Upgrading from Solidworks 2018

[DanPihlaja]

So, IT called me today to figure out where we should upgrade to.

Currently the entire company (like 25 seats, I think) is at SW 2018.

The question is, how far do we upgrade?

SW 2022 SP3.1?
SW 2021?
SW 2020?

Those are our 3 choices right now.

IT wants to move forward to at least upgrade to SW 2020. We have some users who are still on Windows 7. SW 2020 is compatible with that. The other 2 are not. (Windows server is already upgraded)

SW 2021 is compatible with Windows 10 (and so is SW 2020 & SW 2022). But only SW 2022 is compatible with Windows 11.

So, IT came to me to ask which one is best to upgrade to, because we don't want to get into a situation where we upgraded to something that will lock us into problems and bugs.

The cheapest upgrade will be to SW 2020, because then the Windows 7 & 8 machines can be replaced with Windows 10 machines across the board.

But if there are a lot of inherent problems with 2020, then we will want to go to SW 2021 or 2022. If we are going to SW 2022, then he is talking about upgrading everyone to Windows 11 (even though it is compatible with Windows 10 atm).

So the question is....which one is best to go to? What's your opinion?

[SPerman]

Unfortunately I think you're going to have to do some testing to see which version has the fewest issues for your company's workflow.

Personally I'm on 2020 and although it has a few issues, their impact is relatively minor, and I have work arounds for them. I'm sure you will have others respond who say that 2020 was terrible and they are happy with 2021.

[Glenn Schroeder]

. . . If we are going to SW 2022, then he is talking about upgrading everyone to Windows 11 (even though it is compatible with Windows 10 atm).

So the question is....which one is best to go to? What's your opinion?

Howdy Dan,

Why not go to SW2022 and only update the computers still using Windows 7 for now?

[AlexB]

We upgraded from 2018 to 2021 in January. Make sure that your IT department knows that they may have to buy SQL licensing for any upgrades past 2021. I forget exactly when it stopped, but SW provided a license for SQL 2014 with any PDM Professional licensing but that's no longer the case. Any newer PDM professional installation will need the recommended SQL version as listed in their software recommendations. We bit the bullet and got ours upgraded for 2021 since SQL 2014 will be unsupported by SW in a year anyway and we were already upgrading to new servers and OS versions on the servers.

I haven't noticed any issues on the PDM side. The issues with the SW software itself have been discussed in great detail in other threads so I won't go too much into it, other than to recommend to disable "Enhanced Graphics" since that causes a huge number of visual and functional oddities. With all that said, 2021 meets our needs without any real issues and our users have not had to change how they use the software vs 2018.

If you have questions about a specific part of the process, I'll be happy to elaborate.

[AlexLachance]

I would honestly wait to see until 2022 SP5.1 is out to see if when the final update of SolidWorks 2022 is out, if it is stable enough for the switch. If not, then I'd go with 2021. Seemed pretty stable from what I've read.

I'm still on 2019 though, so I have no personal experience on any further version.

[Tahhhd]

Hey Dan,

I don't have a lot to add, other than "Hey, How are you doing?"

We are usually a release behind, because we need to remain compatible with BySoft (Software for our lasers & press brakes)
We are currently on 2021 SP2.0 (I'm at SP5.1, but I don't use BySoft, so I "snuck" in the update on my computer.)
- I would like to bump everyone else up to SP5.1, but there haven't been any big issues yet, so I'm hoping to hold off until I have more time.
I like Alex's advice to wait for 2022 SP5, but if they aren't willing to wait for that, I would probably lean toward 2021 SP5.1

todd

[bnemec]

I'm a bit confused by this. You say IT is initiating the update? Why? Do they use CAD or are they having troubles due to 2018? Do you have limitations in 2018 that are fixed in a newer version that justifies the change? Have you tested the proposed versions on a copy of a portion of your dataset?

Updating just because IT thinks we should concerns me a bit. The CAD Admin should determine when and what to update to.
Please don't update to a newer version without spending a bunch of hours testing your typical usage in the newer version.

[DanPihlaja]

Howdy Dan,

Why not go to SW2022 and only update the computers still using Windows 7 for now?

