As the amount of cases of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is increasing gradually each day causing significant impact around the globe. While health is always the number one priority for every individual, this pandemic also affects business productivity in every industry. As lockdowns and quarantines are being enforced, most employees are being asked to work from home. For SOLIDWORKS users, this can cause challenges with access to SOLIDWORKS software and data. Here are some ways to help employees solve the challenges with access to SOLIDWORKS software and data.

As SOLIDWORKS network licenses are hosted on a server connected to the corporate network, clients must also be connected to the same network to obtain a license.

Here are two methods for clients to use a license during this working from home period:

1. Connect to your network through VPN (requires Internet connection)
2. Borrow a license through the SolidNetWork License Manager (does not require Internet connection)

VPN (Virtual Private Network), is a client-server relationship that allows you to create a secure connection to another network over the Internet. VPN originally was just a way to connect business networks together securely over the Internet or allow you to access a business network from home. Hence, this help solved the working from home situation currently for those that are using SOLIDWORKS network license. Clients can be connected to the VPN either from an operating system or provided via an app such as OpenVPN or Cisco any-connect. Work with your IT department to implement VPN on your network.

1. 1. Start SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.
   2. On the Welcome screen click Individual (on this computer) if this is the first SOLIDWORKS installation on this computer for this major release. If you already have SOLIDWORKS installed on the computer and looking to upgrade, click Modify the individual installation (on this computer).
   3. When prompted for a serial number, enter the SolidNetWork License serial number.
   4. In the Add Server dialog box, type SolidNetWork License Manager’s address in the form:

               port@ComputerName 
   (The port number must be the same one used for the license manager computer. The default is 25734) 

   5. Complete the SOLIDWORKS installation by following the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager instructions.
   6. Connect to your VPN and Start using SOLIDWORKS.

As stated above, this method does not require Internet connection. However, a connection to your network is initially required to borrow a license. Once borrowed, the computer can be disconnected from the network and will not require any internet connection to run.

1. Open the SolidWork License Manager Client on the user machine.
2. There will be 4 tabs at the top, click on License Borrowing to select it.
3. The list of products that have an available license will be shown in the list.
4. Select the one required and specify the duration that you will need the license. (License are limited to a 30-day maximum borrow period or as defined by the system administrator)
5. Click Borrow, and click Yes to confirm.
6. Once borrowed, click Refresh and the license borrowed will appear under Borrowed product licenses.
7. If you are done with the license earlier than expected, you can click on the license and click Return.