Reference web sites

• Autodesk Web Site
• Autocad newsgroups at Autocad
• Robert McNeel tech support site
• Autodesk patches and update page (includes Network Install Wizard)
• Todd's CAD Resource Page
• License Manager Control Statements

Goals

Initial Install Observations

• Default file directory defined by "Start In" value on shortcut
• IE apparently required to be installed by setup program
• According to Foraker, IE can be removed after install
• Apparently, there is a Network Installation Wizard to facilitate unattended logins (I hope).
• A newsgroup posting (34A773D0.1EED@ix.netcom.com) states that a /p switch can be used to locate the user profiles, but that only works with version 14.01 (not sure what rev we were shipped yet)
• Licenses can be pooled through a network license manager that runs as a service on an NT server. The server code and authorization key (that has to be obtained from Autodesk) is tied to the server name, ip address, and mac address on the NIC. Change any of these, and the server license manager will need to be reauthorized. :-(
• Learning Assistant uses an IE-looking web browser for access. It also installs Microsoft's ActiveMovie. It can, at least, be run from a network server if contents of CD are copied to a network share, mapped, then setup run to install run-time to local system.
• Setup program says install will take 115 megs
• Network Install Wizard asks for distribution path. Won't take a name with a subdirectory (ie, not \\server\share\dir, must be \\server\share)
• License server seems to be OK on another subnet if ACADSERVER env var is set correctly.
• When run, configuration file error (may be locked by another process or read-only .cfg, .bak) (trying to write to c:\...\acad14.cfg

Installation Steps

1. Install license manager on an NT server
1. Insert autocad CD into CD drive, run setup from NETSETUP directory
2. Install license manager and tools only
3. Obtain authorization code from Autodesk
4. Start Server
5. (reference Installation Guide for details)
2. Make an ACAD share directory on same or different server for distribution files
1. Run SETUP within NETSETUP directory
2. Install client access, silent mode to share created above
3. Go to client machine, install client copy
1. Go to share created above
2. Run setup program, should install automatically
4. Grab icons created
1. Change "Start In" value on Acad 14 shortcut to appropriate value (F:)
2. Put into template directory on install server for later use

Additional Notes

• Install program must set ACADSERVER to license server hostname during unattended install (in machine environment) or set during initial login.
• In tools / preferences menu
• New printer, HP-GL/2 plotter device, define 21 for HP 4, choose net printer
• For plotter, HP-GL/2, printer 13 (draftmaster plus)
• Dismiss side menus in default config
• Pointing device, Sumagraphics MM
• Kill scrollbars (display prefs)
• # of lines in text window -- 2
• CAD .dwg files often won't open. Says in use by another process, open R/O.  Turning off oplock support in samba for .dwg files seemed to help a lot. It still pops up sometimes, but not as often
• MVSETUP caused write error as it tried to write to support directory on C:. Fix was to go into Tools/Preferences, Support File Search Path, and add F:\ACAD as the first entry in the search path

Launch Scripts