NX Nastran 5 with WinXP64bit

[bfleck]

Is NX5 and NX Nastran 5 really suited for Windows 64-bit operating systems?
IBM Intellistation Z Pro
2 x Xeon 3GHz Dual Core Processors
4GB Ram
Win XP 64 SP2
Every day I constantly battle with the performance of NX5 whilst using the Advanced Simulation module. In fact, I have a system crash every day where the computer just freezes. This normally happens after the computer has been runing for some time (several hours) and when I either attempt to save the .sim file or close all parts.
I dont use a space ball either. Using other FE software in the past, I have had much better performance. Not sure how efficient algorithms for contact solving are compared to other codes.

 

[Xwheelguy]

I sure hope you're not running with SMP enabled because Siemens released the following software field bulletin a week or so ago (was dated as received on 3/20 in my Inbox yet it's dated the end of Feb.):

SFB-NX_Nastran-3750
Page 1 of 1
Issue Date: Feb. 29, 2008
Revision Date: Feb. 29, 2008
Supersedes: N/A
Submitted By: G. Grigsby
Responsible Group: NX Nastran
GTAC 800 # Options(s): 2, 5

SUBJECT: Results from SMP runs in NX NASTRAN are incorrect

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Affected Software: NX NASTRAN
Associated PR Number(s): 1645554
Scope: NX NASTRAN v5, v5.0.1, v5.1
Revision: 1.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The results from all SMP solutions run on either Windows XP64 or LP64
versions of Linux result in incorrect results. This defect affects all
solution sequences of NX NASTRAN running v5.0, v5.0.1, and v5.1. It does
not affect results from runs on other platforms nor does it affect older
versions of NX NASTRAN.

At this point the only workarounds available involve avoidance: The user
may choose to run non SMP solutions (i.e. running with PARALLEL=1), to run
on a different platform/architecture, or the user can elect to downgrade to
a previous version. A fix will be available with the v6.0 release.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
If any questions arise regarding this field bulletin, the
Global Technical Access Center may be contacted at:

All USA & Canada (800) 955-0000

If you are outside the United States and Canada, any questions
regarding this or any other SFB should be directed to your local
support office, quoting the SFB number.



Doesn't sound good at all....

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

Some people are like slinkies....they don't really have a purpose, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

 

[JohnRBaker]

bfleck,

Have you contacted GTAC yet with these issues? If not, please do so as there is very little that can be done with only what you've written.


John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
NX Design
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

 

[bfleck]

Thanks for your replies. I assume the setting parallel=1 is referring to the .rcf for Nastran. However, I do have SMP Enable=1 and parallel=4 set. It is unusual because after I submit a simulation I monitor the Task Manager feature (I was not aware of F04 file output). I do see 4 processors working occasionally and thought it was weird as I suspected that they should pretty much be at 100% until solution is complete. I was conducting a test today and found that the more RAM I specified for the solve, the slower the solution. Something is seriously wrong and I'm glad they GTAC may be onto something, but can I wait for v6.
I did not submit an official IR just yet over my problems as I discussed things with a Siemens rep last week and decided to look into hardware set up first.