Renaming a Solidworks PDM Archive Server

If you want to rename SOLIDWORKS PDM Archive Server, follow the steps detailed below. This is also detailed in the KB at the Solidworks customer Portal. Solution ID  ref: S-015965

Note, if the machine also hosts the SQL Server there is a separate process to follow. Please contact us in this case.

1: Backups / lock access

Firstly ensure you have a recent backup of the archive and the SQL database. Next you need to ensure  that during the rename operation no one can access the PDM vault. If you right click on the vault in the admin tool and go to properties you can select ‘block logins’

2: Rename the server (there are a number of ways this can be done, including via the ‘my computer’ area among others).

3. Once the server is renamed, we need to update the tables in SQL. Open the SQL Management Studio, Expand the Tables folder, for your vault and edit the tables ArchiveServers and SystemInfo  using the RMB, then edit top 200 rows

Only update the ArchiveServerName , for each of these tables. In a replicated environment, ONLY update the server that was renamed.

4. Next we need to update the client registry Update each client that has a file vault view attached to the renamed server

5. Update the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARESolidWorksApplicationPDMWorks EnterpriseDatabasesVAULTNAME

Update the ServerLoc (archive server) with the renamed server name. Note! If the above key is empty, the file vault view is most likely “private”, if so the archive server entry ServerLoc is found under the following key instead:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareSolidWorksApplicationsPDMWorks EnterpriseVaultsVAULTNAME

Delete the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareSolidWorksApplicationPDMWorks EnterpriseConisioAdmin.

Restart the client system. Now try to log in to the view. It should work. If it fails, verify all of the previous steps and registry changes. Make sure that the archive server works correctly by adding a text file, checking it in, and deleting it. Note! If renaming an archive server that hosts a replicated file vault, verify the name for the server entries in the replication settings Source server address as well to ensure the renamed server name is used.

Remember to enable logins again.