Many companies are faced with the decision of when to upgrade their Enterprise PLM solution to the latest and greatest version. The effort in upgrading a PLM solution is not trivial. It is not like upgrading a CAD desktop tool that you can just download, install on a computer and run some user tests. It is much more involved and requires rigorous testing to make sure the changes will not negatively impact any aspect of the production system. This testing should include: common end-user use cases, integrations to other business systems, and the ability for other departments to access required data. Because of the effort to properly test all these aspects, many companies wait as long as possible before taking the plunge.
The reasons to upgrade PLM software typically include: the ability to take advantage of new functionality, new support for Server or Client operating systems or databases, new integration support for the latest CAD tools or browsers, and support for other technologies such as storage devices, license systems, backup tools, etc. Upgrading your server hardware may also be a perfect opportunity to install the new version of the PLM software on a fresh system.
However, another important reason is to not get too far behind the software vendor’s development cycle. Upgrading an environment that is several versions behind can actually cost more and have more issues than upgrading every couple releases. Upgrading can often actually save time and money. The larger the jump in versions, compounds the problems that the administrators and end users need to overcome. It is challenging enough to deal with a change in CAD version, but when combined with a new operating system, backup procedure and database version, it can be very disruptive for the users. For this reason, Inceptra recommends that our customers plan and budget for an upgrade at least every 2 years.
To help customers with the upgrade process, Inceptra has put together a special SMARTEAM upgrade package. This package is attractively priced and provides experienced professional assistance to support customers with the upgrade using a proven upgrade process. The upgrade process minimizes risk and down time to allow users to be back online with the tool at the latest supported version. Please contact Inceptra consulting@inceptra.com for more details of the SMARTEAM Upgrade Package.
Don’t be left behind!
SmarTeam Technical Details
1) Dassault Systemes Support Policy. Dassault support for Service Requests (Defects) and the Distribution of CD’s of latest release and Maintenance Deliverables ends according to the following schedule. (Extended Support includes CRITSIT defects only)
Version Full Support Ends Extended Support Ends
V5R20 Oct. 19, 2012 Oct. 19, 2013
V5R21 Feb. 17, 2014 Feb. 17, 2015
V5-6R2012 Oct. 17, 2014 Oct. 17, 2015
2) CAD Version Support. The following CAD systems are support in the following versions:
CAD Version SMARTEAM Version
AutoCAD 2014 x64 V5-6R2014 from GA
AutoCAD 2013 V5-6R2013 from GA
AutoCAD 2012 V5-6R2012 from SP2
…………………………..V5R21 from SP3
Inventor 2014 x64 V5-6R2014 from GA
Inventor 2013 V5-6R2013 from GA
Inventor 2012 V5-6R2012 from SP2
…………………………..V5R21 from SP3
Solid Edge ST5 x64 V5-6R2014 from GA
Solid Edge ST4 V5-6R2013 from GA
…………………………..V5-6R2012 from SP4
…………………………..V5R21 from SP4
Solid Edge ST3 V5-6R2012 from GA
…………………………..V5R21 from GA
SolidWorks 2014 x64 V5-6R2014 from GA
SolidWorks 2013 V5-6R2013 from GA
SolidWorks 2012 V5-6R2012 from SP1
……………………………V5R21 from SP2
CATIA V5-6R2014 V5-6R2014 from GA
………………………….V5-6R2013 from GA
………………………….V5-6R2012 from GA
CATIA V5-6R2013 V5-6R2013 from GA
………………………….V5-6R2012 from GA
………………………….V5R21 from SP3
CATIA V5-6R2012 V5-6R2013 from GA
…………………………V5-6R2012 from GA
…………………………V5R21 from SP3
…………………………V5R20 from SP7
3) Support for DSLS License Software (replacement for LUM Licensing). V5R21 and higher supports the new DSLS Licensing software which replaces LUM Licensing. Hotfixes for SmarTeam and CATIA installed on all clients are required to support DSLS in R20. Currently, LUM license keys will need to be replaced every 6 months, but Dassault will stop issuing renewals in the near future.
Inceptra recommends upgrading SMARTEAM at least every 2 or 3 versions. This means if you are running SMARTEAM R21 or earlier, now is the time to upgrade
