Simcenter Testing Solutions Simcenter Testlab 2021: Download and Install Instructions

This article covers how to download and install Simcenter Testlab 2021.2 software.  The original 2021 release was in January 2021, and the latest 2021.2 release came out in July.

Article contents: 
1.    Downloading the Simcenter Testlab software
2.    Installing the License Server
3.    Installing the Simcenter Testlab software
3.1.    Preparing Installation
3.2.    Installing Prerequisites
3.3.    Installing Hardware Diagnostics
3.4.    Installing Simcenter Testlab
4.    Installing the Help Documentation
4.1.    Downloading Testlab Documentation Server Manuals
4.2.    Downloading the Documentation Server
5.    Download and Installation of 1D and 3D Drivers
5.1.    Downloading Drivers
5.2.    Installing Drivers
6.    Complete List of Downloadable files

1. Downloading the Simcenter Testlab Software


Video: Simcenter Testlab 2021 Download


First download the software from the Siemens Simcenter Support Center:

• Open a web browser and go to https://support.sw.siemens.com. Login using your WebKey account credentials. If you do not already have a WebKey Account, please see the article “Simcenter Testlab: Webkey Account Creation”.

• Click on "Simcenter Testing Solutions" under "My Products" as shown below:

• Go to the “Downloads” link on the lower left side of the web page.

• Click on the "Simcenter Testlab 2021.2" release from the “Select a version” dropdown menu.

• Click on "Install" from the tree on the left.  Download the "Simcenter Testlab 2021.2.iso".

A ISO file is a single file that contains all the installation files.  An ISO file is an "Image" file that can be burned to a DVD if desired.  However, it is not necessary to burn it to a DVD to install it.  It can be installed directly from the ISO file on a PC.  See the instructions below for how to do this.

More information about ISO files can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_image

• Once the download is complete, browse to the iso file in Windows File Explorer.
• Expand the 2021.1 folder (or whichever version is desired).

2. Installing the License Server

If installing Simcenter Testlab on a network with access to a central license server, it is not necessary to install the License Server on the local machine.  Skip ahead to section 3.

If the license will be local to the PC, the license server software needs to be installed.  See the article: "Simcenter Testlab: RLM License Server Installation and Setup".

3. Installing the Simcenter Testlab Software


Video: Simcenter Testlab 2021 Installation


After the software has been downloaded, the installation can start.

3.1 Preparing Installation

Using the ISO file in Windows file explorer:

To extract the installation files from the ISO file:

• In Windows 10, right click on the iso file and select Mount. 
• In Windows 7, right click on the iso file and unzip it using WinZip, 7zip, or another extracting software.

After extracting or mounting the files, several directories and a "autorun.exe" file should be available as shown below.

The following screenshots are equally applicable to Simcenter Testlab 2021.2 and Simcenter Testlab 2021.1.

• Right click on the file that says “Autorun.exe,” and select “Run as Administrator.” You need full administrator rights on your computer to install.

 

• The main installation menu should appear. Select the top option called “Install Simcenter Testlab” to begin the installation. 

• Click next to begin the installation.

• Click “Next” through the installation to choose all default settings.

 

• Click “Install” to install the Simcenter Configuration and Unit System 3.1.

 

• Click “Finish” on the last screen to move to the next part of the Simcenter Testlab installation.

3.3 Installing Hardware Diagnostics

The pop-up window for the Simcenter Hardware Diagnostics will come up. This utility is used to scan Simcenter SCADAS hardware and make a diagnostic report.

• Click next to start the installation.

• Click “Next” through the installation to choose all default settings.

• You will reach a window asking if you want to install the Simcenter SCADAS XS driver. Check this box. This will ensure proper installation of the XS driver for current or future use. Select next.

• On the next screen, keep the default option to enable the exceptions to the Windows firewall during the installation. Select next.

• Select install and then click on finish to move on to the installation of Simcenter Testlab.

• Click “Next” through the installation to choose all default settings.

Next is a screen asking to fill in the license file or the license server. Select the box “Use a license server.”

• Local License Server: If using a local license (node-locked or dongle license) type @localhost into the space provided.
• Network License Server: If using a network license, type in the server name after @localhost separated by a semicolon. The default port is 5053 which is already considered in the default @localhost option.
• If the IT department has a specialized port number for Simcenter Testlab software, add it to the server name (Example: portnumber@server or portnumber@localhost).

 

• Select next.

• On the next screen, choose Desktop – Standard or Desktop – Advanced based on the licenses on your sold-to. These features can be found in your license file. Click next.

• Select install and then finish once Simcenter Testlab has completed installing.

4. Downloading the Help Documentation

There is a new web server based help in Simcenter Testlab 2021.  The Help Documents are not automatically installed with Simcenter TestLab 2021.1. Follow the instructions below to download and install the Help Documentation.

4.1 Downloading Testlab Documentation Server Manuals

Log into the Siemens Support Center (https://support.sw.siemens.com/) as described in the first section of this article.  Go to the download area of Simcenter Testlab 2021 as before.

• Download the file "docs-simcenter-testlab-2021.1-en-US.zip" by clicking on it as shown below.

 

• The Testlab Documentation Server download can be found under “Siemens Documentation Installer” in the Products dropdown menu on the Simcenter Support Center. 

• For Windows users, click on HelpServer.1.0.6.exe to begin the download of the Documentation Server.

