Installing PDMLink without PTC support

[[email protected]]

We just procured PDMLink and our company is new to PDM tools. I was wondering if it is possible to install and configure PDMLink without getting onsite support from PTC. PTC told us it is impossible to install without their onsite installation support staff (due to complexity of installation). They quoted us 7 days of onsite installation.


Has anyone out there attampted to install it on their own??

 

[jnoval]

It depend of how good you are


It is possible. I have done it for test installation. You should know that you will spend a lot of time on it and take alot of training. Out of the box installation is not very complicated. It is more complicated that Intralink 3.4, but possible. It is getting more complex to do the customsation.


I would recommend you to do a test installation on a single test server first. This can be done in vmware server (free) www.vmware.com. Or vmware workstation. With vmware you can make snapshot and clones so that you don't have to redo installation when something fail. You just goes back to a snapshot and redo the last step. Vmware workstation is more powerfull that vmware server and it is worth the money.


Recommendatio is to split installation in 3 servers. Application, Database and publish/CAD worker. Start to have it on a single server, because the installation is more easy. After you can redo the installation on 3 servers


PTC do support PdmLink om wmware event if some os the PTC persone say that they do not. I have this from a high level at PTC. We have planned to do all installation in vmware in 11 sites using vmware server and vmware esx.


You will need to have PTC support (web/phone) so that you can call when you get problems.


It also get more complex if you have Intralink 3.x data that you should migrate. I haven't try this yet.


Another good thing is to get some good contacts to other hardcore CAD administrators. You can do that with Ptcuser.


No matter if you after the test decide that you will get help onsite from PTC. From the test you will have a very usefull knowledge and you will be able to take better part of the specification and installation together with PTC.


Steps:

1. 
   <LI>Get vmware and get used to it</LI>
   <LI>Get PdmLink training (all classes)</LI>
   <LI>Make a windows 2003(or other OS) installation in vmware</LI>
   <LI>Make a clone/copy of the OS installation</LI>
   <LI>Get PdmLink cd's and documentation.</LI>
   <LI>Read documentation. It is pretty good</LI>
   <LI>Make a plan what features you would like to install - Start with simple </LI>
   <LI>Start a simple out of the box installation on a single server</LI>
   <LI>Restart from the clone when something fail or you have done a fail.</LI>
   <LI>Test when done</LI>
   <LI>Redo the installation on 3 servers if needed</LI>

As you can see it is not easy but possible. You will spend more that 7 days but have a good knowledga that you after can use for changes.


One installation on a single server without cad worker takes about 4 hours. There are a lot of cd's and a lot of waiting time.


I hope this was usefull for you

 

[[email protected]]

Thx jnoval, This helpsalot.

 

[preddie82]

And with windchill 9.0 , the installation is as simple as Pro E .. You have a PTC solution installer that helps you installing all the windchill components right from Apache to Product View. You just need to install Oracle 10G (or any other DBMS) and proceed with the SOlution Installer.