The following guidance outlines how to configure Artisan products
in a VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) environment. A VDI environment refers to a one-to-one
model where each user is assigned their own dedicated virtual machine
(VM).
If your environment uses a session-based model (where multiple users
share a single VM or server), please refer to the Session-Based VM Setup documentation
instead.
VDI environments require some specific configuration considerations
for Artisan products, particularly in relation to licensing and automatic
updates. The sections below describe the required
changes.
The VM images or templates should have the required CloudScapes
products installed. This will
include the CS Buddy App and the required CAD plugins. These can all be downloaded from the
CloudScapes website.
https://www.csdhub.com
The Buddy App runs in the taskbar service icon
area of the desktop and communicates with the local CS Update and Licensing
service which in turn communicates with the CloudScapes web
services.
Revit - If required, install the required version(s) of the CS
Artisan RV Revit AddIn.
AutoCAD - If required, install the latest version of the CS Artisan
AC Plugin.
BricsCAD - If required, install the latest version of the CS
Artisan BC Plugin.
The configuration of all Artisan products can be controlled via
registry settings. In this case being able to:
·
Change the mode of
Artisan to run in a VDI VM mode
·
automate its plugin
enabled
state
·
add the licence information
·
set the licence
de-activate option on
exit
The following are the Registry settings that will need adding to
set the required automation.
Determines the VM running mode. This dictates how Artisan handles
licensing and automatic updates.
Path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CS Design
Type:
REG_DWORD
Name:
VMMode Values:
0, 1 or 2
|
Notes: |
0 = |
(or no key) No VM (will force Artisan Licensing to run in
normal workstation mode). |
|
1 = |
Running in VM mode.
Use this option if VM’s are non-persistent (ie. Their state resets
after each hosted session).
This mode will prevent Artisan products from running updates during
the session. This prevents
potential consequences (corrupt models, etc.) from a session being updated
by Artisan and then reverting back in subsequent
sessions. | |
|
2 = |
Running in VM mode.
Use this option if the VM setup runs in persistent mode (keeps
state between sessions). This
mode allows Artisan updates to
run. |
Any PlugIn key under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CS Design
would have had its permissions changed by the installer with read / write
permissions for a standard windows user.
This allows standard user sessions to write the required licence keys,
etc. during PlugIn launch.
Path: CS Artisan RV -
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CS Design\CS Artisan
RV 2026
CS Artisan AC -
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CS Design\CS Artisan
AC
CS Artisan BC -
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CS Design\CS Artisan
BC
Type: REG_DWORD
Name:
Enabled
Values: 0 or
1
Notes: The key is optional, if not exist, the AddIn is
enabled by default. 0 will disable the
Add-In for all users, 1 will Enable the Add-In for all users.
To target other
versions of Artisan RV, change the last key in the path as required, ie. CS
Artisan RV 2026 to CS Artisan
RV 2024 (for
example).
Path: CS
Artisan RV -
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CS Design\CS Artisan
RV 2026
CS Artisan AC -
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CS Design\CS Artisan
AC
CS Artisan BC -
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CS Design\CS Artisan
BC
Type: REG_SZ
Name: Account Name
Values: as
provided by CS Design.
Type: REG_SZ
Name: Licence
Number
Values: as provided by CS Design.
Notes: If using Group Policies, both these values should be blanked for
non-Artisan users/groups.
Path: CS
Artisan RV -
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CS Design\CS Artisan
RV 2026
CS Artisan AC -
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CS Design\CS Artisan
AC
CS Artisan BC -
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CS Design\CS Artisan
BC
Type: REG_DWORD
Name: Auto Deactivate
Values: 0 or 1
Notes: 0 to KEEP product
activated. 1 to deactivate. If in VM mode (VMMode key set to 1 or 2), then the
Auto Deactivate key will be overridden to true and the options disabled in the
UI.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CS
Design]
"VMMode"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CS Design\CS Artisan RV
2026]
"Auto
Deactivate"=dword:00000001
"Account Name"="YourAccountName"
"Licence Number"="YourAccountNumber"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CS
Design]
"VMMode"=dword:00000002
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CS Design\CS Artisan RV
2024]
"Auto
Deactivate"=dword:00000001
"Account Name"="YourAccountName"
"Licence
Number"="YourAccountNumber"