plan
 IT
– Rack space.
– Ethernet cable and available port.
– 2 static IP addresses.
– Network information.
– 2 120V or 240V power connections.
– Keyboard, monitor and mouse.
– Standard programs, list and copy to network.
– Microsoft Office licenses.
– (Optional) Storage.

20
1. Plan (Cont.)
 CAD Admin
– Copy the SOLIDWORKS installer onto the network.
– Document standard SOLIDWORKS configuration, file locations..etc.
– Make sure SOLIDWORKS network license manager is running.

21
2. Setup GRID VCA
 Unpack the hardware and install.
 Configure GRID networking.
 Activate windows.
 Randomize the MAC address.
 Accept GRID VCA EULA
 Set Operator Console Settings
– Set 1 GPU mode, concurrent sessions limit to 1, set idle/timeout and
document.

22
3. Create Template
 Enable Maintenance Mode.
 Connect to GRID VCA using GRID client. (More later)
 Map network drive and copy installers.
 Install supplementary programs like Adobe Acrobat, Adobe
Flash, alternative web browsers…etc.
 Install Microsoft Office
 Install SOLIDWORKS

23
3. Create Template (Cont.)
 Configure SOLIDWORKS settings (Default for each new
user).
– Templates and other file locations.
 ***Accept licensing agreements and disable updates.
Adobe, eDrawings, SOLIDWORKS…etc.***
 Customize and arrange desktop.
– Background, add shortcuts, hide/remove icons for programs not in
use..etc.
 Disable maintenance mode.

24
4. Install Clients and Test
 Go to client machine, open web browser, point to GRID IP
address, install client, configure user name, GRID IP and
user experience settings.

25
5. Maintenance and Up-Keep
 Keep a log of user requests.
 Plan and communicate downtime. (Similar to SNL Manager)
 Put together training program on how to access GRID and
internal FAQ.
 When new SOLIDWORKS updates or upgrades are
available, simply enable maintenance mode, update or
upgrade the software, disable maintenance mode and alert
users to the new version availability.

26
GRID VCA Implementation Process Summary
 1. Plan.
 2. Setup GRID VCA.
 3. Create template.
 4. Install clients and test.
 5. Maintenance and up-keep.

27
NVIDIA GRID VCA Summary
 Easily Access SOLIDWORKS From Anywhere, Anytime and
Almost Any Device
 Consolidate Your Hardware to a Single Location
 Leverage Your Licenses and Hardware to Maximum Extent
 Make Administration and Installation More Efficient
Consolidate Flexible Leverage Remote Convenient Efficient

28
Installation Methods Summary
Method Number
Of System
“Touches”
Time Per
System
Per
System
Customiza
tion
Difficulty Up Front
Work
Group
Type
Implemen
t
By
Individual Each High Total Low Minimal Small To
Medium
Individuals
Image Each,
Potentially
None
Minimal,
Potentially
None
Total Medium Low to
Medium
Small to
Large
CAD Admin
CMD Line Potentially
None
Potentially
None
Total High High Large IT
GRID VCA Each Low As
Required
Low/Mediu
m
Low to
Medium
8+ Users An
Individual
or CAD
Admin

Thank you for attending!
Your Name
Your TitleNVIDIA GRID VCA
solution specialist: Young Vo
email: youngv@hawkridgeys.com
telephone: 510.296.6537
product manager: Jared Conway
email: jared@hawkridgesys.com
telephone: 650.230.7006
Product Information:
http://www.hawkridgesys.com/products/nvidia/
HRS Technical Support
email: support@hawkridgesys.com
telephone (US): 877.266.4469
telephone (Canada): 866.587.6803
web: support.hawkridgesys.com
New & Existing Recorded Webinars:
http://www.hawkridgesys.com/events/recorded-
webinars/

Simplifying Multi-User SOLIDWORKS Implementations

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