Solutions Update: Content
Center and Autodesk Inventor®
11
With the introduction of Autodesk Inventor®
11, Autodesk made a major change in the way that Content Center is
installed and operates. Content Center now operates under the same
Autodesk Data Manager Server software that is used by both Autodesk
Vault and Autodesk Productstream.
By switching to the Autodesk Data Management Server software for Content
Center, Autodesk has added a lot of new power, features and capabilities
including:
-Improved Content Center browsing and selection enabling users to easily
locate desired components using built-in and user defined filters. In
addition, there are now capabilities for doing a Family Preview and a
Favorites folder.
-New authoring tools to make it easier to publish content that will
guide you easily
through the process of creating and mapping appropriate parameters and
iMates for each of the content based Component Generators and the
Autodrop functionality. Also, there is a new Batch Publish tool which
drastically reduces the time required to load multiple items into the
Content Center.
-Content is now stored in separate libraries for each component standard
giving you the ability install only those libraries that you need.
-A new Autodesk Manufacturing Supplier Content Center allowing you to
more easily incorporate purchased parts in your design without spending
time modeling the parts yourself.
The downside is the added complexity brought about by using Autodesk
Data Management Server software to manage the Content Center. Autodesk
Data Management Server is based on Microsoft SQL Server with all of its
associated installation, backup and IT administration requirements. In
addition, the installation of Autodesk Data Management Server requires
the installation of a number of other related software components
including Microsoft .Net Framework, multiple versions of Microsoft XML,
and Microsoft Web Services. Note: On single user installations, Autodesk’s
Personal Web Server can be installed in lieu of IIS. I have done this on
several systems and it works well.
While an existing PC running Autodesk Inventor could be used for very
small Inventor or non-shared Content Center installations, for best
performance and stability, Autodesk recommends a dedicated computer be
used as the data management server. For exact and up-to-date
specifications, contact us or visit www.autodesk.com. The information
can be found under the Autodesk Vault or Productstream server
requirements.
Running Autodesk Data Management Server on a computer or server that
also acts as a print/plot server, e-mail server, primary/backup domain
controller, application server for any other company business system,
server for another SQL or non-SQL database application, etc. can cause
serious consequences and potential data loss and may not even be
possible depending on the other applications you are running. Running
Content Center on a dedicated computer reduces the potential for
conflict between existing applications and Content Center itself along
with all of its other associated components.
To assist our customers with the implementation of Content Center, we
offer on-site implementation assistance. Typically this will be a
one-day engagement. Prior to the on-site assistance, we conduct a
readiness call to ensure that everything is in place so the
implementation day will be successful.
The potential risks of data loss and system conflicts require that this
type of service be provided on-site and not attempted by telephone
consultation.
Prior to the day of implementation assistance, customers will need to
back up and verify existing data sets, database files and CAD/file data.
Once Content Center is installed and working, our phone support services
will, of course, cover the usage of Content Center whether it was
customer installed or installed by Hagerman & Company personnel.
Hagerman & Company, Inc. strongly recommends that you use a dedicated
computer for a shared Content Center with Inventor 11. Please note that
in most cases, this does not need to be a true “server”, but can instead
be a fairly inexpensive PC as long as it meets the requirements for
Autodesk Data Management Server, is accessible by other computers on
your network, and gets backed up regularly by your IT department. In
most cases, Content Center will install very easily on a dedicated PC.
Using a dedicated computer will thus reduce your need for on site
installation services from Hagerman & Company in the short term and your
chance for errors, conflicts and/or data loss in the long term.
CAD/CAM/CAE
Solutions
