EN: How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS PDM Yourself

Successfully upgrading SOLIDWORKS PDM yourself takes planning. The process is simple enough, but it is essential to review all the steps and verify that everything is ready before starting the upgrade. This guide outlines the process to plan and complete the upgrade, with links to detailed instructions in each step. 

You may need to upgrade your server operating system or your SQL Server version, or you may decide to create a new PDM server. It is best to review the prerequisites for the new SOLIDWORKS PDM version to verify that your server and SQL versions meet the new requirements and allow time for upgrades as needed.

PDM Clients MUST match the major version. If the server version is 2023, then the client must also be on 2023. The service packs don’t need to match. A client at 2023 sp3 will work fine with a server at 2023 sp0. 

Once the PDM server has been upgraded, the clients won’t be able to connect to PDM until they are upgraded, and vice versa.

Upgrade Steps

1. Read the Administrative Guide for upgrading PDM. https://files.solidworks.com/Supportfiles/PDMWorks_Ent_Installation/2023/English/Installation Guide.pdf

2. Check system requirements.

   1. Verify your server and SQL Server meet the system requirements for the target version.

3. Download the installation file set for the new software version.

4. Upgrade the SolidNetwork License Manager.

   1. Do this in advance of the PDM/SOLIDWORKS upgrade. It will hand out licenses for older versions and will be one less task on the day of the upgrade.

On the day of the upgrade:

1. Have all users log out of PDM.

2. Backup the archive server.

3. Stop all client PDM interactions by stopping the archive server service.

4. Backup the vault databases(s).

5. Upgrade the PDM server software.

6. Upgrade the vault database(s).

7. Verify licenses have been activated at the new version.

8. Verify PDM is working on the archive server.

9. If Toolbox is in the vault, upgrade the first SOLIDWORKS client and the Toolbox.

10. Upgrade SOLIDWORKS users who also have PDM.

11. Upgrade PDM users who don’t have SOLIDWORKS.

Check System Requirements

Below are links to the system requirements from SOLIDWORKS. Use these to verify your system matches the requirements of the version you are upgrading to.

• SW and PDM 

• Virtual Machine

Special notes on SQL Server

SOLIDWORKS PDM 2021 is the last version of PDM that can use SQL Server 2014. SQL Server 2014 is the last SQL Server that was supplied by SOLIDWORKS. 

So, if you are currently using SQL Server 2014 and you want to upgrade to PDM 2022 or later, then you MUST upgrade your SQL Server.  

SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional requires SQL Server Standard or Enterprise, which must be purchased by your company. Plan on this expense when planning the upgrade. 

SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard uses SQL Server Express, which is free to download from the internet. You will still need to upgrade, but you can download the upgrade over the internet or use the version in the full installation file set. 

SQL Server 2019 requires Cumulative Update 4 or later. Cumulative Update is the SQL equivalent of a service pack. Please download the latest from the internet. Click the link below to the Microsoft website for this: SQL Server 2019 latest Cumulative Update.

Upgrade SolidNetwork License Manager

Upgrade the SolidNetwork License Manager (SNL) Server first. The licenses are backward compatible with the older releases. This way, your licenses are ready to be acquired by your newly upgraded PDM client and SOLIDWORKS CAD but can still be used by the current version clients until you’re ready:

• How to upgrade SolidNetwork License Manager (SNL) Server

• Ensure that you re-activate the licenses in your SNL Server

Backup the Archive server

•  Directions for backing up the archive server

Stop the Archive Server Service

Pull up Services by typing “services” in the Windows search application. 

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Select Services from the offerings.

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Find the SOLIDWORKS PDM Archive Server service.

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Right-click it and choose Stop the service or choose Stop the service in the top left.

Backup the Vault Database(s)

In the article below, follow the steps to create a database backup manually.

• SOLIDWORKS PDM Backing up file vaults

Upgrade the PDM Server Software

There are minor differences in upgrading the PDM server software between PDM Professional and PDM Standard. To be clear on the process, we have an article for each version of PDM.

• Upgrade PDM Standard server

• Upgrade PDM Professional server

Upgrade the Vault Database(s)

The vault database must also be upgraded to the new version. Failure to do so will result in in the message The client and server are of incompatible versions with a listing of the two versions.

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• These are the directions for how to upgrade the vault databases.