Multi-Site SolidWorks with PDMWorks

[Robbo1971]

Does anybody have any suggestions for using SolidWorks on a Multi-Site set-up so everybody can use the same set of parts from the database?

SolidWorks are pointing our company in the direction of PDMWorks Enterprise! any other suggestions?

 

[Standing]

Robbo1971,
We keep all our parts in PDM Vault. Then our other locations go over the intranet to get to the vault. It is very slow for them. Maybe your IT department could replicate the vaults in all locations every night. Bad idea I know, just thinking out load.

Bradley
SolidWorks Pro 2009 x64, SP2.0
PDMWorks Workgroup, SolidWorks BOM,
HP xw8600,
64-bit Windows Vista Business
Service Pack 1
Intel Xeon CPU, 3.00 GHz, 16 GB RAM, Virtual memory 166682 MB,
nVidia Quadro FX 4600 Driver 7.15.11.6956

 

[TheTick]

I believe SmarTeam is better equippied to handle multi-site PDM like this.

 

[Standing]

Yes, that maybe true. Doesn’t SmarTeam cost a lot and training time is high. Also SmarTeam I think is always a year behind SolidWorks, that is what I heard several years ago.

Bradley
SolidWorks Pro 2009 x64, SP2.0
PDMWorks Workgroup, SolidWorks BOM,
HP xw8600,
64-bit Windows Vista Business
Service Pack 1
Intel Xeon CPU, 3.00 GHz, 16 GB RAM, Virtual memory 166682 MB,
nVidia Quadro FX 4600 Driver 7.15.11.6956

 

[macduff]

Doesn't Enterprise-PDM have this functionality?

Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2008 SP 4.0
Dell 490 XP Pro SP 2
Xeon CPU 3.00 GHz 3.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro FX 3450 512 MB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer

 

[Standing]

Yes Enterprise-PDM can replicate the vaults.
If I had it to do over again I would go for Enterprise-PDM.
Our VAR says the transition and cost is to high to switch.

Bradley
SolidWorks Pro 2009 x64, SP2.1
PDMWorks Workgroup, SolidWorks BOM,
HP xw8600,
64-bit Windows Vista Business
Service Pack 1
Intel Xeon CPU, 3.00 GHz, 16 GB RAM, Virtual memory 166682 MB,
nVidia Quadro FX 4600 Driver 7.15.11.6956

 

[ctopher]

Bradley's comment about SmarTeam is correct.
I would go with PDMWorks Enterprise.
But, if you are working on aerospace products and need to transfer files to/from your customers/vendors, check to see if SmarTeam will benefit you. A lot of large companies use SmarTeam.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08; CATIA V5
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

 

[macduff]

Excellent point Chris!

Colin Fitzpatrick (aka Macduff)
Mechanical Designer
Solidworks 2008 SP 4.0
Dell 490 XP Pro SP 2
Xeon CPU 3.00 GHz 3.00 GB of RAM
nVida Quadro FX 3450 512 MB
3D Connexion-SpaceExplorer