Expert CAD Management The Complete Guide phần 9 ppt

We’ll summarize the benefits and drawbacks by using each system componentdefined in the previous section: Local machine Storing data on the local machine gives the fastest possible data

I hope the overview information presented in this chapter makes you more dent about examining your options, and that you’ll take the initiative to start searchingfor more proactive ways to manage your company’s data.

confi-Summing Up

The protection of intellectual property, whether via contracts, software utilities, or ument-management systems, is one of the most important tasks you’ll undertake Tobriefly summarize, keep the following ideas in mind:

• Use contracts to provide legal protections

If you use the principles outlined in this chapter, you should find managing andprotecting your company’s data much easier

Your company depends on you to keep its CAD software running, but how do you know whether you’re getting optimal performance from the soft- ware you already own? In this appendix, I’ll out- line a process you can use to evaluate the sort of software environment you operate in and give you some hints for achieving the optimal per- formance your company desires.

Achieving optimal software performance requires

a total system view of all the components that affect your software’s operation Therefore, I’ll take time to outline some basic network and hard- ware terminology that you’ll need to understand.

concepts outlined in Chapter 2 and the networking concepts outlined in Chapter 9

Identifying Software Types

Even though there are dozens of CAD software platforms, the good news is that theycan all be loosely identified in terms of their operating parameters By understandingthese parameters, you should be able to tackle the optimization of any software Asyou read about the following software types, think of the software you have, and see ifyou can identify what type it is:

Single-file-mode systems These systems typically enable a single user to work on a single

file at a time For example, AutoCAD is often used as a single-file system because oneuser generates a single drawing as a result of their efforts

Referenced-file-mode systems These systems typically enable users to work on their

own files with the files of other users attached as a background For example, CAD and MicroStation frequently use external reference files (XREFs) so users mayleverage other users’ work as background data

Auto-Collaborative-mode systems These systems take the referenced-mode system to the

next level by allowing a team of users to collaboratively work with each other’s dataand see the changes other users make to the data as they go For example, mechanicalmodeling systems like SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor and building-modeling sys-tems like Autodesk Revit are collaborative because small to large work teams utilizedata from various team members

It’s interesting to note that a common software package like AutoCAD orMicroStation can be used in different modes of operation In a sense, to truly optimizethe software you use, you need to know the context in which it’s used Then, the chal-lenge becomes harmonizing the type of software you use to the network environmentyou must work in Achieving that harmonized balance has everything to do with howwell the software will serve, or not serve, your users

Networking Factors

Is the network your friend or your enemy? Will your network allow you to do greatthings and facilitate awesome new work processes, or will it be an albatross to bear?The answers to these questions can be yes or no, depending on what you expect.Any network is a complex combination of hardware, software, and telecommu-nications components that form an almost living environment that stores and routes alldata through the company Based on how well you understand this environment, you’llknow what to expect, how to configure software, and where to place shared data totake advantage of networking strengths and avoid weaknesses

In this section, we’ll map out a typical large-company network and define all ofits components and characteristics Once you understand the terms, it becomes mucheasier to see how you can operate your CAD tools for optimal efficiency

Understanding the Environment

A network is a combination of computers (some workstations and some servers)

con-nected by data-transmission lines (with varying bandwidths) that form a cohesive

sys-tem To understand this system, you have to understand what each computer does and

how quickly it can move data from point to point in the network

As you can see in Figure A.1, a CAD workstation is a small component of theoverall computing system in your company

Figure A.1 Your company’s CAD software doesn’t run on one machine, but on an interconnected system of servers and networks.

The specific components that affect software operation and some pertinent statistics are covered more fully in Chapter 9, “Understanding the Environment,”

They’re briefly listed here for convenience:

Local machine The user machine that the CAD software runs on These machines are

typically fast and have a high-bandwidth disk connection that delivers anywhere from

1.0 to 2.4 gigabits/second (gbps; or 1,000,000,000 to 2,400,000,000 bits/second [bps])

throughput using IDE (older) or ATA (newer) disk controllers Although the processor

speed and amount of RAM contribute to machine performance, CAD files are so big

that disk performance is a more accurate barometer of how fast a given machine will

run your CAD applications

Internet

Server

CAD Station CAD Station

“Net-work, IT, and Security Assessments.”

LAN connection The network that ties local machines in close proximity to one

another to the company’s overall network In more complex networking environments(like multiple branch offices with Internet support), the LAN is the first networkingconnection your machine sees In smaller companies, the LAN may be your only net-work connection

LAN connections typically deliver 100 megabits/second (mbps; or 100,000,000 bps)

of bandwidth from the CAD machine to the network That 100 mbps bandwidth isshared with other users, so chances are you’ll never get the full bandwidth It becomesobvious immediately that the LAN connection moves data 1,000 to 2,000 times moreslowly than a local machine writes data to its own hard drive Ever wonder why yourLAN seems slow? Now you know why

