projectwise overview

ProjectWise Overview – Part 1V8 XM Edition

Gary Cochrane

ProjectWise is not a product

• ProjectWise is:− A Brand name representing Bentley collaboration

server products− ProjectWise has traditionally been a solution for

Engineering Content Management− With the XM Edition, it now is a family of products

that combine to form a solution for Engineering Content Management and Distribution

ProjectWise Mission Statement

• According to Gary− To organize, manage, and find engineering content

»Such that content can be leveraged and re-used

− To eliminate geographic and time zone barriers»And facilitate extended project teams

− To manage work processes for extended teams»By enabling/enforcing standards, thus improving the quality

of project deliverables

Focusing on Content Management

• ProjectWise provides:− Centralized control of distributed content

Central Control of Distributed Content

File Server

File Server

File Server

Introducing the modules

• Each solution comprises one or more of the following server modules

− PW Integration Server− PW Caching Server− PW Web Server− PW Publishing Server− PW InterPlot Server

ProjectWise Integration Server

• Central component of every ProjectWise solution

− Formerly known as PW Application Server− (At least) one in every PW Configuration

»Possibly more to serve large organizations (defined as greater than 500 simultaneous users)

»Or possibly more to provide redundancy»Or possibly more when multiple sites operate independently

of each other and don’t want to rely on other sites…

Before moving on…

• A few terms− Server – a ProjectWise module that is purchased

»Has a corresponding Professional Services deployment fee»Also has a corresponding SELECT fee.

− Service – Functionality included with a Server»Not all services included with a Server are configured in

each deployment»Thus, no “standard” fee for server deployments

Example

• ProjectWise Integration Server includes:− Content Management service− File storage & caching service− File indexing service− Component indexing service− User Synchronization Service− PW Gateway Service

• This will make more sense soon− A picture is worth a thousand words

Essential Components

ProjectWiseIntegration Server

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ProjectWiseExplorer Client

Internal LAN DatabaseServer

Either Oracle, or Microsoft SQL Server

* Not supplied by Bentley

In this configuration, all files are stored on the PW Integration Server

* Via File Storage service

Adding Single Sign-On


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Adding Single Sign-On


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WindowsDomain ControllerUser Synchronization

Service

Users not prompted for password when logging in to ProjectWise

* User authentication via Windows domain

Quote / Proposal

• Shopping Cart for configuration shown thus far:− Qty (1) PW Integration Server w/ deployment

services:»For Content Management service»For File Storage service»For Full Text Indexing service»For User Synchronization service

− Qty (XX) ProjectWise Passport Licenses»(Named User client licenses)

Scaling Up

• As usages grows…− It may become necessary to move file storage to a

secondary server»This removes some load from the Integration Server»Also adds flexibility as to where the files will be stored

− In this case, the configuration would include the ProjectWise Caching Server

»Configured to run the File Storage service

ProjectWise Caching Server

• Primary function is to provide remote file storage− Formerly known as ProjectWise Distributed File

Server»Prior to that, known as the ProjectWise File Transfer Server

− Provides 3 services»File Storage Service»File Caching Service»ProjectWise Gateway Service (more on these later)

Adding Remote Storage


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WindowsDomain ControllerUser Synchronization

Service

Adding Remote Storage


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WindowsDomain Controller

ProjectWiseCaching Server

User SynchronizationService

Files may still be stored on the Integration Server

Files may also be stored on a remote server, thus reducing load on the Integration Server

Updated Quote / Proposal

• To previous quote, Add− Qty (1) PW Caching Server w/ deployment services

»For File Storage service

Adding Remote sites

• Remote sites may be supported:− With minimal investment

»No PW server infrastructure»Only add PW Passport licenses for remote clients»Typical for small sites

− With additional investment for better performance»Remote file storage service»Remote file caching service

Multiple Site support - Good


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Internal LAN – Site 1 DatabaseServer




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Internal LAN – Site 2

No PW server infrastructure at site 2.

Performance will be highly dependent on intra-site bandwidth.

Multiple Site support - Better


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Multiple Site support - Better


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ProjectWiseCaching Server1


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PW Caching Server provides file storage at site 2. Performance is significantly enhanced for remote users (provided their files are stored on PW Caching Server2).

Local file transfer

Multiple Site Support - Best


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PW Caching Server provides file storage at site 2, and file caching for files stored at site 1. Performance is optimized for remote users.

PW Caching Server provides file storage at site 1, and file caching for files stored at site 2. Performance is optimized for local users.

