Using Revit Server to Remotely Collaborate

on Wednesday, 06 April 2011. Posted in Front Page, Global AEC

You can use a Revit Server to support collaboration and worksharing between remote sites.

To setup and start using a Revit Server, follow these steps...

 

Installing a Revit Server

Follow the steps outlined in these documents:

You can also watch a video here showing the steps involved in properly setting up the required services on your Windows 2008 server.

Then download and install the Revit Server software on your Windows 2008 server:

If you're creating a local server that will sync with our server at Stanford, follow the steps in the Local Server Installation and Configuration sections of the documents.  Choose Local Server as the server type, and enter cee-revitserver.stanford.edu as the central server name or 171.67.82.231 as the IP address.

If you're having trouble setting up the Revit Server, be sure to check out the troubleshooting tips in this blog post.

Updating Your Revit Application and Installing the Revit Server Extension

You'll need to update your version of the Revit application to Revit 2011 and install the Revit Server extension.

You can download Revit Architecture, Structure, or MEP 2011 from the Autodesk Education Community website. 

Install this version, then update the application to Web Update 2 using the appropriate patch for your computer (32-bit or 64-bit):
Next, install the Revit Server extension by downloading and running this file:
 

Saving Your Central File on the Revit Server

After you've installed the Revit Server extension, new options will appear in the Collaborate tab of the ribbon.
  • Switch to the Collaborate tab, and you should see a down arrow next to word "Synchronize" at the bottom of the Synchronize panel.  
  • Click this down arrow, and choose Connect to Revit Server from the pull-down menu that appears.
  • Enter the server name or IP address of the local Revit Server that you've set up for your location. 
Once you've establish a connection to a Revit Server, a new Revit Server option will appear in the left side of the Save As dialog box.  Move your project's CENTRAL file to the Revit Server, so you can start syncing it with remote servers.
  • Open the Application menu and choose Save As, then select Project from the submenu.
  • Navigate to the Revit Server.
  • Open the Revit Server Models folder, then open the folder for your project team.
  • Click the Options... button, and enable the Make this a Central File after save checkbox.
  • Click OK to close the File Save Options dialog.
  • Name the new CENTRAL file and click Save.
Working with your project's CENTRAL file on the Revit Server is essentially the same as working with it on a local file server.  You should still:
  • Save a local DRAFT file on your computer that you will use to open the CENTRAL file.
  • Check out worksets or elements as needed and relinquish them when done.
  • Synchronize with Central to check in your changes and reloaded the latest changes made by others.

Your Local Revit Server will work invisibly in the background keeping your version of the CENTRAL file in sync with the Central Revit Server (at Stanford) and other remote servers.