Server hosting

The LutraCAD Server is a centralized data management system that lets you store and access your LutraCAD projects remotely. Instead of saving data only on one computer, the server solution lets you:

• Access your projects from any location with an internet connection
• Collaborate with team members in real time
• Centralize your data storage and management
• Benefit from enterprise-level data security

A server is optional. Without one, LutraCAD stores all data locally on each workstation.

Choosing a solution

LutraCAD offers two ways to run the server. Most practices choose the cloud-hosted service, because LutraCAD takes care of the infrastructure. Self-hosting is available for organisations that prefer to keep the server inside their own network and have the IT capacity to run it.

	LutraCAD Cloud	Self-hosted
Server hardware and Windows Server	Provided by LutraCAD	You provide and maintain them
Installation	Handled by LutraCAD	You install the server, open the firewall port and create the access token
Backups	Daily, with off-site copies for disaster recovery	Your own responsibility
Monitoring	24/7 by the LutraCAD team	Your own responsibility
Software updates	Handled by LutraCAD	You pause the service and install each new version yourself
Access speed	Servers on every continent for low-latency access worldwide	Depends on your own network and connection
IT expertise required	None	Yes, both to set up and to keep running
How to get started	Contact our sales team	Download the server from the portal

LutraCAD Cloud

For a hassle-free setup, LutraCAD offers a fully managed cloud-hosted service. You get the server without having to buy hardware, configure Windows Server, or keep either up to date.

• Daily backups: your data is automatically backed up every day.
• Off-site backups: we keep secure off-site backups for disaster recovery.
• Global infrastructure: our servers are located on every continent, ensuring low-latency access worldwide.
• 24/7 monitoring: our team continuously monitors the system to keep performance optimal.
• Updates included: we install new server versions for you, so there is no maintenance window to plan.

To learn more or to get started, contact our sales team:

• E-mail: sales@lutracad.com
• Web: https://www.lutracad.com/contact

Connecting to the server

Once your server solution is set up, whether cloud-hosted or self-hosted, follow the steps in Connect to a Server to point each workstation at it.

Self-hosted setup

With this option you maintain and manage the server infrastructure in your own environment.

warning

Self-hosting requires IT expertise and ongoing maintenance, including backups, monitoring and updates. Make sure you have those resources available before choosing this option. If you would rather not take that on, see LutraCAD Cloud above.

1. System requirements

• Windows Server 2019 or newer
• .NET 8 ASP.NET Core Runtime (download)
• .NET 8 .NET Desktop Runtime (download)

2. Download the server

1. Go to manager.lutracad.com
2. Log in to your account
3. Navigate to the "Downloads" section
4. Select the version appropriate for your operating system
5. Click the "Download" button to start the download

3. First setup

1. Start the software for auto configuration
2. Start C:\LutraCAD\V3\Admin.exe
3. Enter 1) Server
4. Enter 1) Install / Autofix
5. The server is now set up and a service called LutraServer is running

Manual setup

To change the data directory or port, start the command line as Administrator and enter the commands below:

sc create LutraServer binpath="C:\LutraCAD\V3\Server\Server.exe --server-port=58872 --server-data-directory=D:\LutraServerData" start=auto
sc start LutraServer

The LutraCAD database data location is still on the C drive.

4. Network configuration

1. Start C:\LutraCAD\V3\Admin.exe
2. Enter 3) Firewall: Autofix
3. The default port (58872) is now opened in the firewall

Manual setup

Manual setup is possible. Enable inbound traffic on port 58872 for TCP.

5. Create an access token

1. Start C:\LutraCAD\V3\Admin.exe
2. Enter 1) Server
3. Enter 3) Create server client token
4. Leave the database name empty for the default database and press Enter
5. Copy the token, you need it when connecting a workstation

6. Updating the server

Keeping a self-hosted server up to date matters for security, stability and access to the latest features. The process is short but pauses the service, so plan it deliberately.

1. Open Services (Win + R, then enter services.msc)
2. Locate the "LutraServer" service
3. Click "Pause"
4. Install the latest version
5. Click "Start"

Before updating

We recommend that you:

1. Create a backup of your data
2. Schedule the update during off-peak hours
3. Notify users about the temporary service interruption
4. Check the system requirements above for the latest requirements

On LutraCAD Cloud this step does not apply, because we install new versions for you.