WAN connection The WAN is the network that ties your LANs together over large

geographic distances The problem with WANs is that you can’t run high-speed working wire to a branch office in another country, so you’re at the mercy of thetelecommunications company’s services

net-WAN connections typically deliver 1.5 to 4.5 mbps (or 1,500,000 to 4,500,000 bps)

of bandwidth from LAN to LAN Again, that 1.5 to 4.5 mbps bandwidth is sharedwith other users on the respective LANs, so chances are you’ll never get the full band-width Some quick math shows that a WAN connection is 40 to 100 times slower thanLAN connections, and you know how slow LANs are compared to local machines Everwonder why moving files between branch-office LANs seems glacial in pace? Now youknow why

Internet connection The age of the mobile worker has enabled anyone to work from

home via a DSL or cable-modem connection These types of commercial Internetservices are broadly available and relatively cheap but deliver low bandwidth to theend user

DSL connections are typically called ADSL, where the A stands for asynchronous.

ADSL means that download speeds and upload speeds are different, with the downloadspeed usually being much faster than that for uploading Typical download speeds are1.5 mbps (or 1,500,000 bps) of bandwidth, and upload speeds are typically one-thirdthat, so those who need to upload large file sets will perceive ADSL connections as beingslow The only good thing about ADSL is that the connection usually isn’t shared, so atleast the user gets all the bandwidth they pay for

discussion

The entire purpose of having a network with CAD machines on it is to produce CAD

data and share it between users The question is, how can you do that best? Referring

again to Figure A.1, we can draw some conclusions about data storage and the

practi-cal factors affecting the data in the various locations

We’ll summarize the benefits and drawbacks by using each system componentdefined in the previous section:

Local machine Storing data on the local machine gives the fastest possible data access

because the local machine’s hard-drive bandwidth is always higher than that of any

network connection One downside of storing data on a local machine is that other

users can’t access it In addition, it won’t be backed up as it would be on a network

server, thus offering lower security

Possible compromise procedures include check in/check out methodologies thatallow users to copy working files to the local machine and then copy them back to the

server each night for backup Understand that any time data is stored on a local

machine, there is more risk of data loss due to a lack of backup

LAN connection Storing data on the LAN increases data security but slows data access

because CAD files are opened and saved over the LAN instead of on the user’s hard

drive From the CAD user’s perspective, using the LAN is slower than storing data on

their local machine due to the much lower bandwidth of the LAN; thus this situation

will generate complaints However, IT departments will correctly point out that storage

of CAD data on the LAN facilitates centralized backups that protect the data, and that

no amount of speed is worth the security risk

Again, check in/check out methodologies may provide common ground between users

who want speed and IT departments that want security

perspective

machines is impossible because sharing can’t be facilitated without a network connection

WAN connection The situation here is essentially the same as for a LAN environment

but a lot slower CAD users who complain about performance problems in LANs willthrow fits about WAN speeds As a practical note, CAD files tend to be large, andsharing those files over sluggish WANs can sometimes be impossible due to time lags

Internet connection This scenario is essentially the same as a WAN, with one

psycho-logical difference: When home-based or traveling workers access data through theInternet, they expect it to be slow! Oddly enough, users who go ballistic over WANspeeds may be tolerant of Internet access speeds

Harmonizing Software with Networks

Now that all the terms are defined, how do you know what software will work best

in which network environment and why? To address these questions, I’ll present thesoftware types, break them down using the network variables, and draw conclusionsfor each As you read through the various scenarios, try to get a mental picture ofyour own software and network systems and decide which type of scenario you mustdeal with:

Single-file mode-systems Local machine environment: The best place to run the CAD

software because it offers the highest speed for the user CAD files may be stored here

as well because no other user needs to collaboratively use the files Be aware that ing CAD files on local machines means those files normally aren’t backed up and aretherefore much more prone to erasure or data loss

plac-LAN environment: In plac-LAN environments, you run the CAD software on the local

machine to take advantage of the speed it offers the user However, CAD files can bestored on the LAN to facilitate backups and file security Common components likesymbol libraries, drawing title sheets, stock parts, and so on should be stored on theLAN to enable sharing of those resources

can do to make the WAN faster or the files smaller All the while, users will complain, and rightly so, about slowspeeds degrading their productivity

WAN environment: In WAN environments, you run the CAD software on the local

machine to take advantage of the speed it offers the user However, CAD files can be

stored on the WAN to facilitate backups and file security; in the best case, CAD files

are stored for each user at the server closest to them on the WAN For instance, if you

have users in London and others in Chicago, the London workers should have their

work on the London server and the Chicago workers should have their files on the

Chicago server Doing so keeps file-transfer delays minimal for most users but allows

collaboration between offices as needed As with a LAN, common components like

symbol libraries, drawing title sheets, stock parts, and so on should be stored on the

LAN nearest the user to enable sharing of those resources

Internet environment: In Internet environments, you run the CAD software on the local

machine to take advantage of the speed it offers the user However, CAD files can be

stored on an Internet server to facilitate access to the files without having to log in to a

