Understanding the WS Pro workgroup database

The workgroup database allows for a multi-user environment where all data is managed centrally by the Workgroup Data Server. The Workgroup Data Server is a service that manages access to workgroup databases for InfoWorks WS Pro and other workgroup clients. It is designed as an on-premise solution to improve the performance and reliability of database operations.

If required, databases can now be stored under group folders, but this is not mandatory. Groups were implemented to allow local IT to better manage available resources at the database level.

User Files:

Using a workgroup database is only a recommendation for single users, but is necessary in a multi-user environment. When multiple users are accessing the same database, a shared location is necessary. A workgroup configuration stores the files in a shared location, so that all the data and results can be accessed by all users.

The exception to this is the working files, which should be stored locally to the user. For example, both User1 and User2 are able to work on the same model at once. Once complete, User1 starts a simulation on their machine. As soon as the simulation has been saved to the remote results location, User2 will be able to access the results from their machine.

Workgroup Data Server Advantages:

The more users that are added to the system, the greater the advantage the workgroup becomes. Furthermore, all data can be easily scheduled for regular backups, to prevent potential data loss.

Additionally, there are several performance advantages to using a Workgroup Data Server above a Standalone, including:

• Less network traffic, since only changed data is sent between the Workgroup Client and the Workgroup Data Server.
• The data is compressed, for efficient storage.
• Because the Workgroup Data Server is the only process accessing the data, it can be located on a disk on the machine that is running the Workgroup Data Server for optimal performance.