Using Tekla Structures with application and desktop virtualization

Tekla Structures
2018
Tekla Structures

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.

Using Tekla Structures from a centralized location ensures that all users in the project are using the same project environment set-up. Streaming applications from the server enables the use of Tekla Structures on client computers, tablets and smartphones that have different hardware and software configurations. The project data is protected as everything is stored only on the server.

The key components for using Tekla Structures with the Citrix application and desktop virtualization are:

  • Windows server
    • Virtualization solution, such as Citrix XenServer or VMware vSphere
    • Citrix application virtualization or Citrix desktop virtualization solution installed
    • The server is typically set up by the company's IT department.
  • User groups, in other words, delivery groups defined on the server
    • Delivery groups are set up by the administrator of the virtualization environment.
  • Access rights for delivery groups defined on the server
    • Access rights are set up by the administrator.
  • Citrix Receiver installed on client computers
    • The Citrix Receiver is typically delivered through an Internet browser.
  • Tekla Structures installed on the server or on the virtual machine running on the server
    • High-end Windows server that can serve multiple concurrent users
  • Fast access to project files
  • Connection to Tekla Structures license server as each Tekla Structures user needs a valid Tekla Structures license

The image below shows the main concepts in Tekla Structures virtualization.

1Desktop user
2Tablet or smartphone user
3Citrix thin client
4Secure display data connection over the Internet
5Tekla Structures instances running on a virtual machine
6Virtual Windows server OS
7Virtualization platform (hypervisor layer)
8Server hardware
9Data center hosted by the user organization, Trimble, Amazon, or by a third party

Prerequisites for using Tekla Structures in a virtual environment

Citrix virtualization is set up either on a physical server or on a virtual server. Users and user groups are added, and access rights are defined with Citrix Studio for accessing computing resources on the server.

Recommended hardware is described in Tekla Structures 2018 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.

1Citrix XenApp 7.6
2Thin client application: Citrix XenApp client or Citrix XenDesktop desktop viewer
3Tablet / Phone user
4Desktop user
5Multiple concurrent clients may share one virtual machine instance
6Data center hosted by the user organization, Trimble, Amazon, or by a third party
7A graphics processing unit (GPU) can be dedicated for each virtual machine instance with 0.5 GB to 2 GB of graphics memory, depending on the usage.
8High-end computer:
  • Fast graphics card, NVIDIA GRID K520 or the newer NVIDIA Tesla GPUs
  • 8 GB to16 GB of main memory for each user, depending on the usage
  • Good CPUs, such as the latest generation of Intel Xeon E5 or E7 families
  • Windows Server 2012 R2 OS
9Local, enterprise or cloud Tekla Structures license server. Each TeklaStructures.exe running on the virtual machine needs a valid license.
10Network bandwidth, 1 Mbps or more
11Accessing files from the client's local file system may be very slow and should be avoided.
12Never use the local disk of the virtual server for saving model folders.
13Citrix XenDesktop 7.6
14VMware vSphere 6.0 hypervisor
15File server
16Normal Windows file system permission handling on the file server
17Project data including environments should be stored on another (server) machine in the data center or file system inside the company network.
18Desktop application: Tekla Structures
19Virtual machine instance
20Hypervisor
21Windows server machine hosting the virtual machines
22Network-attached storage (NAS)
23Data center
24Tekla Structures license server (on premises or hosted outside the data center)
25Get license
26Read/write project files. Fast disk access is needed.

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.

  1. Set up the server.

    High-end computer with a fast graphics card, such as NVIDIA GRID K520 or the newer NVIDIA Tesla GPUs, for serving multiple concurrent users. There needs to be enough main memory for each user depending on the size and level of detail of the projects they are working on. The server computer needs to have a good CPU and it should be running the Windows Server 2012 R2 operating system.

    For detailed instructions on installing and setting up XenApp and XenDesktop, see the Citrix documentation.

  2. Install Tekla Structures software and the needed environments on the server.
    Note:

    Storing models on the virtual computer local disk may cause access problems. Use a dedicated file server for models, and remember to select the correct network location for the model folder during the Tekla Structures installation.

    Tekla Structures environment settings are the same for all users that use the same virtual computer. In the same manner as with normal desktop installations, you still have to make sure that the environments on different virtual machines are the same or matching.

    We strongly recommend that you use standard Tekla Structures environments and amend them with company or project-specific settings (on the network file server).

  3. Install the Citrix Receiver on the Tekla Structures client computer:

    We recommend that you use the Citrix Receiver web user interface.

    1. Open the Citrix Receiver web user interface in your web browser.

      Use the https address provided by your company's administrators.

    2. Install the Citrix Receiver client software by following the steps in the installation wizard. Do not create an account, or login in the installation wizard, but finish the installation and return to the web user interface.
    3. After the installation, return to the Citrix Receiver web user interface and log in with the credentials provided by your company's administrators.
    4. Select the desired virtual desktop. If the virtual desktop does not start automatically, run the downloaded Citrix ( .ica ) file.

    You can now start using Tekla Structures on the virtual desktop, in the same manner as if it was installed on your own computer.

    • When you use the virtual desktop for the first time, you can give read and write access to your local files in the file access dialog box.
    • Note that referencing local files from your computer directly in Tekla Structures is not recommended. If you need to access those files in Tekla Structures , you should copy them to a shared network location first.
    • Note that model folders are not copied to the client computers.

    The Citrix Receiver client is updated frequently. Always install the latest client when the web user interface suggests you to do so.

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