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File Server Installation

These instructions cover the installation of Vertex CAD 2024 (30.0) to a file server.


Installation Package and Software License

  1. Follow the instructions you have received to download the installation package, and save it to the C:\TEMP folder, for example.

  2. Extract the compressed file as follows, for example: select the file and Extract All... from the right-click menu. (Extract All…).

  3. If a license server is included in the agreement, install it first. See Installing a License Server.
  4. Start the installation or update by double-clicking the installation program install.exe in the extracted folder.
  5. Make sure you know the protection method of the software and have the required license. Depending on the protection method you need one of the following:

    Protection method
    What you need
    NetVID licenseActivation code for the license
    License serverName of the computer working as the license server and the number of the port using the license service
    HASP protection moduleLicense file LICENSE.TXT
    Time limited license file tied to the computer's identification code

    License file LICENSE.TXT


Prepare to Install on a File Server

Installation on a server requires administration permissions. If your IT support is outsourced, ask IT support to create and share a folder as described below, and be present or give the installer access with sufficient permissions during the installation of Vertex CAD programs.

  • Create a folder on the file server, for example vertex, where the actual programs with their main folders will be installed.
  • Share this folder.
  • Make sure that this shared folder is visible to the workstation computers where Vertex CAD programs are to be used.
  • Make sure that the workstations can write, edit and delete files from this folder.


Installation on the Server

Close all applications

Close all applications before the installation.

Start the installation

  • Double-click the installation program install.exe in the installation package.
  • Confirm the installation if prompted by user account control.


Select the installation language

  • The options are Finnish and English.
  • However, the installation package solves the language of the installed program, for example folder structure and the names of library components.


Select the installation option

  • Select Vertex Servers.
  • Select the server option Network Server.



Accept the license agreement

  • Read the license text and accept it.



Accept the data collection agreement

The program sends user information to Vertex Systems Oy during the use of the program.

  • This data is used for verifying the software license (NetVID license).
  • The data is also used for improving the software quality and user experience.
  • This data contains but is not limited to IP address and certain unique identifiers for your system.



Version to be updated

This question will not appear if a previous version of the Vertex CAD program has not been installed on the server.

If the installation program asks for the version to be updated, select either of the following:

  • Select New installation if you wish to install a new program.
  • Select Update from version if you wish to update the previous main version of the program to a new main version. See Upgrade File Server Installation for help.


Vertex BD and Vertex InD user:

Always select New installation.


Select the installation path

  • The default installer folder is C:\vx[..]_srv, but this must be changed.
    [..] is an application, for example g4, bd, ed, etc.
  • Click Browse to change the installation folder.

The program is installed in the shared folder on the server. The last folder in the path should be named according to the application. For example:

  • \\SERVER\vertex\vxg4_srv (Vertex G4 Mechanical Engineering)
  • \\SERVER\vertex\vxg4plant_srv (Vertex G4 Plant and Piping Design)
  • \\SERVER\vertex\vxed_srv (Vertex ED Electrical Design)
  • \\SERVER\vertex\vxbd_srv (Vertex BD Building Design)
  • \\SERVER\vertex\InDpro_srv (Vertex InD Kitchen Design)
  • \\SERVER\vertex\vxhd_srv (Vertex HD Hydraulics Design)
  • \\SERVER\vertex\vxpi_srv (Vertex PI Piping and Instrumentation Design as an independent installation - usually it is an add-on option in Vertex G4 or Vertex G4 Plant)


Please note:

  • Allowed characters in the folder names of the installation path are alphabets (a-z, A-Z), numbers 0-9 and underscore (_).
  • Use a backslash (\) as a folder separator in the installation path.

Change the installation folder

  • Select the shared folder on the file server, for example:
    • \\SERVER\vertex\
  • After that, type the main folder of the Vertex CAD application that the program initially suggested as the installation folder (vxg4_srv, vxbd_srv, vxed_srv, vxg4plant_srv, etc.)

Since you changed the installation path, the program prompts you to write down the installation path:


If you perform the server installation from a workstation, you receive the adjacent message. In this case, the registry entries related to the installation are made on the workstation, but all the files are installed on the server. As a result of such installation, the upgrade of Vertex’s main version must be performed from the same workstation as it was installed.

