CAD manager working on users computer

[AllenJessup]

I think I see a problem for me. I've repeatedly heard that a user will only be able to install 3 seats of the software. Can a user use an installation on another computer that wasn't done by them? As a CAD Manager I often have to log onto users computer as an administrator to resolve problems.

Am I going to be able to open the Autodesk Software with my login even though It's not a copy I installed? It's also going to be an issue if I have to log out of the software every time I have to give assistance. At least in those instances where I need to be an Administrator on the users computer.

In another instance a users computer may have an issue that requires we send the box to our IT dept. They're in another town. So if I assign a user a backup computer and they already have 3 software installs. How will that work? Can I disable an installation to free it up for the couple of days until the users computer comes back? Will I then be able to deactivate it on the backup computer and reinitialize it on the returned computer?

[Mark.Lancaster]

@AllenJessup 

This whole 3 computer limitation in my opinion got rolled up regarding that named account can only be used up to 3 times to do something.   When single user subscription first came out you could install the software onto as many machines you wanted because the named ID was the one that activated it.    Perhaps when the single user subscription required a serial and sign in maybe, but now days its sign in so what does it matter how or who installed the software.

For your second part..  I will tell you I've seen where a single named account was used to activate and use the product on 10 different machines but I have also seen where an audit was triggered because a person who had it installed their single user subscription on 3 machines and got flagged for over use even though they were using only 1 machine at a time.

[AllenJessup]

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@Mark.Lancaster wrote:

so what does it matter how or who installed the software.

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I don't know. That's why I'm asking. From the fact that you can remove a user from the license group and add another one. You might assume that the user you added could access the software on any machine. But what if I'm wrong? If that's the case. Why limit the amount of installs?

[Mark.Lancaster]

@AllenJessup 

Sorry I was asking you..  I was just making a statement..   I believe someone in the past (my opinion) read about the named account can't be used more than 3x times to perform account task and somehow rolled up the installation aspect or the number of devices in that.     In the end there's too many terms out there and they all say different things..

Update:  Today its one way..  Monday someone else will come along at say something else. 

Update #2:  Forgot about this point.   I have created many deployments for single user subscription with sign in.  I don't create a deployment for each person Autodesk Account.  That same deployment is used to install the application on many machines, just not 1 named account.

[AllenJessup]

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@Mark.Lancaster wrote:

Sorry I was asking you..  I was just making a statement..   

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No problem. I knew that but chose to treat it as a question. This is one of the points that I view as a potential boobytrap until proven otherwiwe.

[diana.yr]

Hi @AllenJessup 

Let me know if we missed anything, we were trying to get clear and validated answers from our teams before replying back to you and have the most updated answers. I understand there's a lot of potential cases that could happen but we'll do our best to provide you with some answers here. 🙂

Am I going to be able to open the Autodesk Software with my login even though It's not a copy I installed? 

Answer is yes, that will not be a problem so long as you have your credentials. Use is limited to sequential use, which means you can be actively accessing and using (interacting with) only one version of one product on one device at a time.  You just can't have two products or two versions of the same product being accessed and used (interacted with) simultaneously as this would mean different users are using a single user’s account which would be non-compliant.

It's also going to be an issue if I have to log out of the software every time I have to give assistance.

Policy requires that you are only logged in to one at a time (will see if I can get a bit more clarification on this as I understand your point about having to log in and out multiple times, particularly if you are going from your own system to anothers.)

As for providing a temporary installation on a backup system and temporary deactivation on the (under works) system.. that is a great question as laptops and systems DO need to undergo repairs so it could happen! I'm waiting to hear back more on this if your workaround is indeed possible so as to keep the flow of work going. 

[AllenJessup]

Hello @diana.yr 

Thank you for finding the answers for me. There is one area I find confusing. I don't think it's as bad as it sounds. But...

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@diana.yr wrote:

Use is limited to sequential use, which means you can be actively accessing and using (interacting with) only one version of one product on one device at a time.  You just can't have two products or two versions of the same product being accessed and used (interacted with) simultaneously as this would mean different users are using a single user’s account which would be non-compliant.