WE need to update across the board. Reason is that lots of things are shared throughout the system. Which means that everyone needs to be on the same level with regards to Solidworks.

[Glenn Schroeder]

WE need to update across the board. Reason is that lots of things are shared throughout the system. Which means that everyone needs to be on the same level with regards to Solidworks.

Maybe I wasn't clear. You said that IT was talking about updating everyone's computers to Win 11 if you go to SW2022. I was asking why not upgrade everyone to SW2022, but only update the computers that are still using Win 7?

[DanPihlaja]

Maybe I wasn't clear. You said that IT was talking about updating everyone's computers to Win 11 if you go to SW2022. I was asking why not upgrade everyone to SW2022, but only update the computers that are still using Win 7?

Ahh, I understand. Maybe that will happen. Not sure. Its up to them and their "grand master plan" LOL

[SPerman]

I can't believe your IT department allows Windows 7 machines 2 1/2 years after its EOL.

[AlexB]

I can't believe your IT department allows Windows 7 machines 2 1/2 years after its EOL.

Wait until you hear about XP machines that are isolated from the network because they're a security risk but are also the only OS that will run an old program that "can't be replaced"

[AlexLachance]

I can't believe your IT department allows Windows 7 machines 2 1/2 years after its EOL.

Neither can I, I'm running crazy just reminding people constantly to use Edge and not Internet Explorer, I'd go online and find a solution to block the darned software across the company but I can't because our ERP is still in the transition from Internet Explorer to Edge/Chrome.

I swear I've lost count of how many times I've had to answer "Why do I have to change, Internet Explorer works just fine!". Seems most people do not know how security online works.

Wait until you hear about XP machines that are isolated from the network because they're a security risk but are also the only OS that will run an old program that "can't be replaced"

And now, I feel less lonely

[Glenn Schroeder]

I can't believe your IT department allows Windows 7 machines 2 1/2 years after its EOL.

I'm surprised by that myself. Here they just about force us to get new computers every three years, and if a computer is more than five years old they won't let it connect to the network.

[Frederick_Law]

Solidworks alone is easy to figure out.
Question is, do you use PDM?
If so, figure out upgrade path of that first.

[SPerman]

Wait until you hear about XP machines that are isolated from the network because they're a security risk but are also the only OS that will run an old program that "can't be replaced"

That I get. The last place I worked had some hardware who's software never got upgraded past XP. As long as those machines aren't connected to the network, the risk is minimal.

[AlexLachance]

That I get. The last place I worked had some hardware who's software never got upgraded past XP. As long as those machines aren't connected to the network, the risk is minimal.

We use VMWare on a pretty regular basis to launch a Windows XP session that has access to the company's network so that we can then run AutoCAD 2000 (The version of AutoCAD that we have a bunch of licences). Though, our protection agent does what it has to do to make sure that noone can take advantage of the possible security leak there could be.

We have 2 recent licences of AutoCAD, but they are for dedicated users. These people need a real AutoCAD on a regular basis for external stuff and what not.

[Dwight]

Dan

We are upgrading from 2018 to 2022 in October. I am behind schedule in our preparations for that, but soon I'll be looking at settings changes, template updates, and so on. We use Teamcenter for our PDM, and that has a lot to work out yet.

Anyway, I'll be interested to hear how your "upgrade" goes, and I'll let you know if we find anything to watch out for in the transition.

Dwight

[DanPihlaja]

I'm a bit confused by this. You say IT is initiating the update? Why? Do they use CAD or are they having troubles due to 2018? Do you have limitations in 2018 that are fixed in a newer version that justifies the change? Have you tested the proposed versions on a copy of a portion of your dataset?

Updating just because IT thinks we should concerns me a bit. The CAD Admin should determine when and what to update to.
Please don't update to a newer version without spending a bunch of hours testing your typical usage in the newer version.

Well, we don't really have a CAD admin, except me. Who isn't really a CAD admin and is really a "settings guy" for everyone and maybe an "advisor" for CAD related stuff.

I think that the upgrade has more to do with security on older machines than anything else.

