Kevin Breslin | ISD Services Manager
So, you’ve installed the 2017 version of your Autodesk Design Suite programs with all the cool bells and whistles that are part of the package, (even more so if you’re an Autodesk subscription customer) and now you’re ready to jump into it and put these great new tools to work, but before you get started . . . . you notice in your Windows system tray, a notification that the Autodesk Desktop App (in March 2016 replaced the Autodesk “Application Manager”) has some information to share with you. . . . . Let the floodgates of updates, add-ons, service packs, and hotfixes for all of the great new software you’ve just installed, open wide.
First, let’s look at the Autodesk Desktop App which is now where most users (unless you’ve intentionally disabled it) receive information about available updates. Despite the sometimes overwhelming volume of items listed within, this is actually a very good thing. This **New and improved** tool sorts and categorizes updates and product information by product, and is actually very straight forward to use. In my opinion it is a great improvement from its predecessor, especially from an “ease of use” perspective. And while the Autodesk Desktop App is a great tool for aggregating all of the update info, it doesn’t change the fact that there are a LOT OF UPDATES to deal with, especially in the first few months of the new product release.
The question is, “How do you deal with it?”
There are a several things to consider regarding how to manage these updates.
Important or not
Depending on what programs you’re using, where you are on the planet and the type of work you do, it may not be necessary to install everything that is offered. For example, if you work in the USA and are not involved with projects in other parts of the world, a Hotfix that addresses a region-specific issue, may not be necessary. On the other hand, things like Service Packs and regionally-applicable Hotfixes are almost certainly a good thing to install.
Who will actually install the updates?
First, you need to determine if the users will be installing the updates or, will it be done by an admin (IT, CAD Manager, etc.). Based on local user access rights, do your users have local administrator rights or not? If yes, each user should have the ability to install the updates as they are made available. And while I’m not necessarily a fan of it, there is also the option of allowing the updates to install automatically.
If however the users do not have local administrator privileges, they may not have the ability to actually install updates (Services Packs usually require administrator access to install). The latter case would necessitate that the updates are done by an administrator.
Will the updates be stored in a central location within the organization and then later be installed on the users systems, or will they be local to each system? Keeping the updates centralized within an organization (on a local server for example) gives you more control over the process, and allows the organization to selectively choose when to make changes. This method also lends itself well to keeping all of the workstations up to date with the same versions, service packs, etc. at the same time, rather than simply allowing the users to do it themselves when they get around to it. And let’s face it, not everyone will “get around to it” at the same time.
The bottom line
Clearly there are a lot of things to consider before you simply roll out the latest design suite.
My advice is to research all of the options before you rollout the latest and greatest 2017 products, find the best method of managing the updates and implement it as part of your rollout strategy.
A little bit of work up front will save you a lot of confusion and wasted time later.
Start here:
http://blogs.rand.com/manufacturing/2016/02/autodesk-application-manager-has-a-new-look.html
http://www.autodesk.com/products/autocad/features/personalized/autodesk-desktop-app
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