Sharing project files across multiple sites

[JeffPaulsen]

I am trying to find out what solutions the industry is using to share project (AutoCAD & Civil 3D) files across multiple sites.

We previously used Riverbed but as some of you may know that technology is no longer viable. Currently we are storing most project in our main office. Employees in the main office can access these project with no lag. Employees in satellite offices use VPN and remote desktop to access files in our main office; however, there is considerable lag when the cursor in is the drawing window. Certain projects are copied out to a satellite office to eliminate the lag but then our main office does not have access to those projects.

We are looking for a solution where everyone has access to all files with minimal or no lag.

Please describe how are you you handling file sharing across multiple sites.

[TheCADnoob]

Have you looked into vault? http://www.autodesk.com/products/vault-family/overview

[chriscowgill7373]

We used to use riverbed as well.  we went to full on server replication between offices.  we use a software called Peerlink, which will lock files between offices when a copy is opened in one office.  Works well for Office and AutoCAD.  Revit, it wasnt working very well at all with peerlink, so they went with Revit Server.

Vault may work well, we however were not too crazy about changing up our file structure to work well with it.

[john.vellek]

Hi @JeffPaulsen,

I can't name any providers but there are totally virtualized services of which I have heard good things. They don't act as application servers but rather host the file store and virtualize your workstations. Your current staff would access by VPN and latency is low because everything is done on the "cloud" end of things. You might want to research whether this is cost effective for you.

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

[JeffPaulsen]

I assume you can't name any providers because of your position at Autodesk. Are you referring to something that requires a hardware appliance like Panzura are something different?

[john.vellek]

Hi @JeffPaulsen

The providers I have seen offer the virtual server and clients on a "private" cloud and then on your side you would connect with your current computer workstations or with thin clients as all the processing is done on their side.

For instance, at AU2016 this year, hundreds of thin client boxes connected to hosted instances by Amazon AWS. It was pretty impressive to see it in action. I know that Amazon is not the only one capable of doing this. There are a variety of companies offering such hosting.

I suggest that as you research the possibilities that you arrange thorough testing using your own datasets to test performance and reliability.