 

• The option to download Simcenter 3D and Amesim Drivers will appear. To begin the download, simply click on the desired driver.

• Both the 1D and 3D .zip files will contain four files. Before beginning the install, make sure to extract the .zip folder to a safe location.

 

• Open the “Simcenter Driver setup” for the desired driver.

• The Simcenter Driver Setup will open. Click “Next” through the installation to choose all default settings.

• Click “Install” once all default settings are selected.

 

• Once completed, select “Finish”.

6. Complete List of Downloadable Files

There are several other files in the download area of Simcenter Testlab 2021.  This list describes them and their purpose:

• Simcenter Testlab 2021.1.iso: The main Simcenter Testlab installation including RLM, Tablet Apps, Configuration & Unit System, Hardware Diagnostics,  and all pre-requisites.  Does not include documentation except release notes and installation manual.
• docs-simcenter-testllab_2021.1-en-US.zip:  Help files for Simcenter Testlab 2021.1. The Siemens Documentation Server needs to be installed as well.
• Simcenter Testlab DIC 2021.1.zip: Installation files for Digital Image Correlation (DIC) a new product using cameras for measuring displacements released in 2021.
• Simcenter Testlab Sound Designer.zip: Installation files for Sound Designer software add-on

Note:  The *.txt and *.md5 small files are the checksums They are only useful to verify integrity of downloads.

Simcenter Testlab 2021.1 Product Components
 

• Simcenter Testlab 2021.1 64-bit availability.pdf: PDF document explaining when the 64-bit version of Simcenter Testlab and how to obtain it.
• Simcenter Testlab 2021.1_Data_Plugin.iso: 32 bit installation file for the Data Plugin / Active Pictures.  Do not install on a PC with Testlab installed.
• Simcenter Testlab 2021.1_Data_Plugin_64bit.iso: 64 bit installation file for the Data Plugin / Active Pictures.  Do not install on a PC with Testlab installed.
• Simcenter Testlab 2021.1_DataTools.iso: 32 bit Data tools including Unit System and Configuration, Recorder Data Conversion and Data Plugin / Active Pictures.  Do not install on a PC with Testlab installed.
• Simcenter Testlab 2021.1_DataTools_64bit.iso: 64 bit Data tools including Unit System and Configuration, Simcenter Testlab Recording workbook (replacing/extending Recorder Data Conversion tool) and Data Plugin / Active Pictures.  Do not install on a PC with Testlab installed.
• Simcenter Testlab 2021.1_DemoData.iso: Demonstration data for Getting Started Guides and Automation examples.
• Simcenter Testlab 2021.1_Hardware Diagnostics (rev 1.5.9).zip: Standalone Hardware Diagnostics.  Not generally needed with Testab installation (which includes it as pre-requisite) unless you want an upgraded version.
• Simcenter Testlab 2021.1_LicenseServer.zip: Standalone RLM Installation and Help files including for Windows (also included in main Testlab install package) and linux.
• Simcenter Testlab 2021.1_Office Addins Setup.zip: This is not active pictures!  This less than 1 kB file  installs the 32 bit add-ins to MS Office for Word and PPT.  It s required when a customer has installed 64 bit Testlab but has 32 bit office and wants to use the add-in in MS Word or MS Popwerpoint to add/edit fields outside but related to a Testlab active picture. Not necessary if active picture usage is limited to copy/paste active picture from Testlab or activating active picture in MS Word or PowerPoint document.  Started with rev 2019.1.
• Simcenter Testlab 2021.1_Office Addins Setup_64bit.zip: This is not active pictures!  This 2 MB file installs the 64 bit add-ins to MS Office for Word and PPT.  It s required when a customer has installed 32 bit Testlab but has 64 bit office and wants to use the add-in in MS Word or MS Popwerpoint to add/edit fields outside but related to a Testlab active picture. Not necessary if active picture usage is limited to copy/paste active picture from Testlab or activating active picture in MS Word or PowerPoint document.  Started with rev 2019.1.
• Simcenter Testlab 2021.1_without drivers.zip: More compact version of the Testlab installation, but with some restrictions: the compression is higher, which implies an extra unpack step when installing, extra documents (install guide, release notes) are not there, installation of the license server is not included, other drivers (dongle, XS, Acoustic camera, ...) are not present.

Note:  The *.txt and *.md5 small files are the checksums They are only useful to verify integrity of downloads.


Questions or issues? Please contact Siemens Support Center at the appropriate phone number listed on https://support.sw.siemens.com and have your sold-to number (sold-to is in license file, or choose Help -> About Simcenter Testlab from the software interface). The phone number for North America is 1-800-955-0000.

See “Simcenter Testlab: RLM License Server Installation and Setup” for information on how to install the RLM license server and set up your Testlab license file to complete the Testlab software setup.

Have new Simcenter SCADAS hardware?  Check out this article "What’s in the box? Getting Started with Simcenter SCADAS" and the article "Getting Started with Simcenter Testlab".

Other Simcenter Testlab Installation Resources:

• Simcenter Testlab 2021: Download and Software Installation
• Simcenter Testlab 2021: Setting Up the Help or Manual Documentation Server
• Simcenter Testlab: RLM Licensing Server Installation and Setup
• Simcenter 3D Driver for Simcenter Testlab
• Simcenter Testlab: Webkey Account Creation
• Simcenter Testlab 2019: Download and Software Installation