[Dwight]

Well, we don't really have a CAD admin, except me.

That is a perfect job description for me, probably for many here.

Dwight

[DanPihlaja]

Solidworks alone is easy to figure out.
Question is, do you use PDM?
If so, figure out upgrade path of that first.

We don't use any PDM as of yet.

[DanPihlaja]

We upgraded from 2018 to 2021 in January. Make sure that your IT department knows that they may have to buy SQL licensing for any upgrades past 2021. I forget exactly when it stopped, but SW provided a license for SQL 2014 with any PDM Professional licensing but that's no longer the case. Any newer PDM professional installation will need the recommended SQL version as listed in their software recommendations. We bit the bullet and got ours upgraded for 2021 since SQL 2014 will be unsupported by SW in a year anyway and we were already upgrading to new servers and OS versions on the servers.

I haven't noticed any issues on the PDM side. The issues with the SW software itself have been discussed in great detail in other threads so I won't go too much into it, other than to recommend to disable "Enhanced Graphics" since that causes a huge number of visual and functional oddities. With all that said, 2021 meets our needs without any real issues and our users have not had to change how they use the software vs 2018.

If you have questions about a specific part of the process, I'll be happy to elaborate.

Thank you for that detailed response. I forwarded what you said to our IT department.

[Frederick_Law]

Since you don't use PDM, install all versions and test.

[Bradfordzzz]

I would not advise making the move to 2022 SP3.1
Way too buggy and no end of that in sight.

2021 SP5.1 worked good for us, although I know others did have issues (i think mostly with PDM which we dont use)

[AlexB]

Thank you for that detailed response. I forwarded what you said to our IT department.

You mentioned you don't use PDM, so my initial response about SQL won't apply unless you are looking into implementing PDM Professional. PDM Standard still uses SQL Express (free). PDM Standard also comes free with any Solidworks Professional or Premium licenses so you may already "have" it. All you need is a server to load it on and point the clients to. Your VAR can probably point you in the right direction for that if it's something your interested in.

[RichGergely]

I'm surprised by that myself. Here they just about force us to get new computers every three years, and if a computer is more than five years old they won't let it connect to the network.

I'm not sure if that is any better than the windows 7 issue. Just sounds like IT madness.

The thing is if the computer runs the current OS/updates and has the correct security loaded on there really isn't any need to dump it if it still does the job required fast enough.

I've got a emergency back-up workstation that runs windows 10 and everything is up-to-date, it was purchased on 1st May 2012! Other than it being slower than the current workstation it is perfectly secure and safe to use.

[Damo]

Hmmmm..

I'm sure my response is likely only a reflection of my own limited experience and I'm also sure there will be those who disagree with me..
I never used 2018.. (I skipped from 2016 to 2020) So I cannot comment on how that version compares to later ones. 2020 seemed ok enough to me tho I was not on 2020 for long enough to reasonably evaluate it, as a colab effort forced my hand to 2021. Which I vehemently hated with every fibre of my being. 2021 was the worst buggy and least stable- frequently crashing version I ever used. I went thru all the SP's in desperation of betterment and flew right thru it all and landed on 2022. I have stayed here.. On SP0.0 too. I am quite ok with that. I do not suffer any of the grievances with it which I have read of here, mirror issues, pack-n-go issues.. etc.
I do see a few weird graphical issues on odd occasion, but they always clear up with a Ctrl+Q and I cannot even recall the last time I crashed.
In another post I spoke of my unwillingness to part with any more $ub$ and so I will be staying here at 2022 SP0.0.
And I have willingly and happily updated several of my projects (and ALL 2021 projects) into the 2022 format without hesitation or issue and I am trucking along quite fine now.. (Tho I am only "one man" here..)

And as for the forced OS upgrade to support later versions..... Don't get me started..

[TTevolve]

I would wait till 2022's end SP comes out. If your not going to continually update you want to get the most stable and the one that will last you the longest till your next upgrade. Only thing I have seen with 2022 is the mirror bug, so I have not gone to that until it's fixed.

I am on 2021 SP5.1 and it's pretty stable, although a lot of SW stability is based on the hardware/configuration of your machine you are running it on.