CEI and PRG Software

The system requirements listed below pertain to CEI and Paulin Research Group software products. To view the minimum system requirements for each business unit, click CEI or PRG.

Cloud Delivery

Cloud delivery of CEI's software subscriptions has very few requirements. You will need a stable Internet connection and a Microsoft Remote Desktop compatible client, which is delivered on all Windows PCs and available on Mac, iOS, and Android.

For more information on network guidelines, visit https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/remote/remote-desktop-services/network-guidance.

On-Premise Delivery

CEI software works well on generally any Windows PCs purchased within the last three to five years. However, system requirements are no longer that cut-and-dry in today's complex environment of terminal servers, virtualization, cloud servers, thin clients, and so on. For example, Microsoft Surface Pro X machines with an ARM processor/CPU are not supported by our Thales license management system nor is our software able to run on those machines even though the machine is running a current build of Windows 10.

There are three primary components to any CEI software installation. These three components may be installed in one system or spread out over many.

1. Executable (the graphical user interface with which you interact)

The program may be installed on any PC-based workstation or server operating with a current version of Windows.
If using a Windows workstation or notebook computer, we highly recommend using Windows 10.
If using a Windows Server for Remote Desktop Services (previously referred to as Terminal Services), we highly recommend using Windows Server 2012 R2 or later.

2. Data storage (the method and location for storing your data)

Depending on the software you have purchased there are three methods used for data storage.

Some products store data in flat files. This allows you to use local storage on your Windows computer, remote storage on Windows Servers, or many different types of network attached storage devices.
Some products use an embedded database manager to store data locally or on a network.
ProWrite Enterprise and FormPro each use Microsoft SQL Server, which requires a SQL Server Administrator for installation and data management.

3. Licensing (allows access to the software products, features, and seats in your subscription)

Except for Cloud delivered services, all CEI products use Safenet's Sentinel HASP licensing system. The licenses are provided on a USB attached dongle that is very similar to a small USB thumb drive.
Management and implementation of the licensing service installed with the dongle is minimal and the dongle may be installed on Windows, Linux, or Apple Mac computers.
Licenses are automatically shared across the network and additional configuration is rarely needed.

CEI Recommendations

Below, we provide some example scenarios and our recommended configurations. Regardless of your configuration, CEI recommends that you regularly back up your data. Consider using a backup service or implementing a backup plan with the help of a computer, systems, or database administrator. Contact us at support@thinkcei.com if you have specific questions about products and configurations.

Single User on a Desktop, Workstation, or Notebook Computer

Consider the following recommendations when using the software in a single user environment. The following requirements apply to all CEI and Paulin Research Group products except ProWrite Enterprise and FormPro SQL (see the SQL Specific Requirements section for more information).

Hardware Requirements for CEI Software

The following requirements must comply with any computer purchased within the last three years pertaining to CEI software products:

Windows 10
Intel or AMD processor that is no more than 3 years old
4 GB of Memory
At least 1 GB of free disk storage
Screen resolution of 1280 x 1024 or greater (Minimum 1024x768 with 100% Standard DPI/PPI)
1 open USB Port
A network connection with Internet access is helpful for acquiring updates or support (WiFi is acceptable if data is stored locally)

Hardware Requirements for Paulin Research Group Software

The following requirements must comply with any computer purchased within the last three years pertaining to PRG software products:

Operating System:
- Windows 10 or 11 (with updates installed)
- 32-bit or 64-bit versions (including international)

Note: Windows Server, Starter, and Home Editions are not supported.

Computer and Processor Minimum Requirements:
- 2.0 GHz Dual Core processor or higher
- 4 GB of RAM
Internet Connection (to be able to support the download)
- Available, enabled USB port (pertains to current PRG 2021 USB license holders only)
PRG Computer and Processor Recommended Requirements:
- 3.1 GHz+ Dual Core processor or higher
- 16 GB of RAM
- 512 MB graphics card
- 1280x1024 graphics resolution or better

Important PRG Recommendations:
Further, the following notes regarding the above PRG recommendations should be considered in order for your software to perform efficiently:

With a computer that has been purchased within 3-5 years, a x64 processor, Intel, or Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) preferred.
Ensure that your system has enough memory (minimum 8 GB) when analysis runs are performed in the PRG software. If your system is running more than just PRG solutions (for example, if you’re also using PV design, solid modeling, or other systems at the same time, then additional memory may be required to support software functionality).
While storage space is not significant, (the minimum is usually 10 GB), ensure that enough memory is available if installing additional applications or creating data.

Note: Most input files for Paulin Research Group are flat text files, while some are binary or a zip archives of files. The Drawing Tools files are stored in subfolders within the input file directory. These should be kept together with the input file to reserve history within the Drawing Tools. The programs that use flat files as input files do not retain the output and are kept in separate subfolders. So, if the input file is moved to a new directory, the output is lost, individual models will have to be reanalyzed, unless the subfolder with output is moved also.

Multi-User Environment Without a Central Server

Consider the following recommendations when using the software in a multi-user environment without a central server. The following applies to all CEI products except ProWrite Enterprise and FormPro SQL (see the SQL Specific Requirements section for more information).

Consider the following recommendations when these exceptions exist:

When network sharing is enabled on one "single user" computer for data file storage and is being shared across the network.
When a higher class CPU exists; more memory is recommended for the computer acting as the server.
When a USB license dongle is installed on the "server" computer–this machine must always be on with access to the network (license/data usage) and the internet (license updates).
When Wired Ethernet has 100 mbps or higher speeds is highly recommended.

Multi-User Environment With a Central Server