Using the downloaded Fusion 360 client online and offline...

[scipionim]

Hello,

After downloading the Fusion 360 client, we can choose to work either online and offline.

When working off-line, we cannot access our files saved in the cloud. But even when we are off-line, I believe that the Fusion 360 client still connects to the server online and has access to the software, correct? Otherwise, offline, we could not really use the software at all since it is cloud-based...

In off-line modality, the client still connects to the Fusion 360 server allowing us to use the software but not the cloud saved files... Is that the only difference between using the downloaded client to access Fusion 360 instead of just using the browser? 

Thanks!

[HughesTooling]

Fusion is not cloud based. Only the file system and some of the simulations need an internet connection. If you switch Fusion to offline mode you should be able to use it without and internet connection but I've found sometimes it'll want to check your licence and not let you start until you connect to the internet again which can be a real pain. 

You do need to let Fusion check it's license every couple of weeks as well.

Mark

Edit. There is also cloud rendering but there's an offline mode as well.

[scipionim]

Thank you Mark.

These thread: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Doe...

indicates that "...Fusion 360 is a cloud based product that requires connection with the internet at least every two weeks. The storage is cloud based. If accessing the cloud is not a preferred option, then consider another solution like Autodesk Inventor...."

That indicates that it is cloud based. However, as you mentioned, we can use Fusion 360 offline (https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/fusion-360/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How... as long as we connect to the server every 2 weeks...

So the "cloud-based" part is really just for storage and for license checking since the actual Fusion 360 software lives on our computer....

Is it really possible to use Fusion 360 via the browser without downloading the client, as I mentioned, or was I wrong on that too? In that case (no client download), Fusion 360 would be truly cloud-based...

Thanks.

[HughesTooling · Accepted solution]

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@scipionim wrote:

Thank you Mark.

Is it really possible to use Fusion 360 via the browser without downloading the client, as I mentioned, or was I wrong on that too? In that case (no client download), Fusion 360 would be truly cloud-based...

Thanks.

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If you have access to the educational version that runs in a browser you do not need to download the client. The browser version runs on a virtual PC so in effect you are running a remote desktop version of Fusion.

Mark