Insight Hardware Requirements for 11,000 CAD Files?

[ct27gt]

I have been looking into Insight recently and am seriously considering pitching this to management. We already have all of the necessary tools to accomplish this, so the only cost should be the labor involved with implementation and cleaning up CAD data.

We have:
Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows SQL Server 2008 R2

What we would need:
Install Sharepoint Foundation 2010
Install Insight Server

Any idea on what hardware requirements would be for 11,000 CAD files (over 13 years, might not even put all of them in the database) on this setup? Also, is the GTAC Insight Implementation guide (not SESP guide) good ? I keep seeing the "Follow the GTAC Step by Step Instructions" pop up in various posts, but don't know what that is or where to find it?

 

[bshand]

I would definitely recommend using the support services of your reseller or GTAC to get you started. To me there is a lot of arcane $hit to implement.

 

[bshand]

Also, instead of inputting all legacy data start with making new projects managed. If you need to revise or copy old products then you can decide on whether to use Insight for them.
If, in the process of modeling a new project, you find you can use models from your legacy database, whether designed, vendor supplied, or standard hardware, you can copy those items to your Insight database while leaving non-Insight versions in place for the legacy database. Just be careful not to get mixed up on which is which. Don't use Windows Explorer to open, move, copy or otherwise manage Insight data.

 

[ct27gt]

Thanks, bshand. That would be the plan. Only put new/current projects in the database and leave the legacy ones alone. Will move legacy project folders as deemed necessary. I am in the process of setting up a conference call between Siemens, our IT guy, and myself.

Do you have any information on implementation sources besides the "Insight Implementation Guide"?

 

[bshand]

ct27gt,
No I don't know of more or better info than that. I find that guide full of info that assumes a lot of prior knowledge about server issues, sequel, sharepoint, and various IT issues that I didn't or don't have. I just end up with more questions than when I started. There is no "getting started" type of guide that I'm aware of. A step by step, explanatory guide would be very welcome. "Insight Implementation for Idiots" I guess. I'd buy it were it available.
Write things down that people say in these meetings and make clear that you do or don't understand what is being said and get good explanations.
I think once you get it going you'll be pleased with having a "managed" SE system. But it does involve a new learning curve and a set of knowledge that a design/engineering person may not have.
Good luck but hope you don't need a lot of it.
Feel free to ask me stuff. I may or may not be able to help.
Bruce

 

[ct27gt]

Appreciate the responses Bruce.
Well I had the call this morning between myself, our VAR (Acuity Solutions, Inc.), and our IT tech and it is looking very optimistic as far as hardware is concerned. Just some minor upgrades are needed for everything that we need.

I have a quote request through our VAR for help with implementation and a half a day to a day of training for our Insight users. I am guessing this is going to be very expensive considering it will most likely be through Siemens.

Have you experienced implementation without the help of your VAR? Can it be done? Convincing management will be much easier if myself and our IT tech can implement it, because that will drive the price WAY down.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[bshand]

No, I haven't ever implemented it without help and I don't think I could or would want to try. Whether it's because of my own limitations or other things, witnessing the "experts" doing what they do left me reeling at times. Like I said there is a lot of arcane tweaking involved and if something doesn't go smoothly or work at all good luck figuring it out.
You may be able to find an independent person who knows the ropes but SE experts are somewhat rare. If your VAR is quoting for implementation why do you think it will be through Siemens? Or did the VAR tell you that?
Now training for Insight users may not really be necessary or at least shouldn't take much time. Well, it could take time if you have the luxury of paying for training. Users that are new to PDM need to learn the concepts behind it and proper (though imperfect) tools for managing the data and maintaining links, getting the concept of a cache, etc. They would need to put aside the use of Windows Explorer for example and learn how to use Revision Manager and Sharepoint. Administration training could be more extensive. I have never had it and can handle many aspects but I would still appreciate some training.

 

[ct27gt]

Thanks Bruce. Yes, our VAR said they were going to contact someone from Siemens, so I am expecting a pretty high price. They don't seem to have any inside capability for Insight implementation. I definitely agree with you though, that I would be more willing to pay for implementation help than actual Insight training. I have been practicing lately with the data prep tools so I can easily transition some of our current projects. I will leave the legacy ones alone. The plan would be for me to use Insight as a pilot and once I feel like I have good grasp on everything, quickly transition files and concurrently train to minimize downtime and the headache of a different user interface.

One thing I am struggling most with is how to find data that does not have any drawing references. We have multiple parts and assemblies that don't reference drawings, so I would like to clean up that clutter during the transition. Are you aware of a way to quickly find files that don't have references to drawings besides selecting each one individually? Maybe its better to transition it into the database, then use the quick searching tools within the database to weed out files that don't have any drawing references?

 

[bshand]

The user interface isn't terribly different. You still use SE's "open" function and RevMan works the same way. You just can't really use Windows Explorer. Although an irritant is that Explorer has right-click functionality to open a file in RevMan whereas sharepoint doesn't. Not a fan of the sharepoint interface. There's no where-used from it either.
Not sure what the problem is with parts that don't have drawing references but I do not know of a batch way to detect them.
A good place to bring up stuff like this is

http://community.plm.automation.siemens.com/t5/Solid-Edge-Forum/bd-p/solid-edge-forum.

Sometimes someone will provide with a tool or macro to do what you need.