Using Tekla Structures with application and desktop virtualization
Using Tekla Structures with the Citrix application and desktop virtualization is a flexible and safe way to quickly add users to Tekla Structures projects without locally installing Tekla Structures and copying project data to a user's computer. Citrix application and desktop virtualization products are products of Citrix Systems, Inc.
The image below shows the main concepts in Tekla Structures virtualization.
Streaming applications from the server enables the use of Tekla Structures on client computers, tablets and smartphones that have different hardware and software configurations. Tekla Structures runs on Windows on the remote server and the virtualization solution allows client devices to be used for display and user input.
Users connect through a secure connection to the data center located in your premises or in the cloud. The project data is protected as everything is stored only on the server. Using Tekla Structures from a centralized location ensures that all users in the project are using the same project environment set-up.
Prerequisites for using Tekla Structures in a virtual environment
Citrix virtualization is set up either on a physical server or on a virtual server. Recommended hardware is described in Hardware recommendations for running Tekla Structures on Citrix and Tekla Structures 2020 hardware recommendations.
For detailed instructions on installing and setting up XenApp and XenDesktop, see the Citrix documentation.
The image below shows the main components in Tekla Structures virtualization.
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Thin client application: users can access Tekla Structures with Citrix Receiver through Citrix XenApp client or Citrix XenDesktop desktop viewer on any supported operating system and hardware. Multiple concurrent clients may share one virtual machine instance.
A good internet connection is required. Recommended network bandwidth is 1 Mbps or more.
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Each TeklaStructures.exe running on the virtual machine needs a valid license.
Local, enterprise, or cloud Tekla license server can be used, and the license server can be hosted in or out of the data center.
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Read/write project files from network-attached storage (NAS). Fast disk access is needed. Never use the local disk of the virtual server for saving model folders.
Accessing any files from the client's local file system requires uploading the files to the server, which may be very slow and should be avoided as much as possible. Project data including environments should be stored on another (server) machine in the data center or file system inside the company network.
The key components for using Tekla Structures with the Citrix application and desktop virtualization are:
- High-end Windows server that can serve multiple concurrent users. The server is typically set up by the company's IT department.
- A file server that provides fast access to project files from the virtualization server.
- Tekla Structures installed on the server or on the virtual machine running on the server.
- A reliable connection from the virtual hosts to Tekla license server as each Tekla Structures user needs a valid Tekla Structures license
- Delivery groups (user groups) and access rights, which are defined on the server with Citrix Studio.
- Delivery groups are set up by the administrator of the virtualization environment.
- Access rights for delivery groups must be defined by the administrator on the server.
- Citrix Receiver installed on client computers. The Citrix Receiver is typically delivered through an Internet browser and installed by the end-user.
Set up the virtual environment for Tekla Structures
You need to set up the server, define delivery groups, install the Tekla Structures software and environments on the server, and Tekla Structures users need to install the Citrix Receiver on their computers.