SOLIDWORKS PDM 2020 SQL Server Requirements

Starting with SOLIDWORKS PDM 2020, the SQL Server running the vault database will need to be upgraded to at least SQL Server 2014 SP3.

This applies to both SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional (running SQL Standard) and SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard (running SQL Express).

You can check which service pack of SQL Server is currently installed by launching the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and looking at the Version number that is displayed in brackets next to the server/instance name.

Check Service Pack

The Version build numbers align with Service Pack releases as follows:

• 12.0.2000.0 – SQL 2014 RTM (Release To Manufacture – April 2014)
• 12.0.4100.1 – SQL 2014 SP1 (May 2015)
• 12.0.5000.0 – SQL 2014 SP2 (July 2016)
• 12.0.6024.0 – SQL 2014 SP3 (October 2018)

If the Version build number is lower than 12.0.6024.0, then you will need to update SQL before installing SOLIDWORKS PDM 2020.

The Service Pack updated is available for free and can be downloaded directly from here: Microsoft® SQL Server® 2014 Service Pack 3 (SP3).

SOLIDWORKS strongly recommends always keeping the SQL Server software up to date with the latest service pack.

The SQL update can be done at any time (any older versions of PDM that are compatible with SQL 2014 are supported on SQL 2014 SP3) however it is always best to make sure you have performed a backup of any PDM databases before running the installer.