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The AEC Collection has over 20 programs in the collection. The above makes it sound like only one at a time can be accessed. Workflows often require moving data back and forth between programs and having to shut one down in order to use another seems way too restrictive. That would be like Microsoft changing its OS so only one window could be open at one time.

But as I said. I'm not clear since you also talk about "Different Users" I'd expect to be able to open Civil 3D, Infraworks and ReCap simultaneously. As long as I was on one device and did not have them open anywhere else.

When it's going to complicate things is when I have to log on another's users computer as an administrator. That's not always the case since not every solution requires an admin. But if I can't fire up a version of the program myself to test the fix. The user and I are going to have to keep swapping logins to test the fix.

It's not too bad for me. But I can't imagine managing hundreds of seats that way.

[Mark.Lancaster]

@AllenJessup 

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The AEC Collection has over 20 programs in the collection. The above makes it sound like only one at a time can be accessed.

There are a few discussions or forum postings about this exact statement and there are numerous (at least 3 I know so far - @diana.yr  @amanda.k and @lena.talkhina ) Autodesk folks working on to get an answer...

[Anonymous]

I really wish this was covered in a transparent license guide written in plain English (i.e. non-legalese) that anyone could easily access on Autodesk's website instead of everyone having to discover the forum, start a thread and then MAYBE find out after a few days/weeks...

[AllenJessup]

I wish that too. I would almost say that this was announced too early. Except. It's better that Autodesk announced it early so that no one is taken totally by surprise on May 7th. That's the soonest that anyone will be affected. We still have another year until be have to deal with it.

I know they plan on revising the FAQ after the first rush of questions come in. I doubt that there will be any major changes in the new policy. But there may be tweaks.

[rkmcswain]

@Pola_S wrote:

I really wish this was covered in a transparent license guide written in plain English (i.e. non-legalese) that anyone could easily access on Autodesk's website instead of everyone having to discover the forum, start a thread and then MAYBE find out after a few days/weeks...

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

@lynn_zhang 

[amanda.k]

Hi @AllenJessup and all on this thread,

I had posted this same answer over on another thread, but wanted to make sure to post here as well in case you were not following those replies. 

"Thank you so much for your patience while I got a definitive answer to your questions on accessing different versions /products in the collections with named user access.

Whatever Previous versions you(in-policy plus any grandfathered previous versions) for each product in the Collection may be installed concurrently/simultaneously on up to 3 electronic devices.

The use of the product is limited to sequential use, which means you can be actively accessing and using (interacting with) only one version of one product on one device at a time. Of course you can switch between products as you wish – 20 seconds using AutoCAD on your smart phone, switch to Revit for 30 minutes on your laptop, then switch to AutoCAD on the laptop, etc. What would not be allowed is two products or two versions of the same product being accessed and used (interacted with) simultaneously as this would mean different users are using a single user’s account which would be non-compliant.

It's not whether a product or version is “open” on a device but rather whether it is actually being accessed and used (i.e., actively interacted with) by the user. Concurrent active interaction (access and use) to more than one app at once indicates more than one person (user) is using a single entitlement.

Short version: You can have multiple products with the Collection open, including multiple versions of the same product, as long as you are not actively interacting with them at the same time (which would be impossible since you’re only one person).

Again, my apologies about the wait. I hope this clears things up, and I apologize about the confusing verbiage earlier as well!"

[Anonymous]

"You just can't have two products or two versions of the same product being accessed and used (interacted with) simultaneously as this would mean different users are using a single user’s account which would be non-compliant."

Now I need double licensing for any batch processing or conversion tasks. Great. Now you're selling me 2 licenses of the same software for a single person. 

The "Version" limit on the same computer also needs to go. It's very common for a CAD/BIM Manger to have multiple version of the same product open concurrently on the same computer. 

Did anyone @ Autodesk even consult real customers before rolling out this policy?

Can to tell me how to assign 2 licenses of the SAME product to the same Autodesk ID?  I'll tell you how...you can't. Now I also need a second company Email.