SolidWorks PDM Server Requirements: The Full Checklist

Every hardware, SQL Server, and network requirement for an on-premise SolidWorks PDM install, in one checklist you can hand to IT.

You can plan the whole server side of a SOLIDWORKS® PDM install from this page: the hardware for the database and archive servers, the SQL Server editions each tier takes, the ports to open, and the five errors behind most failed installs. Specifications follow Dassault Systèmes' published SOLIDWORKS PDM system requirements and installation guidance, accessed 31 August 2026 — confirm against the current requirements page before you order hardware.

Sibe is a cloud CAD document management platform with a native SolidWorks add-in. Engineers check files in and out directly in SolidWorks, Sibe tracks every version in the cloud, and a workspace is live in under 20 minutes. Where it fits for small teams is covered at the end of this page.

The three components you're setting up

The database server holds metadata, references, and permissions in Microsoft SQL Server. The archive server stores the physical SolidWorks files. The client connects each engineer's workstation to the vault. Undersize any one of them and every check-in, search, and file open gets slower for the whole team.

Database server requirements

Notes that catch teams out:

• Windows Server 2019 is not supported for PDM 2026 servers
• SQL Server 2019 support ends with SolidWorks 2026 SP5; SQL Server 2025 is supported from PDM 2026 SP0
• PDM Professional requires SQL Server Standard or Enterprise — a separate license on top of your PDM seats
• PDM Standard works only with SQL Server Express, which caps each database at 10 GB
• The vault database needs mixed-mode authentication and a login with db_owner rights

Budget two licensing line items alongside the seats: the Windows Server license and, for PDM Professional, the SQL Server Standard or Enterprise license. Diary the support deadlines above — when SQL Server 2019 support ends, that migration goes on your upgrade calendar.

Archive server requirements

Put the archive on dedicated SSD storage. HDDs and shared NAS/SAN storage are the top cause of slow check-ins and are not supported configurations. Clients reach the archive server on TCP/UDP port 3030 — firewall rules block this more often than any hardware fault.

Client requirements

PDM 2026 clients run on Windows 11. Client and server versions must match — a mismatch is the most common cause of "cannot connect to vault" errors after an upgrade. Keep latency between clients and the SQL server under 50 ms, and measure it for remote engineers on VPN before you roll out — VPN connections routinely exceed that budget, so plan where distributed engineers will connect from.

The five errors behind most failed installs

What the server costs after install day

The requirements above are the entry ticket. Ongoing, an on-premise vault needs scheduled SQL backups stored off the server, transaction log backups, periodic index maintenance, restore tests, and a disaster recovery plan. Budget IT time for it — an unmaintained vault fails at the worst moment, usually mid-release.

FAQ

Do I need SQL Server to run SolidWorks PDM?
Yes. PDM Professional requires SQL Server Standard or Enterprise, licensed separately. PDM Standard runs only on SQL Server Express — free, but capped at 10 GB per database.

Does SolidWorks Professional include PDM?
SolidWorks Professional and Premium include a SolidWorks PDM Standard license. PDM Professional — the version with replication, advanced workflows, and web access — is a separate purchase with its own seat licenses. Either way, you provide and maintain the server infrastructure covered on this page.

How much does SolidWorks PDM cost to set up?
Seat prices come from your reseller, but the server side is where budgets slip: Windows Server and SQL Server Standard licenses, server hardware, and the IT time to install and maintain it all. Add those up before comparing seat prices alone.

What Windows Server version does SolidWorks PDM 2026 need?
Windows Server 2022 or 2025 for the database and archive servers — Windows Server 2019 is no longer supported. The PDM 2026 client runs on Windows 11. Check both before upgrading, since client and server versions must match.

Can the archive server run on a NAS or shared network drive?
No — NAS and SAN storage aren't supported configurations for the archive server, and they're a common cause of slow check-ins and corruption risk. Use dedicated SSD storage on the archive server itself.

Which ports does SolidWorks PDM use?
TCP 1433 and UDP 1434 for SQL Server, and TCP/UDP 3030 for the archive server. Blocked ports are the most common cause of "cannot connect to vault" errors — check firewall rules on both server and client before anything else.

Can I run SolidWorks PDM without a server?
Not on-premise — the database and archive servers are required components. Hosting them with a third party or in a data center changes where the hardware sits, not the checklist above.

Where Sibe fits

Not every team is at the point of standing up a PDM. If you are two to thirty engineers, have no full-time admin, and would rather not buy a server this quarter, cloud CAD document management covers version control, revision workflows and design reviews without any of that.

Sibe is a collaboration-first CAD Document Management platform with a native SolidWorks add-in. There is no database server to size, no archive server to build, and no port list to work through — your workspace is live in under 20 minutes.

• Native SolidWorks add-in — engineers check files in and out directly in SolidWorks
• Automatic version and revision control on every check-in
• Assembly references resolve automatically, including parts shared across projects
• Free public share links and QR codes — reviewers open the model in any browser, no account, no install
• Remote engineers work over a normal internet connection
• Transparent pricing published on one page

No servers, no VPNs, no admin hassles. Book a free 20-minute demo or try Sibe free for 14 days — no credit card.