We recommend performing the server installation always on the server, if possible.


Select whether to use a license server

  • Select No if you use NetVID licenses.
  • Select No if you use HASP modules on workstations and a LICENSE.TXT protection file.
  • Select Yes if you use the License Server.


License Server is used- enter the License Server information

  • Enter the name of the computer workings as the server.
  • Accept port number 2003.
    • This default port usually always works. It works unless the port is in some other use.
    • The port number is chosen when the license service is installed (before installing this program).


License Server is not used

  • If you are using a NetVID license, skip this step.
  • Enter the location of the protection file LICENSE.TXT, if you use workstation-specific HASP protection modules. If necessary, you can later save the LICENSE.TXT file in the user folder of the Vertex installation on the file server, for example:
    • \\SERVER\vertex\vxg4_srv\user (Vertex G4 Mechanical Engineering)
    • \\SERVER\vertex\vxbd_srv\user (Vertex BD Building Design)
    • \\SERVER\vertex\vxed_srv\user (Vertex ED Electrical Design)
    • \\SERVER\vertex\vxg4plant_srv\user (Vertex G4 Plant and Piping Design)


You can also skip this step and copy the LICENSE.TXT file to the folder vx[..]_srv/user on the server after the installation.


Check the installation data

  • Check the installation folder, the language of the software package, and the license server information (if a license server is used).


Enter the workstation license installation path

  • The program suggests C:\vx[..]\ as the installation path on the workstations.
    [..] describes the application.
  • Accept it or enter another path.

Please note, that if the workstation already has a local Vertex installation in path C:\vx[..], enter a path that does not conflict with the existing installations.

An example of the folder path of a workstation license:

  • C:\vxg4 (default folder of Vertex G4)
  • D:\vertex\vxg4plant (Vertex G4 Plant on the D drive in the folder vertex\vxg4plant)
  • C:\CAD\vxed (Vertex ED on the drive C in the folder CAD\vxed)
  • C:\30_0\vxbd (Vertex BD on the C drive in the folder 30_0\vxbd)


Please note:

  • Allowed characters in the folder names of the installation path are alphabets (a-z, A-Z), numbers 0-9 and underscore (_).
  • Use a backslash (\) as a folder separator in the installation path.


The program shows the duration of the installation.



Installation done

  • Confirm by clicking Finish.
  • You will be instructed to install the client licenses.
  • If the license server is not used, you will be prompted to attach the protection modules in the ports on the workstations. The protection modules are not needed if a license server or NetVID licenses are used.


Installation on the Workstation

Run client.bat command file

  • On the workstation, run the client.bat in the server's installation folder.
  • The client.bat command file is in the Client_install folder of the Vertex CAD program, for example:
    • \\SERVER\vertex\vxg4_srv\Client_Install\client.bat
    • \\SERVER\vertex\vxbd_srv\Client_Install\client.bat
    • \\SERVER\vertex\vxed_srv\Client_Install\client.bat


Confirm the installation if prompted by user account control. You must have permission to install the program in the folder defined by the installation program.


Install or skip the HASP driver

  • If the license server is the licensing method, this question is not displayed.
  • If you are using a NetVID license, select No.
  • If you are using a HASP module, and this is the first time Vertex is installed on this computer, select Yes.
  • If you are using a HASP module, and Vertex has been previously installed on the computer, select NoThe driver has already been installed earlier and you do not have to reinstall it.

  • See the installation of the HASP driver in the section Protection Module in the Licensing Methods of Vertex CAD Software instructions.


File extension association

  • If the Vertex file extensions (.vxp, .vxm, .vxz) have already been associated to a Vertex program, the installation program asks if you would like to change the association to the program now being installed.
  • If you are installing the latest version of the same software, select Yes.
  • If you are using different Vertex applications (for example BD and G4), select the association according to the application you mainly use.



Installation done

  • Confirm by clicking Finish.
  • The program creates the previously assigned folder on the workstation (the default installation path for workstations) and a startup icon on the desktop.
  • Start the program on the workstation by double-clicking the shortcut icon. The first start up will take some time as the necessary files are copied from the server to the local installation folder.




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