AutoCAD 2012 is here! Although it comes with headaches if you need to make network images.
Environment:
Windows 7 SP1 x64 Quad-Core 8 GB
Novell Network
Creating a network image is frustrating in 2012. I have only tried with Revit MEP 2012 and Civil 3D 2012. Both versions failed every time.
Revit MEP 2012:
When the image was being created it would stop with an error message when install the VSTA ART.
"vstaart createadminimage failed 1603"
Civil 3D 2012:
The image would also fail and would rollback the install.
Solution:
Make sure you are logged in as the administrator
Create the images locally to a folder on the root of your hard drive. Do not apply any updates when preparing the image.
C:\C3D2012_64n
After you create the image you need to transfer the entire folder "C3D2012_64n" to the network share.
Brace yourself because this can take a while
You may receive some permissions errors while copying the data from the workstation to the server.
Make note of any directories or files that do not copy over. This will make it easier to find these missing directories once the transfer is finished.
If some directories did not copy correctly to the server, go back now and try to copy it again manually.
Now you will need to change 3 files to get the image to work.
The shortcut, AdminImagex64.ini, and C3D2012_64n.ini.
The Shortcut:
Located on the network share in the C3D2012_64n folder.
Right click on the shortcut and click properties.
We need to change the Target and the Start in properties in the Shortcut tab.
Old Target:
\\Itpc\rmep2012_64\AdminImage\Setup.exe /qb /I \\Itpc\rmep2012_64\AdminImage\RMEP2012_64.ini
Old Start in:
\\Itpc\rmep2012_64\AdminImage
New Target:
"\\10.1.1.12\vol1\AutoDesk Images\RMEP2012_64\AdminImage\Setup.exe" /qb /I \\10.1.1.12\vol1\AutoDesk Images\RMEP2012_64\AdminImage\RMEP2012_64.ini
New Start in:
"\\10.1.1.12\vol1\AutoDesk Images\RMEP2012_64\AdminImage"
AdminImagex64.ini:
Located on the network share in the C3D2012_64n\AdminImage folder.
Right click on AdminImagex64.ini and move the cursor to Open with.
Choose Notepad
If Notepad is not there select Choose default program - Select Notepad - Uncheck Always use the selected program to open this kind of file.
Under Global MSI Properties change the ADMIN_IMAGE_LOCATION to point to the network share. In our case it would be.
\\10.1.1.12\vol1\AutoDesk Images\C3D2012_64n
Save
C3D2012_64n.ini:
Located on the network share in the C3D2012_64n\AdminImage folder.
Right click on AdminImagex64.ini and move the cursor to Open with.
Choose Notepad
If Notepad is not there select Choose default program - Select Notepad - Uncheck Always use the selected program to open this kind of file.
Under Global MSI Properties change the ADMIN_IMAGE_LOCATION to point to the network share. In our case it would be.
\\10.1.1.12\vol1\AutoDesk Images\C3D2012_64n
Under Global MSI Properties change the NETWORK_LOG_PATH to point to the network share. In our case it would be.
\\10.1.1.12\vol1\AutoDesk Images\C3D2012_64n\log
Try to run the network install from a workstation.
If the install won't run you can try to run the Create & modify a deployment tool. Running this tool should fix some of the inconsistencies of creating the image local and trying to move it to the network share. You will need to set the Target and Start in properties. Adjust the paths below accordingly.
Target:
"\\10.1.1.12\vol1\AutoDesk Images\RMEP2012_64\AdminImage\Setup.exe" /MD \\10.1.1.12\vol1\AutoDesk Images\RMEP2012_64\AdminImage\RMEP2012_64.ini /ML
Start in:
"\\10.1.1.12\vol1\AutoDesk Images\RMEP2012_64\AdminImage"
Tip:
If the image can run, but still fails at a different point. Try looking at the logs. Sometimes the logs give vague errors so if you can use the Create & modify a deployment tool. Change the image to NOT run silently. Rerun the image and you may receive a more specific error.
