Best Way to Set Small Group of Workstations Up

[Joblack]

We have a small office with 4 workstations and would like some input on the preferred method to set the new network for using three licences, bearing in mind that we would like to keep things simple, reliable and secure.
We would like to have the licences fetched from the server, as this is more flexible from a usage point of view.
At the moment we are using Win 2000 on all the workstations and are also using a workstation as a server for the model files, would this be the way to go on the new setup?.
As far as OS software is concerned should we go for Win2000 server, XP, XP64?.
Would there be a problem using one of the workstations as the server as we are now, or would it be better having a dedicated PC doing this job, ie what happens if the server workstation bombs out, does it cause problems with the open files from the other workstations.
Any other input on this would appreciated, thanks.

 

[DBezaire]

1 pc as your file server will improve performance. OS on the server is not as important as OS on the workstations. The server should be running server OS, not a version of 2000 workstation with a shared drive. What type of hardware are you using? CPU, amount of ram, graphics card...


Regards,
Derek

 

[catiajim]

As for licenses, you will need to use LUM (License Use Manager) to share these out. You will also need to make sure that your licenses are shareable, not node locked. These are usually more expensive licenses.

 

[solid7]

You will also need to make sure that your licenses are shareable, not node locked. These are usually more expensive licenses.

Actually, no, they aren't. The difference in price is not in nodelocked vs. concurrent licensing, but shareable vs. add-on.

OK, now that seems like I'm saying the same thing, but I'm really not.

Nodelocked = matched to target ID of using machine
Concurrent = distributed over license server. (used on any machine)

The Nodelocked license and Concurrent BOTH require the customer to provide the target ID of the *license server*. There is no price difference.

Shareable = licenses that can be used in conjunction with any license setup. (i.e. - an ST1 that can be used with any base package)
Add-on = licenses that are added to a base configuration, and can only be used as a bundle. (i.e. - HD2+ST1)

Shareable licenses ARE more expensive. (as you stated) Concurrent licenses that are distributed over LUM are not.

I believe that you can also use Nodelocked licenses over LUM, albeit only on their intended machine.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Catia Design|Catia Design News|Catia V5 blog

 

[Joblack]

DBezaire; at the moment we are using generic machines with AMD cpu's with 1 gig of ram, graphics are also generic gforce cards with 64 to 128mb of memory. Also, how will a dedicated pc acting as a file server increase performance?, as I was thinking that it would only be more convenient from a security and stability point of view.
As far as the workstation network interface cards are concerned can we use the standard 100Mbps or is it entirely necesary to get the network up to 1Gbps.
Solid7; thanks for clarifying, we will be using the "Concurrent" licences over LUM.

 

[DBezaire]

Catia occupies most system resources, adding file management would degrade the both file server and system accessing files. You may want to max out the ram in your machines.

Regards,
Derek

 

[solid7]

Joblack - I would not recommend anyone to use a workstation as a license server, unless that person is the only one using the other machines on the network.

You can use virtually ANY machine as a license server, and it doesn't have to be fancy. It's only serving the license, after all. So put up an old machine that's on the consignment block. It doesn't even matter what it's relationship is to the rest of the network.

Word of advice, however - In my experience, LUM runs smoother with direct binding by IP, and NOT by machine name.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Catia Design|Catia Design News|Catia V5 blog

 

[PeterGuy]

Machine name will work fine for LUM, but it will depend on the correct operation of your name resolution services (DNS,WINS,Hosts file, NetBios, etc.) As this would appear to be a very small network without a "proper" server using the hosts file might be the best bet.