StoragePW Integration

Server

Caching Server Configuration – Storage Only

Storage

A.DGN

Client1 Client2 Client3 Client4

PW-CS-1 PW-CS-2

B.DGN

CacheCache

StoragePW Integration

Server

Caching Server – Storage and Caching

Storage

A.DGN

Client1 Client2 Client3 Client4

PW-CS-1 PW-CS-2

B.DGN


• To base quote, Add− Qty (2) PW Caching Server w/ deployment services

»For File Storage service (“Better” configuration)»For File Caching service (“Best” configuration)

− Note: You could move the original PW Caching Server from site 1 to site 2

»And therefore only need to purchase 1 Caching Server»However all files at site 1 would then be stored on the

Integration Server again

Clients

• ProjectWise Explorer is the primary client− Provides richest user experience

»Intended for “doers”

• ProjectWise also includes web browser clients− Must purchase PW Web Server to enable− Provides subset of PW Explorer functionality

»Intended for casual users, viewers, and reviewers

PW Web Server / Browser


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Remote Site


PW Web Server / Browser


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ProjectWiseBrowser Client



ProjectWiseWeb Server



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Remote Site


In this example, the PW Web Server is available to internal users only. Although not shown, one PW Web Server can serve browser clients at both the local and remote sites


• To base quote, Add− Qty (2) PW Caching Server w/ deployment services

»For File Storage service (“Better” configuration)»For File Caching service (“Best” configuration)

− Qty (1) PW Web Server w/deployment services»For Web Explorer client


• Note: PW Web server provides:− Basic content management functionality,

• If web users need to view/redline drawings, add:− Qty (1) PW Publishing Server

»With services $$ to integrate with PW

• If web users need Design Compare capability, add:

− Qty (1) PW Plot Server»With services $$ to integrate with PW

External Users

• Within Information Technology, it is common practice to create a network “neutral zone” to support external users

− This is a network that can be reached by both internal and external users.

− Often referred to as a DMZ− Created by implementing multiple firewalls, or high-

end single firewalls

Neutral Zone Configuration


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Internal LAN

INTERNET

Firewall

DatabaseServer



DMZ


Firewall


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Remote Site


In this example, the PW Web Server has been moved to the neutral zone. Internal browser clients may still access PW via the Web Server.



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Internal LAN

INTERNET

Firewall

DatabaseServer



DMZ


Firewall


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Remote Site




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Internal LAN

INTERNET

Firewall

DatabaseServer



DMZ


Firewall


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Remote Site


By moving the PW Web Server to the neutral zone, External browser clients may also access PW via the Web Server.


• Same as previous scenario (from a software perspective)

− Qty (2) PW Caching Server w/ deployment services»For File Storage service (“Better” configuration)»For File Caching service (“Best” configuration)

− Qty (1) PW Web Server w/deployment services»For Web Explorer client

• However, we will likely add services $$ in anticipation of DMZ / Firewall issues…

External Users

• The previous configuration addressed external Web browser users (viewers & reviewers)

− What if I want external “doers”?»The ProjectWise Explorer client is internet-capable»However, rarely will the network security policy of an

organization accommodate such use

ProjectWise Gateway service

• The ProjectWise Gateway service was designed to solve such problems

− It acts as a “go-between” the ProjectWise Integration server and external users

− Remember, it’s a service, not a Server»Therefore no software or SELECT fee»Only adds implementation services to deploy

External Doer support


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Internal LAN

INTERNET

Firewall

DatabaseServer



DMZ


Firewall


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Remote Site




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Internal LAN

INTERNET

Firewall

DatabaseServer



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DMZ


ProjectWiseGateway Service

Firewall


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Remote Site


One last twist

• Rather than require a second machine in the DMZ

− The ProjectWise Gateway service can be installed on the ProjectWise Web Server machine



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Internal LAN

INTERNET

Firewall

DatabaseServer



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DMZ


ProjectWiseGateway Service

Firewall


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Remote Site




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Internal LAN

INTERNET

Firewall

DatabaseServer



+ProjectWise

Gateway Service

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DMZ


Firewall


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Remote Site


PW Passport client licensing

• ProjectWise Client licensing is “Named User”− You need one, for each user

»Does not matter if they are PW Explorer users, or PW Web browser users

− Client licenses are not “poolable”, “shareable”, or “floatable”

»Usage is measured based on the number of unique names that access the system

»NOT based on peak concurrent usage (like MicroStation)

Client Licensing

• Mitigating factors− PW Passport license fee dropped to US MSRP $360− SELECT provides 1 PW Passport for each

MicroStation license covered»This license is not an owned asset, but a benefit of SELECT»If SELECT contract is cancelled, this benefit is forfeited

− PW Passport covers access to all Bentley servers»Also covers access to desktop applications including:

– PW Navigator, Bentley Redline, InterPlot Client

Summary

• This should help you understand common ProjectWise configuration scenarios

− This discussion was limited to “ProjectWise Classic”− Next week, we will look at SharePoint and associated

Bentley solutions− We will also look at Geospatial components of

ProjectWise

projectwise overview – part 1 v8 xm edition

Documents

projectwise solutionformerly

projectwise module

content managementprojectwise

integration serveralso

remote file storageformerly

microsoft sql server

servicesfile storage