AUTODESK SOFTWARE REVIEW PORTAL

Autodesk Software
Review Portal

USER GUIDE

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Welcome
Dear Autodesk Customer,

Together, Autodesk and our customers are driving the future of making things. There are radical changes
happening right now in the way things are designed, made, and used.

To ensure you have the best set of tools and right insights into how to get the most from your investment,
Autodesk’s Software Asset Management Team requests your company’s participation in a Software
Review to confirm installation and usage of Autodesk products and services are in alignment with
Autodesk licensing agreements. The Autodesk Software Review Portal is designed to guide your company
through this process.

Thank you for your participation.

Sincerely,

The Autodesk Software Management Team

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Contents
Welcome .......................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Step by Step ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4
1. Registration ......................................................................................................................................................... 4
Your personal homepage .......................................................................................................................................... 5
2. Company Profile .................................................................................................................................................. 5
3. Get Inventory ...................................................................................................................................................... 6
4. Upload Inventory ................................................................................................................................................ 7
Manual Inventory (for MAC or Linux users) ............................................................................................................... 8
5. Submit Data ........................................................................................................................................................ 9
6. Software Review Report...................................................................................................................................... 9
Messaging Feature ..........................................................................................................................................................10
What Happens Next.........................................................................................................................................................11
Final review of your Report ......................................................................................................................................11
Feedback and potential actions ................................................................................................................................11
Appendix .........................................................................................................................................................................12
Frequently Asked Questions .......................................................................................................................................13
Glossary of Terms........................................................................................................................................................14
Inventory Tools ...........................................................................................................................................................15
More Resources ..........................................................................................................................................................15

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Introduction
https://software-review.autodesk.com/Default.aspx

Welcome to the Autodesk Software Review Portal. This Portal has been designed to help Autodesk
customers complete a review of the Autodesk software installed in their IT environment.

The Portal has been designed to be as simple as possible allowing you to complete the review process by
using an automated inventory tool.

We provide a step-by-step overview of how to navigate through the tool and complete the review. In addition
to this guide, there is a "How It Works" and FAQ featured in the Portal. There is also a messaging feature
available after you register if you require further assistance from Autodesk's Software Management Team.

Step by Step
https://software-review.autodesk.com/HowItWorks.aspx

Six Simple Steps

The Portal is designed to guide you through the six key stages of completing the Review.

1. Registration
To register, you will need to enter your company’s unique registration code which can be found in the email
you received from Autodesk requesting your company’s participation in the Review process.

This is not the same as your Autodesk login (if you already have
one). You will need to register separately onto the portal.

First time users should type the reference code into the New
Portal Users section and press “Register Now”.

This takes you to the Registration form where you enter your
contact details and select a personal password. Make sure you
use a strong password that you can remember. Accept the terms
and conditions and press “Register Now” to continue.

Once you have registered, and receive a confirmation email, you

can log back in at any time by using the ‘Existing Portal Users’
email and password fields.

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Your personal homepage

After logging in you will see your new Portal home page. It gives you a visual workflow of the steps you will
take to complete the review process.

2. Company Profile
Start with answering the simple mandatory questions in the Company Profile section then press
“Save & Proceed”.

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3. Get Inventory
Collect the key information required concerning all the Autodesk software you have installed on your PCs. We
use the term Inventory to refer to part of the Autodesk Software Review that relates to the actual collection of
relevant data associated with Autodesk software deployed and installed in your environment.

a. Select which type of environment you have:

There will be a video to guide you on how to get your inventory.

The Autodesk Inventory Advisor (AIA) Tool

This is a professional scanning tool that only reports on Autodesk products. It is free to use and will only collect
information about the Autodesk software you have installed on your PCs by running the “By Serial Number”
report. It puts this information into a simple .XML file that you then import into the portal.

Download Autodesk Inventory Advisor (AIA):

https://autode.sk/2HpP09B

AIA Quick Start Guide:

https://autode.sk/2HpP09B

*If you are a MAC or Linux user, skip to the Manual Inventory (For MAC and Linux users) section below*

b. Run software scan on all your PCs

Run the AIA tool to collect information about the Autodesk software installed on your PCs

c. Create a report
Export a report directly from AIA in .XML format by running a “By Serial Number” report. Instruction on how to
do this can be found in the AIA Quick Start guide.

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4. Upload Inventory
Once you have collected Inventory from all your PCs with AIA, you can run a report of all your installed
Autodesk software. Simply use the link in the Portal to upload the inventory report file.

• From the Home page select ‘upload Inventory’ from the main buttons on the screen.

• From the Upload Inventory screen click ‘Browse’ to launch a windows explorer window for you to
search for the right file. Select the Inventory report file you created with AIA (saved as an XML file) by
double clicking it.

• The file name should now appear next to the Browse button. If you are satisfied it is the correct file
click the ‘Upload’ button to start the upload.

When the upload is complete, you will get a confirmation message notifying you the file was uploaded
successfully.

