PDM Works and outside Contractors

[SolidsMaster]

I'm the lone ranger here, and coming from a long history with PDM works, installed it at the company, even though I'm the only user (revision control is a no brainer). My question, or rather poll is has anyone else dealt with having outside contractors using Solidworks, and trying to get them to handle the check-in's to avoid myself having to do a ton of data manipulation. I have three senarios:
1. Contractor has PDM works on personal laptop, gets a company login to our domain, links to our server. Con: No problem as long as versions of PDM are at same SP.
2. Have a separate computer with standalone PDM where they will use jump drives/CDs/whatever to move files and check in. Con: PDM standalone costs $$, and computer too.
3. They get network access, put the files somewhere and I still have to check in all the files. Con: I'm still futsin' with the files.

Any other "in-expensive" ideas?

John
Design Engineer

 

[J-C]

Number 1 sounds like the way to go.

Jason

UG NX2.02.2 on Win2000 SP3
SolidWorks 2006 SP4.0 on WinXP SP2

 

[uGlay]

VPN is the way to go but also depends on how big the files are.

 

[PDMAdmin]

It will depend on where the contractor is located, as well as how quickly the contractor can access your network. (PDMW is practically unusable over a slow network.) Network security issues also need to be taken into account; my company will not allow outside contractors to access our network except under very specific circumstances.

 

[Heckler]

Will the contractor be required to have their own "legal" copy of SWx? or will they be using a seat that your company owns? I've used a companies (past employer) copy of SWx and they set me up with a VPN. Worked great for both parties but there was already an established working relationship.

 

[SolidsMaster]

security is not an issue at the moment. Long standing relationship with the contractor. The contractor(s) would be onsite when accessing the vault, and they would have their own copy of Solidworks & PDM works, which they would like to implement at their own facility. Biggest hiccup is keeping the versions in sync, according to SolidWorks HQ. Again, I'm the lone user here, and the Acad "kids" aren't even interested in learning SW....long story. So I need to have the best solution to show how things work. It's a tough battle when you have people stuck in their ways and keeping the blinders on. Thanks guys. Keep them coming.

John

 

[pdybeck]

Don't know if this would apply to you, but look into Riverbed devices for speeding up WAN networks. They have been mentioned a few times on the PDMWorks discussion forum on the official SolidWorks subscription forum. I don't know much about them or have experience with them, but have heard that where used they have sped up acess to large files such as CAD data over WANs. Here's a few recent press releases...

http://www.riverbed.com/news/press_releases/press_060106.php

http://www.riverbed.com/news/press_releases/press_061906.php