Upgrading Clients from Administrative Images

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager can automatically update client computers installed from an administrative image.

Typically, administrative images are organized in folders on a server. To support the automatic upgrade of clients, the administrative image must be located in a shared folder.

After upgrading the administrative image, the original installation will be in one folder and the upgraded installation will be in another folder. To use the upgraded installation, remove the sharing option from the original administrative image folder and then add the sharing option to the upgraded administrative image folder.

When SOLIDWORKS starts on a client machine that installed from the original administrative image, it sees the new version and upgrades the client.
Also, when SOLIDWORKS triggers an update, other products installed from an administrative image automatically update.

Removing the Sharing Option from the Original Administrative Image Folder

When upgrading an administrative image that is accessed from a shared folder, you must remove the sharing option from the original folder.

  1. Browse to the folder where the original administrative image files are located.
  2. Right-click the folder and select Properties.
  3. On the Sharing tab, select Do not share this folder, and then click OK.

Now add the sharing option to the upgraded administrative image folder as described in Adding the Sharing Option to an Upgraded Administrative Image Folder.

Adding the Sharing Option to an Upgraded Administrative Image Folder

Once you have created an updated administrative image folder and disabled the sharing for the original administrative image folder, you must add the sharing option to the new folder to re-enable the administrative image.

  1. Browse to the folder where the upgraded administrative image files are located.
  2. Right-click the folder and select Properties.
  3. On the Sharing tab, specify the sharing properties appropriate for your organization or group and change the share name to the name used for the original administrative image folder.
Computers that installed from the original administrative image share location will upgrade to the new version automatically when starting SOLIDWORKS.
Limitation: When you create an administrative image and deploy it automatically through sharing, SOLIDWORKS does not upgrade to a new service pack if you replace the image. SOLIDWORKS only upgrades automatically if you installed the original image manually using the Installation Manager.

For example, if you create an administrative image for SOLIDWORKS <version> SP1 and deploy it automatically using the sharing options, the client installs and runs as expected. Later, you create a new image for SP5 in the same folder, disable sharing on the SP1 image, and enable sharing on the SP5 image using the same share name.

When you open SOLIDWORKS on the client, it does not detect the new image or trigger an upgrade. It opens SP1. Even matching the folder name to the original image does not resolve this issue.