Deployment Options?

[rgorman]

Even thought we aren't a large # of users, the network deployment worked wonders to save me time on setting up each users software. How will this be addressed with the new system? 

[amanda.k]

Hi @rgorman 

Thanks for your question. Once you make the switch from multi-user to single-user subscription, you will have 30 days from the contract expiration date to on-board the new users, which gives you a bit of a transition period (rather than having to do it all at once).

If you’ve never assigned Named Users before, we have the User Management Overview video that walk you through it.  If you have more users and don’t want to import them all manually, there’s also a bulk import tool to help assign users to products, making it much faster.  Depending on the product you have – there’s also the option to purchase premium subscription to gain additional support. You can see more about the benefits of premium subscription here.

It may take a little longer to set up initially, however there's some great benefits with the named user plan - check out the top 10 here. 

If you’d like to discuss premium verses standard, the cost, and other details – feel free to fill out this form to be contacted.

I hope this helped - feel free to ask follow up questions if needed.

[Mark.Lancaster]

@rgorman 

Software Deployment is still possible and the same for single user subscription.     But outside of that, you'll have to  link Autodesk Accounts with your subscription and assign the use of the product to them.   With network you didn't have to worry about user accounts.

Not sure if I'm answering your question.  I feel like I missing something in what you're asking..   If I have please clarify..

[rkmcswain · Accepted solution]

@rgorman - nothing will change AFAIK. It's been this way since the 2017 release. You can install the single user version from a network deployment, with no issues at all.

[rgorman]

Okay, Thanks for the info. I seem to remember that in the deployment window, there was an option for single user. I suppose that would still work. Otherwise I probably would have gone with a default profile type of system.. Thanks again.

[Mark.Lancaster]

@rgorman 

But if this is related to installing Vault client (Pro and Workgroup) up to (and including) the 2020 release, there's a work around to add the single user option into the deployment.

[rgorman]

I don't think that is the case anymore. After these last two webinars, I asked several times about a deployment scenario or option for the Named User Accounts. They were ignored. Yet, a few weeks ago, a contact pointed me to a survey about deployments, file sharing, etc... and how we use them. I cannot believe that there is currently no provision for it, considering how hard they pushed using deployments to simplify network installs to many users spread over many locations. And now, with work from home so much more prevalent, why wasn't this considered as an important part of the current work environment? 

We would certainly LIKE to switch, since we have recently had issues with our License Server crashing a bit more often than we'd like recently. If we can get off that and onto a platform that would be more stable (hopefully) and be able to be used by people in the office or at home without the need for myself to go to each machine to setup the support file pathing, OR, force the user to follow instructions to setup those paths or copy profile arg files and other files to be able to standardize the installations- that would be ideal

[rkmcswain]

@rgorman wrote:

I don't think that is the case anymore.

You don't believe "what" is the case anymore? 

I have built multiple 2021 deployments and they can be used for multi-user or single-user licensing situations.

Are you saying that you think they are going to remove this in future downloads? But why? 

[rgorman]

"I don't think that's the case..." With the new Named User Accounts. The User is directed to download their app from a central Autodesk cloud based server. Where is the opportunity to setup the common shared folders and/or drives? 

And if deployments are possible, why ignore the question completely, then send a survey on their use? Why not say "No problem, it works like this: ...."

[rkmcswain]

I still don't fully understand what you're talking about.  We have some users here on single-user licenses, but we still manage the install process. Users can't install software without local admin rights anyway. Even if our users had the ability to install applications, the contract administrator can grant or deny access to downloads. We do not install the "Autodesk Desktop App" either.

In summary nothing has really changed. Individual users have always had the ability to download and install AutoCAD (for example).  

I can't speak for why autodesk does certain things. I'm not privy to their agenda.

[Tony_Michniewicz]

Many Autodesk products now use an online deployment creation option.  3ds Max made this change with their 2021 release as detailed on this page.  The original release of Revit 2021 still supports the legacy offline deployment creation option but the Revit 2021.1 release now uses the online creation option.

I hope this information helps to clarify the recent installation option changes.

[rgorman]

"Many Autodesk products..."  Does that include Autocad? A simple answer is what I'm looking for. Can you create a deployment with Autocad under the Named User Account option? Yes or No?

If no, why not? If yes, just say so. 

The single user license is different than the Named User Account as I understand it. 

[Anonymous]

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@rgorman wrote:

The single user license is different than the Named User Account as I understand it. 

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Named user and single user are the same thing.

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@rgorman wrote:

"Many Autodesk products..."  Does that include Autocad?

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See list of products supported here: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/3ds-max/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-c...

[Anonymous]

@Tony_Michniewicz ,

The new online deployment method creates a BAT file instead of a shortcut.  The old deployment method would allow you to add additional software at the product page of the wizard.  How would you do the same with this new method?  I added commands after the installation syntax to the BAT but it ignores the additional command.  For example:

msiexec.exe /i "\\server\apps\ADSK\2021\_Addins\RVT\Required\RDBL.msi" ALLUSERS=1 /qn /norestart /log output.log

[acad-caveman]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@rgorman wrote:

The single user license is different than the Named User Account as I understand it. 

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Named user and single user are the same thing.

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You sure about that?

From what I understand that is not the case!

If your organization has 3 people who on occasion use one of the products, then they each need one

Named User license, OR some poor schmuck "manager" must re-assign the one license to whoever is

about to log on.

And that is of course is courtesy of Autodesk for OUR convenience and better experience.

IOW, logons

[rkmcswain]

@acad-caveman  - true with the new "single-user" licenses. I guess it depends on whether your conversation is limited to what's available for rental today, or if you're includes legacy licensing types.

[Anonymous]

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@acad-caveman wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@rgorman wrote:

The single user license is different than the Named User Account as I understand it. 

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Named user and single user are the same thing.

---

You sure about that?

From what I understand that is not the case!

If your organization has 3 people who on occasion use one of the products, then they each need one

Named User license, OR some poor schmuck "manager" must re-assign the one license to whoever is

about to log on.

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Yes, this is exactly how this works. A single user license can only be assigned to one named user at a time. That's why I said it's the same thing. What is your understanding of a "single user" license if not this?

[acad-caveman]

Single user = Anyone can walk up to a common computer with the software installed, log on with his/her

username, fire up the ADSK software and have at it.

Software is licensed by license number, so all users use the one common license on the common PC.

Named user = Sign on with your username/password, log in to the account management site, change the license to

your name, use the software.

When done, the next guy/gal signs on, logs in management site, changes the license to his/her name, uses software.

Then the next guys/gal .... ( see where I'm going with this???)

[Anonymous]

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@acad-caveman wrote:

Single user = Anyone can walk up to a common computer with the software installed, log on with his/her

username, fire up the ADSK software and have at it.

Software is licensed by license number, so all users use the one common license on the common PC.

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You are referring to what is now called a legacy standalone (serial number-based) license. Autodesk no longer offers this license type 😞

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@acad-caveman wrote:

Named user = Sign on with your username/password, log in to the account management site, change the license to

your name, use the software.

When done, the next guy/gal signs on, logs in management site, changes the license to his/her name, uses software.

Then the next guys/gal .... ( see where I'm going with this???)

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If you only have 1 license to share, yes, that's how it's supposed to work. By making it extremely inconvenient for the customer, Autodesk is banking on these customers giving up and buying more licenses.

(or migrating to a different vendor...)