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[ see the response below for the answer to this question ]

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I have read many threads on the topic of running CATIA remotely on a Windows machine with an X-server such as Hummingbird Exceed. As we move to V5 on Windows, there is a legitimate need to occasionally run V4, and it is not desirable to equip each V5-Windows user with a UNIX box simply for that purpose.

It is easy to remotely run a CATIA session which is fully functional (though slower) in every way EXCEPT for the ability to do dynamic shading. I have read many conflicting messages about the ability or inability to do dynamic shading over a remote X connection, but the one thing that I have not read is anybody who actually claims to have done it . I've spent many hours trying (using XWin32 and Exceed2006 with and without the 3D plugin, and fiddling with every setting I can think of) - but remote dymanic shading is a no-show (or, more specifically, a no-pick :} )

I don't wish for this thread to turn into yet another theoretical discussion of PHIGS or OpenGL or IBM/Dassault (non-)support policies or whether you need the 3D plugin for Exceed or the merits/shortcomings of XWin32 or which graphics cards might work or unconfirmed rumors of others doing this or how you OUGHT to be able to do it with such-and-such a configuration - all of that has been discussed here before at length, and there's no point in discussing it again. I would like to know have YOU ever actually run CATIA over remote X with dynamic shading enabled, and if so, HOW???

Thanks!

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It CAN be done! It IS possible to run CATIA over an X-server from an AIX box to a Windows machine with dynamic shading and dynamic hidden-line removal. And it's EASY!

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I have actually done it, and here's the "proof" - a screenshot of my Windows machine doing this: http://170.2.53.69/shaded_catia.jpg. Note the display-mode icon depicts a shaded cylinder, indicating that dynamic-shading is active.

The "trick" is to modify the graPHIGS configuration (which are the graphics libraries). The default graPHIGS configuration file on AIX machines is:

/usr/lpp/graPHIGS/etc/PROFILE

For remote X-windows CATIA, we need to create and source some alternate graPHIGS settings. Create a plain textfile (on the AIX machine) that contains this content, and name it "profile" and remember where you put it (ie, the path):

* For CATIA:
AFMMNICK TOCONNID=*,
TOWSTYPE=XSOFT,
PROCOPT=((STRDEVS,16),(LOCDEVS,2),(VWTBLSZ,64),(ECHOMETH,2),
(XWINDASP,1,1),(XNAME,CATIA),(MODFYOCT),(LSTES,32))
*

Now open a remote terminal and export the display back to your Windows machine using whatever method you normally use (I've tested this with PuTTY-ssh+XWin32 and with Hummingbird Exceed - it works fine with a default installation of either product; no special non-default configuration settings are needed, and the 3D Exceed plug-in is not needed, BTW). Test and make sure your X-connection is functional (by running "xclock") before proceeding; if xclock doesn't work, you don't have a functional X-connection.

You need to set an environment variable named gPPROFILE to point to the alternate graPHIGS configuration settings that you created in the step above (pay careful attention to the spelling and capitalization of gPPROFILE - it has two P's back-to-back, and the "g" is lowercase while the rest is uppercase):

export gPPROFILE=/path/to/my/profile (using your path, of course)

Now start CATIA normally (ie, 'catini -XM -cs' - you may need to source a CATIA environment first; everybody does it differently). If it doesn't work, you may need to modify your CATIA startup process to export the gPPROFILE environment variable.

This works for me with CATIA running from an AIX host (namely AIX 5.1 on a 9914-275, but it shouldn't matter). I'm doing this on a stock Dell Optiplex GX 280 (which is not a CAD-class Windows workstation - it's a wimp machine with lightweight graphics capabilities). Over a fast LAN, performance is rather good - in fact, it's comparable to working on the UNIX workstation itself! I notice very little difference (at least on smaller items - I haven't tried huge and graphically heavy stuff).

Warning: If you use those graPHIGS settings on an AIX machine, dynamic shading will be inoperative. Don't source your alternate graPHIGS profile when running CATIA directly on an AIX console.

For more information on graPHIGS configuration stuff, see This IBM webpage.

--
http://DavidFilmer.com

Hello David,

Paul here from StarNet (X-Win32). This is what we know:

1) Shading is not possible with Catia 4 if you connect using any PC X server like Exceed or X-Win32. This because Catia 4 uses a 3-D rendering technology that pre-dates OpenGL. It is not support in X11. You can do wireframe. But then you have to bring it up on the Unix console to add and see shading.

2) Catia 5 will work very well using Exceed, X-Win32 and possibly others that support openGL (we have not tested any). X-Win32 offers hardware acceleration and we are getting substantial orders from Catia 5 users. They seem to be impressed with performance.

If users want to access Catia 5 over an Internet connection, they should not do so from within a remote X desktop. This consumes way too much bandwidth. They should simply start an RECEC or SSH session and then start Catia from the command line in the xterm.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you need some eval licenses for X-Win32 to test this out.

Paul Swart
VP Sales
StarNet

Hi @all

We made also some expieriences on bringing CATIA V4 in dynamic-shading-mode with some PC X-Server software.
With the modification of the gPPOFILE the shading was possible, but only 256 colors and when maximizing CATIA on the 1600x1200 display the working area in CATIA was still 1160x980 and NOT resizable.

and now i can say just two words : it works

The Solution is WRQ Reflexction X 13.0 with special patch

Remote Session on RS/6000 44P-170 and IntelliPower 275 from DELL Precision 380MT with FX3450 graphic
The dynamic shading works fine WITHOUT any modifications on the gPPROFILE.
Model with many solids (just 120 MB) works without any lags in rotating, zooming etc.
BUT the quality of graphics i still 256 colors and not so good. But working is possible.

We installed a SUN Fire V440, 2 CPU, 4 GB MEM, 4x73GB SCSI, 2x 1000Gbit ethernet,no graphic, no console
We mounted the /home and /catdata directories over 1000GB interface from AIX server and with the other net-interface we stood in the PC-World.

We installed CATIA 424R2 and tested with 4-6 user working at the same time and performance was very good. Except some situations, when 3 user were updating their solids.

Now some user are working in dual display mode. On one screen CATIA V4 on the other CATIA V5 - GREAT.

If you need more information or screen shots - send me PM

regards

Dieter

I ask to excuse my bad english

Hello,

Heres one thing that you may find useful.

SGIs port of CATIA V4 does NOT use PHIGS. SGI never had a PHIGS port so they simply grab the CATIA PHIGS calls a traslate them to OpenGL. The libray comes with CATIA V4 on IRIX is called graPHITI.

I would think that if you used an SGI box as a the CATIA V4 server and sent it over to any of the emulators that fully support OpenGL 24 bit with overlay planes....everything should work fine.

Has anyone tried this using and SGI as the server?

Robert

Hi Dieter ,

you had wrote about the  "SUN Fire V440, 2 CPU, 4 GB MEM, 4x73GB SCSI, 2x 1000Gbit ethernet,no graphic, no console " ;

and i have the same model .

can you detail for me what is necessary to download ?

you have the software ? ( you had wrote about special patch - what ?)

can you help me ?

Thanks a lot.