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CSG's approach for sharing Revit models has been to incorporate Riverbed's WAN accelerator technology for all the models, or linked models, to reside on a single server. Riverbed accelerates the traffic across the WAN/VPN connection for the users, regardless of where they are physically located. A combination of Steelhead appliances and Steelhead Mobile, for individual users, is a common deployment. This solution addresses the problem of slow access across the WAN/VPN, instead of trying to "work around" the problem. The end result is that the users works on the model as if they were all sitting in one room, without worries about versions and copied models.
Some of the other methods being used include:
Each company or office working on their own, individual model. The model is then sent to a project manager on a regular basis to be combined into a single model. Once combined, it is then sent to each individual office and/or partner to continue the work. The disadvantage is that you don't get the benefit of seeing the changes being made in the remote office until the models have been combined and re-distrubuted.
Setting up remote desktop for users to log in to a machine in the office where the model resides. The advantage here is that there is a single model, so you get the benefit of seeing the changes other are making. The disadvantage is that the screen will be choppy and you have to have two machines for each user, one that they use in their office, and the other that they log in to where the model resides.
Revit Server. For firms with their own offices, this works much better than not having anything at all. It does require a server on both sides. The advantage is that this is a "free" piece of software and does provide much improved access to the model. The disadvantage is that it is not supported across domains (partner firm), you can only be connected to one Revit server at a time, and it does remove some features from your Revit users. If you have multiple projects, and different design teams, and you don't want everyone to see all of the projects, you may have to set up several Revit Servers. Note that Revit Server also seems to help with model corruption when design teams get much larger.
FTP sites are used for distributing the model(s) to the projects teams. Essentially, this is using FTP sites from our old "file centric workflow" with Revit's new "model-centric workflow". Users will simply copy their model to the FTP site for someone else to download and begin to work. It is less "collaboration" and more a means of distribution.
CSG's approach is unique, in that not only does this resolve the problems of slow access across the WAN/VPN for Revit model sharing, but it also addresses many other applications and processes going across the WAN. Being able to bring in project partner firms for true collaboration is another unique benefit.
Click HERE to read a succes story from IKM Architects in Pittsburgh
Click HERE to read a recent AUGI article on this topic.
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