SolidWorks PDM Server Requirements: What On-Premise Setup Really Takes

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.

This architecture is the core difference between the two PDM models: with a Cloud PDM, all three layers run in the provider's infrastructure. You size, install, and maintain none of them.

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Database server requirements

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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

The SQL license — and the Windows Server license under it — are line items a Cloud PDM subscription already includes. Unlike a Cloud PDM, on-premise SolidWorks PDM also makes these version deadlines your problem: when SQL 2019 support ends, you plan and run that migration.

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Archive server requirements

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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.

With a Cloud PDM there is no archive server to size: file storage comes with the plan and grows with it, and there are no ports to open.

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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; remote engineers on VPN routinely exceed this, which is why distributed teams feel PDM slowest.

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This is where the two models differ most in daily life. A Cloud PDM connects remote engineers over a normal internet connection — no VPN, no latency budget, no version pairing between client and server.

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The five errors behind most failed installs

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Every row in this table assumes servers you own. On a Cloud PDM these error classes don't exist — there are no ports, SQL logins, or client-server version pairs to manage. For a full side-by-side, see Sibe vs SolidWorks PDM.

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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.

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A Cloud PDM shifts this whole list to the provider. Backups, updates, and monitoring are part of the service, not a standing task on your IT calendar — here's how Sibe handles data security.

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The alternative: skip the server checklist

Sibe is a cost-effective Cloud CAD Document Management platform with a native SolidWorks add-in. There is no database server, no archive server, no SQL license, and no port list — engineers check files in and out directly in SolidWorks, and Sibe tracks every version. One SolidWorks PDM admin with 30 years of vault experience explains what he'd choose today.

• Native SolidWorks add-in — engineers stay in the tool they already use
• Assembly references handled on move, rename, and import
• Automatic version and revision control
• Share designs with free public links and QR codes — any browser, no Sibe account needed
• Works the same for remote engineers — no VPN, no latency tuning
• Live in under 20 minutes — here's the full setup, step by step

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Book a free 20-minute demo, try free for 14 days — no credit card — or see transparent pricing.

No servers, no VPNs, no admin hassles.

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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. A Cloud CAD Document Management platform like Sibe includes the database in the subscription, so there's no SQL license to buy or maintain.

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. Sibe publishes transparent pricing with no server costs, if you want the comparison number.

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. If you want PDM without owning servers, a cloud platform handles the infrastructure for you: Sibe is live in under 20 minutes with a native SolidWorks add-in, and engineers check files in and out directly in SolidWorks.