LAN or WAN The performance of the Internet is, of course, impossible to predict, but

it’s normally on par with a WAN in terms of speed As in the LAN and WAN cases,

common components like symbol libraries, drawing title sheets, stock parts, and so on,

may be stored on an Internet server to enable sharing of those resources

Referenced-file-mode systems These types of systems differ from single-file-mode

sys-tems in that you have to use a LAN, WAN, or Internet connection to facilitate the file

sharing necessitated by XREF files These types of software systems won’t work using a

local machine approach

All the networking variables presented previously exhibit the same characteristics for

referenced-file-mode systems

True collaborative-mode systems Again, these types of systems differ from single-file-mode

systems in that you have to use a LAN, WAN, or Internet connection to facilitate file

sharing These types of software systems won’t work using a local machine approach

All the networking variables presented previously exhibit the same characteristics for

collaborative-mode systems with the added caution that network traffic increases as

more people collaborate over the network And as network traffic goes up, speed drops,

and CAD users become less likely to enjoy using the collaborative benefits of the

system

access by using Virtual Private Networking (VPN) connections.VPNs offer the remote location the support ofthe Internet with the security of a LAN/WAN, but they require IT oversight to administer

If you take the time to understand the type of software you work with and the network

it must run on, you’ll understand 90 percent of what you should do to place the ware components and data in the right place for optimal performance

soft-In the remainder of the appendices, I’ll give you the other 10 percent of theequation by passing along specific tips for popular software environments

various terms and concepts introduced there are used in this appendix

Appendix: Tips for AutoCAD Environments

AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT are the most lar CAD systems in the world, and most CAD managers support at least some AutoCAD seats.

popu-B

To manage the software, you must first understand its key statistics:

System type—Single-file or referenced-file mode AutoCAD is often used as a single-file

system: One user generates a single drawing as a result of their efforts and worksexclusively on that file without sharing the file with others AutoCAD may also beused to author files that are used by others attached as background external referencefiles (XREFs)

Software footprint—Typically 400 to 600 MB when installed AutoCAD typically is

installed using default settings, without large libraries of components that can make the installation size grow excessively large Even when all components and sample filesare installed, the size of AutoCAD’s software footprint is reasonable

Given AutoCAD’s single-file nature and relatively small software footprint, it’sadaptable in a variety of network environments However, the following recommenda-tions reflect the best management of AutoCAD-based systems I’ve seen in industry:

Software installation Run AutoCAD from the local machine to gain maximum

per-formance Even though network versions are available, they will slow users’ speeds andimpact their productivity Installing software on the local machine has no detrimentaleffect on anyone and gives CAD users the speed they crave

File storage Store files on local machines if you’re sure you can provide backup or

security for those files; otherwise, use LAN storage of files Stay away from WAN orInternet storage of files unless it’s specifically required by your business model becauseaccess speed in these environments is extremely slow

Figure B.1 Your company’s system of local machines, servers, and networks determines where data can best be stored with the

least amount of delay experienced by your CAD software users

Internet

Server

CAD Station CAD Station

Disk

Miscellaneous Hints

Because AutoCAD is so prevalent, and because you probably have more seats of

Auto-CAD than other software applications in your company, getting AutoAuto-CAD optimally

configured and consistent for multiple users is crucial

By setting up AutoCAD on a few power-user machines and getting the softwareworking to everyone’s satisfaction, you can form the basis for a standard installation

You can then use AutoCAD’s profiles, which are just registry files, to copy the correct

configuration to multiple machines to achieve maximum standardization

various terms and concepts introduced there are used in this appendix

Appendix: Tips for Manufacturing Environments

Manufacturing environments typically use 3D modeling CAD applications, which are big, com- plex systems that offer substantial feature and function sets These environments are also likely

to have operations at multiple sites, or even in multiple countries, and as such frequently operate

in WAN/Internet topologies.

C

System type—collaborative mode Manufacturing-focused CAD systems are almost

always collaborative in nature: Users create parts that come together in assemblies andproduce drawings Because large teams of engineers, designers, and detailers all needaccess to the latest data in real time, manufacturing CAD systems must be managed as

a fully collaborative environment

Software footprint—typically 1 GB or more when installed Manufacturing-focused

CAD systems typically include large libraries of components in various standards (such

as ISO, DIN, and JIS) that can make the installation size grow very large

Given their collaborative file-sharing mode and large software footprint, facturing environments face a fundamental conundrum: Large files need local resources

manu-to run quickly, but the collaborative design mode of the software rules out local filelocations The following recommendations reflect the best management of manufactur-ing environments I’ve seen in industry:

Software installation Run the software from the local machine to gain maximum

per-formance Even though network versions are available, they will slow users’ speeds andimpact their productivity Installing software on the local machine has no detrimentaleffect on anyone and gives CAD users the speed they crave And by running the soft-ware locally, you preserve precious network bandwidth for moving data rather thanrunning applications

Figure C.1 Your company’s system of local machines, servers, and networks determines where data can best be stored with the

least amount of delay experienced by your CAD software users

Internet

Server

CAD Station CAD Station

Disk