acad.exe and other program file locations when using cloud based network licence

[Anonymous]

I have been using stand alone licences for years now and have found my way around fixing most problems on my own with autocad. My new role at work sees me as the "drafting manager" and I have inherited a 2019 cad system which has 2 network licences that are cloud based. 

When cad crashes (running on the cloud server) I cannot force the programme closed, as I cannot see the application running at all with the windows 10 interface. Furthermore, I cannot see files in explorer in order to open them to edit, such as creating new linetypes etc. When I use the (findfile"*") command, it comes up with a pretty normal file location that is supposedly on my C:\. however that directory structure is not at all visible through file explorer, even when viewing hidden items.

I understand that you can open the linetype file through the dialogue box, but I can still not find the actual file location. That is just one example.

Can someone please advise how I can go about finding these cad system files so I can manipulate / customise / fix as i go?

I doubt these files are actually on my PC, I think it is creating a proxy drive within the cloud server and calling it C:/?

[pendean]

running AutoCAD2019 on cloud server? What does that mean exactly, more details please.

[Anonymous]

Useage is exactly as described. Cad is installed on a cloud based server, not on any local hardware.

is anyone who is reading this have any experience with this kind of setup?

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Please give me more detail on what this "Cloud" server is.  What kind of virtualization is in place and how are you connecting to the instance of each virtual workstation?  Are these instances each a stand alone license of AutoCAD or are they also connecting to a license server running in a virtual environment?

[Anonymous]

Hi John, 

thanks for following through with this. I am sorry for the delay, but there has been some back and forth behind the scenes. I have a better question from my IT manager below, which may shed some light on this:

We have installed AutoCAD in a Windows Server 2016 RDS environment and we are running it as a RemoteApp.

The RDS Server is running in Microsoft Azure (Australian Data Centre) and the Machine Size is - Standard NV6 (6 vcpus, 56 GB memory). There are currently only two users concurrently running AutoCAD.

Do you have any documentation for installation and/or best practices/tweaking, for AutoCAD running on RDS?

Thanks ahead of time.

Cade.

[john.vellek]

HI @Anonymous,

I am sorry for my delayed response.

I was waiting for an update to the Autodesk policy regarding Virtualization.  This just became available and I have a link to the Terms of Use here.

I am afraid too that  have no specific recommendations regarding RDS and AutoCAD.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for getting back to me on this John. 

Based on this I think I will push upper management to get the licences converted to stand alone licences and get the application back where it should be - on our local machines. I don't have the luxury of time (or the deep IT experience necessary) to be a pioneer! 

I am hoping there wont be too large a financial penalty from Autodesk,  given the support network (not a criticism by the way) hasn't caught up with this type of installation yet.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

If you are going back to stand-alone workstations, there is no need to switch back to single seat licenses.  Network licenses give you some flexibility and I suspect there is a price to change the licensing model. If you are intent on virtualization, based upon our current policy, you would need to switch to single seat subscriptions.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

Thanks John. I have a meeting organised with management next week, I will respond to closing this topic out then if its agreed to change licencing. 

Cheers.