Working from Home with Autodesk Vault

Resources for Using Vault Remotely 

Autodesk is committed to supporting you during these challenging times. If you’re new to working from home, you may be wondering how to access your data in Autodesk Vault remotely and how to collaborate with others. Here are some tips and resources to help you. 

Most Vault Servers are installed in a Local Area Network (LAN) that has been configured by a network administrator. Vault clients on the same LAN access the Vault Server with having to worry about complex configurations. However, for security reasons, a LAN has a firewall or other security devices, typically to protect it from malicious attacks from the Internet.  

Opening up access beyond your LAN is a choice you can explore, going beyond the scope of documentation and product support for Vault. Before making these changes, we recommend you consult a network security administrator. If you are considering exposing the Vault Server to the Internet, security needs to be your top priority. 

Consider each one of the following options to access the Vault Server remotely: 

If Your Company Has a VPN: 

Most companies have a secure and reliable way to share information across computer networks. It is typically through a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN allows employees to connect to their company’s computer network from remote locations and work within the corporate firewall. If you’re working from home on your work computer, it’s configured to work on the VPN. Simply log in to Windows, connect to your company’s VPN, and Vault will run the same as if you were working in the office. Just know that your file check-in and check-out time may be a little slower because the data is traveling over the Internet. 

If You Don’t Have a VPN: 

If you are unable to work in Vault on a VPN, there are other options for storing your design data and collaborating with others. 

Cloud Virtualization: Install Vault on a cloud-based service such as Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services. Here are a few Autodesk University classes for reference. 

• Every Silver Lining Has a Vault in the Cloud 
• SkyVault: The Quantum of Collaboration 
• Cloudy with a Chance of Vault 

If you are concerned about the speed of your Internet for uploading and downloading files from your Vault client and server, you can enable file compression. This will compress and reduce file sizes before transmission. To do this, you can turn on file compression in Vault. You will also need to turn it on in each CAD application you use. Be aware that it can consume additional computer resources when decompressing files, both on the client and server-side. It would be a good idea to test this approach first to see if it improves speed.  

Desktop Virtualization: You can use technology like Citrix or TeamViewer to access your desktop remotely without a need for VPN to be productive on any device with like-local performance as if you are in the office. The connection and speed between the remote desktop and Vault server do not change, which means you will experience the same speed with operations like search, check-in, and check-out. 

Option for Vault Workgroup Users: You can configure Vault to connect to Autodesk Drive, which is CAD-aware cloud storage for individuals and small teams. Drive allows you to make edits to your designs, and it manage references automatically. It also supports over sixty types of Autodesk and 3rd party files for viewing. Unlike generic cloud storage, Drive lets your collaborators on CAD, CAM, and BIM projects view models and drawings right in their browser, no plug-ins or downloads needed.  

Option for Vault Professional Users: You can configure Vault to connect to Autodesk Fusion Team. Fusion team allows you to bring together external collaborators associated with your project in one secure workspace. You can share native files and design updates bi-directionally while maintaining access permission control, versioning, and traceability. You will also want to use the Project Sync feature in Vault Professional because it provides file and folder synchronization between Vault and the Fusion Team hub cloud drive.

Working Collaboratively: 

Wish you could ask a co-worker to “Come over here and look at this design,” like you do in the office? You can do it virtually, with Shared Views. Shared Views allows you to collaborate on a visual representation of your model or design online with others. Using a link you provide, anyone can view and comment on the shared view of your model or design without needing to have an Autodesk product installed. An email is sent to you when anyone comments on the shared view. You view and reply to comments and manage your shared view directly from your Autodesk product.  

Keep in Mind: 

A network administrator and security team should be consulted with all the above options. Consider the following configurations if you are choosing to expose Vault to the Internet: 

• Configure Vault to use SSL for a secure connection. 
• Configure Vault to use Fully Qualified Domain Names. 
• Configure Client and Server file compression. 

See also: 

• Troubleshooting Autodesk Vault Client to Server Connectivity issues
• Troubleshooting client connections to Vault Server through a VPN or to the cloud 
• Virtualization Best Practices and Tips for Vault 
• Is it possible to connect to Vault Server from another location, like home? 
• Support for opening Inventor files through a VPN connection 
• Common Vault deployment questions 

Vault Features At-a-Glance:
Curious to see which features you have in your version of Vault? You can get a quick overview in this Vault features matrix.  

Autodesk is Here to Help:
How can we help serve you better in a remote work environment? We welcome your feedback, here. 

Your Autodesk Reseller Can Help Too: 

Our partners care about supporting you. We encourage you to visit your Autodesk reseller’s website to find resources that they have created specifically to support you as their customer.   

Autodesk University Classes: 

These recorded courses on Autodesk University provide technical guidance to help you as well: 

• Sharing Caring –  Sharing Vault Dat Outside the Firewall
• Technical Dive and Talk – Vault Professional Data Beyond Your Firewall

Written by:
Christa Prokos
Product Marketing Manager
Christa is a product marketing manager at Autodesk. She researches and writes about product development strategies and technologies, including data management and product lifecycle management. Outside work, you can find Christa gravitating toward engineers at social gatherings. Follow her on Twitter: @ChristaProkos.