BIM server setup - Help please

[Anonymous]

howdy

i have read through the forums and i am still not sure if the way that i propose to setup the BIM server is ok

we are currently running archiCAD v19, 11 and 12 but will be upgrading to v16 / v17 this week

so.. any help / insight would be greatly appreciated

our server room is setup as follows:
- mail server: 1 x mac pro running an email server (kerio)
- ftp server: 1 x macMini running ftpServer software & the archiCAD net key
- file server: 1 x mac pro running 10.6.8 server with file serving and dns as the only two services running.. this machine also has a couple of external RAID enclosures with all of our projects folders / backups etc

i was hoping to run the BIM server software on our file server... and have it use our existing folder / file structure.. is this possible.. or do i need to run it on a separate machine.. and have a file / folder structure setup just for it

if i can use it.. are there any memory, speed, stability, security, hardware / software issues etc etc that i need to be thinking about / dealing with

thanks again for any help / insight you can provide

yukioMishima

[Laszlo Nagy]

You should see if you find answers to your questions on this page. There is a lot of info about all the various aspects of Teamwork:

http://www.archicadwiki.com/Teamwork

[Anonymous]

lazlo

thanks for the reply

that is where i had initially looked for info / answers.. but it was not so clear.. at least to me.. on the issues that i raised above

thanks again

yukioMishima

[Karl Ottenstein]

You'll need to review the hardware requirements in that Wiki article... as far as recommended number of cores (min 2), memory (min 8 GB), etc... but also the OS requirements.

BIM Server does not have to run on a 'server' - is is an ordinary program and uses your ordinary file system - whether Windows or Mac.

The Wiki notes that it is not recommended to run the BIM Server on a mail server machine - but that really depends on the volume of activity you get on that machine IMHO. But, the ftp or file server could have similar complications. It all depends on how many total users you have and what the load on each of those existing Mac Pro's is ... and how current they are.

Folks will need much more data to advise you. How many total workstations are connected to your network?

What are the specs of each of your Mac Pro 'server' machines? Number of cores/speed, total memory/bus speed, disks - speed and available space, RAID or not?, network speed (assume wired gigabit ethernet?), etc

Having your users make the learning leap from 10/11/12 to 16/17 is HUGE. Learning TW2 at the same time is even bigger. Hopefully this is your plan, but if not, I highly recommend migrating a few users/projects at a time...

[Anonymous]

Hello,

We have separated our most important services to three
different servers;
- Xserve file server housing all the plain project structure (PLN, XLS, PDF, etc.)
- Mac Mini server for teamworks only
- Mac Mini license server serving ArchiCAD and Solibri

Rebooting any of these is not a disaster. DNS is served
by the firewall.

Regards, Juha

[Karl Ottenstein]

How many users on your network, Juha?

I asked yukioMishima the same question as the user load can determine how large and complex the infrastructure may need to be. For two or three people, no true 'server' machine is necessary. One size doesn't fit all, as you know. 🙂

[Anonymous]

Hello Karl,

We have 24 ArchiCAD users.

I agree that a few users do not need to have separate servers, but separating services might
be a good idea even then. On the other hand it
brings a lot more work on backups and firewalls
etc.

Regards, Juha

[Anonymous]

apologies for the delay in answering..... have been insane trying to get a couple of huge projects out the door

i finally installed BIM server on a "hot-spare" mac pro server that we have attached to the network

we will be running 3 or 5 projects on it... without about 4 people per project

i would imagine we would have no more than 4 people on BIM simultaneously

a quick question... is there a standalone installer for the BIM server manager app.... or do i need to install the entire BIM server in order to log on and administer a remote BIM se3rver

any insight greatly appreciated

thanks in advance

yukioMishima

[Eduardo Rolon]

There is a standalone installer for the manager, look in the DVD.

[Anonymous]

eduardo

thanks for the reply

unfort i am on the road... and only have the .dmg installer on my machine.. and don't have access to an install disc with all of the additional stuff

i am running v16

is there a download of the manager somewhere on the web... i have had a look.. and found nothing

thanks again

yukioMishima