Manage a Multi-Site Environment

The multiple site environment allows users to design products across multiple locations as if all the users were in one location. There are two different methods to accommodate this functionality.

The first method is to centralize the database for all sites. The database for Vault can sit on a separate server as illustrated here.

The second method is to set up a main site with the database and main file store located on the same server. The main site has the most users and is where the most design work is done.

In these environments, users open data files such as AutoCAD drawings, Inventor Assemblies, or Microsoft Office documents from their local file Store. All metadata is read from and written to a central database so that users can open large files much faster than if they copy them across the Wide Area Network (WAN)

Note: Setting up the main site first and then accessing the main site remotely provides satisfactory performance for some users. We recommend that you set up the main site and then expand to a multiple site.

Is a Multi-Site Environment Right for You?

A multiple site environment setup is more complicated than a single server environment. Consider several factors when deciding if you want to set up a multiple site environment:

Note: For more information see Deployment Planning and System Requirements.

Enable or Disable a Vault for a Multi-Site Environment

Note: This feature is available only in Autodesk Vault Collaboration and Professional editions.

Enable a Vault

To make a vault accessible to other sites, it must be enabled. When a vault is enabled, it is available to all sites in a multi-site environment. Only vaults at the site from which the server console is running can be enabled.

  1. In the navigation pane, expand the Workgroups node.
  2. Select the site to work with.
  3. Select a vault located on the current site from the list.
  4. Right-click on the vault name and then select Vault Enabled.
  5. If the file store path for the selected vault is not set or is invalid, you are prompted to specify the file store path for the selected vault. Specify the location of the file store, and then click OK.
  6. You are prompted to select whether the vault data is synchronized now or at the next scheduled replication. By default, replication is set for 12:00 AM (midnight) each weekday.

Disable a Vault

To restrict any other site from accessing a vault, it must be disabled. When a vault is disabled, it is no longer available to any other site in a multi-site environment. A disabled vault is available only to the site where the vault is located. Only vaults at the site from which the server console is running can be disabled.

  1. In the navigation pane, select Sites.
  2. Select the line containing the current site and the vault to enable at this site.
  3. Right-click on the vault name and then turn off Vault Enabled.

View Site Details

  1. On the Windows Start menu, click Programs ► Autodesk ► Autodesk Data Management ► Autodesk data management server console.
  2. Log into the Autodesk Data Management Server console.
  3. In the navigation pane, select Workgroups.
  4. Select the Site that you want to manage.
    Each site is listed along with a summary of site statistics including:
    • Server Name
    • Description
    • Location of File Store
    • Vault Name
    • Vault Status
    • Replication Type
    • Last Replication
    • Next Replication
    • Site Status

Release Availability

The ability to configure multi-site environments is supported in these Vault editions.

  2012 2013 2014
Autodesk Vault Basic    
Autodesk Vault Workgroup    
Autodesk Vault Collaboration
Autodesk Vault Professional

Change the Description of a Site

Note: This feature is available only in Autodesk Vault Collaboration and Professional editions.

By default, the Description field for a site contains the name of the computer hosting that site. The description for a site can be edited to indicate the location of the site or provide a short description of the site. Any site description can be edited from the current site.

  1. In the navigation pane, select Sites.
  2. Select a site from the list.
  3. Right-click on the Description field for the site and then select Edit Description.
  4. In the Description dialog box, enter a new description for the site.
  5. Click OK.

Delete a Site

Note: This feature is available only in Autodesk Vault Collaboration and Professional editions.

A site that is no longer needed can be deleted. A site can be deleted using the server console from any site.

  1. In the navigation pane, select Sites.
  2. Right-click a site in the list and then select Delete Site.
  3. If any vaults on the selected site contain data that has not been replicated to other sites, you are prompted to verify deletion of the site. Click Yes to delete the site without replicating the data or click No to cancel the site deletion so that the data can be replicated first.
  4. If all of the data at the selected site has been replicated to other sites, you are prompted to verify the deletion of the site. Click Yes.
Note: To remove a site and prevent it from automatically being included, change the vault administration password.