Comprehensive Guide to Revit Server Installation and Network Collaboration

Revit Server Network Collaboration and Installation Details

Today, I want to discuss Revit collaboration methods. The two most common approaches are LAN collaboration and WAN collaboration. LAN collaboration involves setting up a shared computer where the central file is stored. Other computers access this central file and save a local copy for collaborative work. Compared to WAN collaboration, LAN collaboration offers more stability, is less affected by network speed, is cost-effective, and easier to set up. Because of its simplicity, we won’t go into further detail here.

For cross-regional network collaboration, we use Revit Server and a dedicated server. This article focuses primarily on this method.

First, a server is required. If you don’t have one, you can rent a cloud server from providers like Alibaba Cloud, Tencent Cloud, Huawei Cloud, etc. The recommended configuration is shown in the image below.

For example, the editor uses an Alibaba Cloud server with the following specs: 4 CPU cores, 16GB RAM, running Windows Server 2012. According to official guidelines, a 3 Mbps broadband connection is sufficient for typical use. The image below also illustrates the synchronization time for a model with an incremental data size of 7MB.

Next, log in to the server and download Revit Server 2016 (make sure the version matches the Revit installed on your computer). After downloading, unzip the files to any folder.

Run the Setup file to begin installation.

Revit Server offers three roles: Host, Accelerator, and Administrator. If you have only one server, install all three roles.

• Host: Stores the Revit models, typically on the central server.
• Accelerator: Speeds up model synchronization, often used as an intranet accelerator within a LAN.
• Administrator: Manages stored models, typically on the central server.

Click Install and exit the program once the installation is complete.

After installing Revit Server, the server requires configuration:

1. Open Application Server – Role Services. In the window pane, select the following features:
   • TCP Port Sharing
   • HTTP Activation
   • TCP Activation
   • Web Server (IIS) Support

   If prompted to install additional role services or features, click Add Features, then proceed by clicking Next.

2. In Web Server Roles (IIS) – Role Services, configure the following:
   • Expand Application Development and select ASP, CGI, and Server-Side Includes.
   • Expand Management Tools, then expand IIS 6 Management Compatibility and select IIS 6 Scripting Tools.

   Once done, click Close. (A GIF animation demonstrating this process is available.)

After configuration, create a new RSN.ini file on both the server and the client computers. You can start by creating a .txt file and then changing the extension to .ini. Place this file in the following directory: ProgramDataAutodeskRevit ServerConfig.

The RSN.ini file should contain the host IP address. For cloud servers, include both private and public IP addresses separately. After setting up the RSN.ini file, open Revit Server within Revit to verify if the connection to the server is successful.

If you cannot connect, ensure that port 808 is open on the server. The configuration window for opening this port is shown below.

These are the tested steps to configure Revit Server without issues. Feel free to reach out via private message for further discussion!

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