SOLIDWORKS PDM (Product Data Management), previously known as EPDM, provides critical solutions for securely storing, indexing, and managing design files, documentation, and revision control throughout the product development lifecycle. The SOLIDWORKS PDM License Manager is an integral part of this ecosystem, ensuring secure access to these powerful data management capabilities.
OpenLM provides a comprehensive solution for monitoring and optimizing SOLIDWORKS EPDM/PDM licenses. OpenLM SOLIDWORKS PDM monitoring delivers high-resolution usage data, and advanced license harvesting capabilities, enabling you to reduce waste and ensure maximum availability for your engineering teams.
SOLIDWORKS PDM utilizes floating licenses managed by the SolidNetWork License Server. This structure allows organizations to tailor access based on user roles and required capabilities.
The SOLIDWORKS PDM License Manager is the component that ensures secure access to PDM’s capabilities, facilitating collaboration and streamlining workflows. It is managed by the SolidNetWork License Server.
PDM offers two main versions (Standard and Professional) and three core floating license types to accommodate various user roles:
| License type | Model / Description | Key capabilities (Floating licenses) |
| CAD Editor | Highest tier, typically for SOLIDWORKS users. | Full read/write access, creation/editing of CAD data, and access to PDM functionality from within the SOLIDWORKS application (via add-in). |
| Contributor | Mid-tier, typically for non-CAD users (e.g., management, quality assurance). | Full read/write access to non-CAD files (Word, Excel, PDF), file check-in/out, and participation in workflows. CAD add-ins are not enabled. |
| Viewer | Lowest tier, typically for users who only require read access (e.g., procurement, finance). | Allows read-only access to vaults, search, view, and print files. Users cannot modify or add files. |
The goal of having tiered licenses is to prevent users who only need to view data from unnecessarily occupying an expensive CAD Editor license.
OpenLM provides a unique extension with dedicated enhancements for SOLIDWORKS users, offering comprehensive monitoring by tracking the SOLIDWORKS PDM database.
| OpenLM capability | Value for PDM licenses | Supported by OpenLM |
| Real-time usage monitoring | Tracks usage activity with high-resolution reporting, available by minute. | Yes |
| Idle session detection | Identifies idle SOLIDWORKS sessions where the user has checked out a license but is inactive. | Yes |
| Automatic license harvesting | Safely saves and closes idle SOLIDWORKS sessions, returning the license to the pool and boosting license availability. | Yes |
| Denial notification | Users who have been denied licenses can be notified when one has become vacant. | Yes |
| Group and Project reporting | Supports reporting usage and applying chargeback according to Project and Group membership. | Yes |
| Informed procurement | Provides actual application utilization data to make informed decisions on license maintenance and procurement. | Yes |
| Database monitoring | OpenLM can be configured to monitor the SOLIDWORKS EPDM database directly to track license usage and reporting. | Yes |
OpenLM’s dedicated solutions ensure that your organization can maximize the efficiency of its tiered floating licenses, which is critical given the high cost of CAD Editor seats.
Delivering impact at every scale
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