Multi-server architecture for Siemens PLM Teamcenter

We have enhanced the support for complex Teamcenter architectures. The enhancements facilitate additional functionality such as performing conversions, applying additional contextual data as stamps, or documenting release data.

In a typical Teamcenter architecture, the original documents and metadata are initially in the Teamcenter database. They are further processed or output on a separate conversion server. Experience shows that in practice, even at small companies, this simple bidirectional process model quickly leads to significant requests for enhancements.

Such requests involve (for example) the following typical scenarios :

• Different business units have their own Teamcenter instances, but a centrally provided, high performance conversion server should be shared. Particularly expensive, specialized software that receives relatively little use (e.g. CAD conversions) can thus be used more efficiently.
• Globally distributed enterprise locations work together by means of a shared Teamcenter data model. The documents that are needed locally are also stored locally in databases. In order to decouple the locations and reduce data traffic, local conversion servers should process the data.
• To increase reliability and adapt to high load situations, distributed printing and conversion servers should be provided, in order to be able to switch to a redundant solution as quickly as possible.

Afin de soutenir de tels cas d’application, nous avons en conséquence élargi les interfacesentre les composants du réseau. L’échange des données est contrôlé au bon endroit grâce à une identification sans équivoque des éléments associés au processus. Du côté de Teamcenter, le processus d’activation, désormais élargi, détermine automatiquement le serveur de conversion adéquate en traitant les listes prioritaires. Le traitement automatisé des documents et des dessins permettent cette extension de Teamcenter afin d’exécuter par exemple les conversions, de mettre en œuvre les données supplémentaires dépendant du contexte en tant qu’estampille ou documenter les dates de validation.

Users benefit from more flexible mapping of their multi-server structures, higher reliability, and more easily maintainable infrastructures when central conversion solutions are employed. Even the sometimes very diverse printer landscape within the enterprise can be more readily structured to be connected to Teamcenter.