Teamwork error on send Archicad 20

[Anonymous]

We have been getting an error come up on Archicad 20 where it won't allow us to send. It isn't like a normal error where clearing the client cache will fix the issue. It seems to be a bim server issue as it will happen simultaneously across multiple machines both within the network and over ip.
We have tried restarting the bimserver in an effort to fix this without success and the only solution is to re-share the project which results in a loss of work. Despite the wording of the error there is no issue with connectivity or licenses. It appears to me that the server file is being corrupted somehow and not allowing the clients to connect.

Is anyone else having this issue?

[Anonymous]

Steve wrote:
Still thinking something is corrupted on the server side, but open to suggestions otherwise

Good catch. Of course it is. It is BIM server's issue and, judging by the fact that this issue is much less severe in AC19 than in previous versions, GS is working on it.

The question here is how to overcome it on your end, as end-user.

Naturally, I don't have access to BIM server's uncompiled code (I am not affiliated with GS in any way), but BIM server is a generic network application and should non be a rocket science to deal with.

The issue here is as follows: when communication between BIM server and client machine is affected in any way (as in any other IP-based, multipeer network), any current operation of checking in/out objects from BIM server receives a sort of a flag that states that operation is still in progress causing BIM server to wait for connection to become suitable again to continue normal operation (this is how i/o operations with databases work in general to prevent simultaneous write access from different directions to any one specific item). As it happens here (in error), this "under construction" flag does not get removed from somewhere in the database when connection is restored to normal causing the topic-starting error message to appear on every connection attempt (send/receive end-user action).

This is why dumping a user from a project helps (by loosing some unsaved data on the client machine, but clearing, nonetheless, hypothetical "under construction" flag on the server and allowing user to reconnect to the project and function normally), as it is client-server related issue.

You can't really fix this problem (only GS can, by improving/fixing the initial BIM server code), but we can prevent it by having stable (no packet loss) connection, having enough RAM (obviously, as any active project on BIM server needs some RAM and lack of RAM will cause all processes on the server to slow down dramatically raising the chance of above mentioned "under construction" flag to go rogue), and last, but not in any way least, having a properly structured ARCHICAD Teamwork project that minimizes chances of this error happening through proper organization (strict library, object and plugin quality assurance as well as generic organizational improvements to Project Map and Model Views inherent to any shared (Teamwork) projects).

[Anonymous]

schagemann wrote:
Here some thoughts:

1. have you done a ping test (both to the IP and DNS name of the bimserver) over an extended period of time to see if there really is no packet loss?

2. how do you access the bimserver, via DNS name or IP - did you check that your DNS service is working properly;

3. was this always a problem on your network or only since AC20;

4. did any problems occur during installation?

Have you contacted Graphisoft about this yet?

Hi schagemann

1. Yes. No issue
2. We do both, however the ip always resolves to dns as expected and issue effects both connections thru LAN and WAN
3. First noticed it in AC20 RC1. Guess I can bear some of the blame for not testing teamwork further while in beta
4. No issue in Install
5. Yes I have been in contact with and am in the process of compiling files to send to them. I guess the reason why I asked the question on the forum is even though local distributers are very helpful and I have always found Graphisoft Hungary great to deal with, It is helpful to discuss this with other users. There is nothing like real world experience and I guess if I am the only one experiencing this issue I would investigate further within the business where as if it was a problem that was wider spread, I would spend the time and compile the files

Thanks for your input schagemann

[Anonymous]

Anton wrote:

Good catch. Of course it is. It is BIM server's issue and, judging by the fact that this issue is much less severe in AC19 than in previous versions, GS is working on it.

The question here is how to overcome it on your end, as end-user.

Thanks Anton. Used Teamwork since 13 and it a great and under utilized tool. We find ourselves discovering better ways of implementing the more we use it and to be honest we have generally trace issues back to our own hardware, however this one seem different.

On a side note, how many users do you have on teamwork?

[Anonymous]

Steve wrote:
On a side note, how many users do you have on teamwork?

Not as many as I would want to run a few tests on. 😞

It is mostly Revit now, for the larger firms. The largest company I consulted on BIM server issues had 17 licenses.

[Anonymous]

Anton wrote:

It is mostly Revit now, for the larger firms. The largest company I consulted on BIM server issues had 17 licenses.

Yes. Had an interesting experience this week. We are collaborating with a large for New Zealand, Revit architectural practice of about 50 architects and technicians that seemed to be amazed at what we could achieve with BimX and Archicad. We are a small firm by comparison but seem to much further along on the practical advantages of BIM.

[Marton Kiss]

Steve wrote:
We have been getting an error come up on Archicad 20 where it won't allow us to send. It isn't like a normal error where clearing the client cache will fix the issue. It seems to be a bim server issue as it will happen simultaneously across multiple machines both within the network and over ip.
We have tried restarting the bimserver in an effort to fix this without success and the only solution is to re-share the project which results in a loss of work. Despite the wording of the error there is no issue with connectivity or licenses. It appears to me that the server file is being corrupted somehow and not allowing the clients to connect.

Is anyone else having this issue?

Hi Steve,

I am a little latecomer in this thread. As far as I see the network side you TALKers have already covered, so my second guess is that there was a reservation conflict, which AC and the BIM Server could not resolve. In such cases the server protects its database, which can lead to similar errors.

Here are a few ideas:
- release all by all clients, which can send data
- try to reserve all with the particular user receiving this message, attempt to send again
- if the above does not help then best is saving off a pln from the most recent client's data and re-sharing it as a new TW project

I hope this helps,
Marton

[Anonymous]

Marton wrote:

Here are a few ideas:
- release all by all clients, which can send data
- try to reserve all with the particular user receiving this message, attempt to send again
- if the above does not help then best is saving off a pln from the most recent client's data and re-sharing it as a new TW project

I hope this helps,
Marton

Hi Martin

No luck with release all. Same message
No luck with reserve all. Same message. Strangely enough it allows me to reserve all but not send changes
Yes, resharing, that seems to be the only answer, but results in a loss of work.

It created a support package on the last incident. Would it help if I were to send this to graphisoft?

[Marton Kiss]

Steve wrote:
It created a support package on the last incident. Would it help if I were to send this to graphisoft?

Yes, absolutely. Such packages are a great help for us to hunt down all potential issues that can result similar situations - requiring extra work on your end.

Please share that with our local support team - Cadimage and they will forward it to us for analysis.

Thanks,
Marton

[Anonymous]

Cheers Martin.

Have sent files to Andrew at Cadimage. Let me know if you need any further information.

[Marton Kiss]

Steve wrote:
Cheers Martin.

Have sent files to Andrew at Cadimage. Let me know if you need any further information.

Thanks, we received the package, will keep you posted with our findings or if further information is needed.

Support case #: 58189

Marton