If you receive an error message, check that the file format is XML and you ran a “By Serial Number” report in
AIA. In the AIA tool, go to the Reports/Software/By Serial Num… The correct file will begin with “soft_audit”
prefix as the default name when saving. If you think the file is correct and are still having issues, you can send
the file via the messaging feature in the Portal and the Administrator can provide additional assistance.

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Manual Inventory (for MAC or Linux users)

If you are a MAC or Linux user only, you may contact the Portal Administrator through the messaging feature in
the Portal and request to be allowed access to the Inventory manual data entry form.

The Manual Inventory consists of a single table. You need to manually gather information from all the devices
on which Autodesk software is installed.

Each row must be completed and contain information of a single device only. You can save your work anytime
by clicking on the “Save” button, and return to the form later. Complete one line per device with the following
information:

• PC Name—Type in device name

• Application Name—Select from dropdown list
• Application Version—Select from dropdown list
• Serial Number—Type in the serial number (format xxx-
xxxxxxxx; three numbers followed by a dash and eight
more numbers)
• Installation Type—Select from dropdown list
• Location—Type in device location (business
unit or address)

Network Installations
If you have any licenses with an Installation Type = “Network”, you will need to supply the Autodesk license file
from your Autodesk network license server and run a report log (for a minimum of 2 weeks).

• For more information on how to do this go to the following link:

http://autode.sk/2uDcUMt

• Once you have gathered the license file and the report log, upload them via the “Attachments”
section found in the portal.

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5. Submit Data
When all the information of the Software Review has been completed (Company Profile and Software
Inventory), check you are satisfied and submit the Software Review by clicking the submit button at the
bottom of the “Complete” page. You will need to tick the box to confirm that the information is correct before
the submit button becomes active.

If you have missed mandatory information, a red bar will appear and highlight the missing information. Once
you have completed the missing section, return to the Complete page and press “Submit” again.

Once submitted, you will receive an email confirming the receipt of your Software Review Information.

6. Software Review Report

Once we receive your profile information and Inventory of Autodesk software, we will compare that data with
your software registrations in our database. You will then receive a "Software Review Report" of your current
licensing position. This document is confidential and will only be shared with you.

If potential compliance issues are identified, a Software Management Representative will be in touch to
discuss the matter and work together on a resolution

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Messaging Feature
To help keep information up-to-date and all the messages in the same place, we have built a simple messaging
feature in the Portal.

It allows two-way communication between Autodesk and you, alerting you to status changes, new or
missing information and incoming messages from the Portal Administrators.

You can send messages and files regarding your review. Any file type is accepted as an
attachment (spreadsheets, pdf’s, and photographs).

You will also be able to follow the discussion in the Message section as all your messages and replies are
stored in the order they were sent.

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What Happens Next

Final review of your Report
When you receive the Software Review Report, you should determine whether there are any areas requiring
further action.

To gain the maximum benefit from the process, you can use your automated Inventory report (if you have one)
and the Software Review Report from the Portal to have a comprehensive review of your current IT environment
and plan next steps. Points to consider should include:

What software is installed and where?

• Do you have Autodesk software installed that you didn’t know about?
• Have employees installed software or applications outside of IT policy?
• Are employees accessing your networks from their own devices?

Are you using all the software you own?

• Are you paying for software you aren’t using?
• Are employees benefiting from the software you have?
• Do different employees have different software requirements?

Is the installed software up-to-date?

• Is your software at end of life or in need of an upgrade?

Is the software installed correctly?

• Are you short on any licenses?
• Are you using the correct versions?
• Are you at risk of IP infringement?

Feedback and potential actions

Once the Review is complete you may also receive practical advice from Autodesk concerning your current
environment and licensing position, including:

• What Autodesk software you have installed and where

• A software analysis highlighting use
• Clear instructions how to settle shortfalls, should you have any
• Licensing Autodesk software through subscription

The Autodesk Software Management Team is available to discuss any of your findings and help with any next
steps from advising about upgrades and licensing questions to addressing any risk concerns.

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Appendix

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Frequently Asked Questions

https://software-review.autodesk.com/FAQ.aspx

Why has my company been selected by Autodesk for a Software Review?

As a customer of Autodesk, your company has been selected to undergo a Software Review. Every licensee of
Autodesk Software may be selected by Autodesk for a Software Review, in accordance with applicable
Autodesk license agreements.

What is a License and Services Agreement?

We generally provide our License and Services Agreements electronically within each software product as a
"click through". Please refer to the particular software product and version for the applicable License and
Services Agreements. Unless your company has another agreement directly with Autodesk that controls your
use of Autodesk software products, the terms and conditions of the License and Services Agreement that
accompanies the software product applies.

What is the Autodesk Inventory Advisor?

The Autodesk Inventory Advisor (AIA) is a standalone scan tool that is designed to be installed on a single
computer running a workstation-class operating system and scan the systems on the network to collect
Autodesk licensing data. It is an agent-less scan and no footprint is left on the endpoints. AIA uses Windows
Management Instrumentation (WMI) to scan the Windows Registry and Autodesk Product Information Table
on each system. You can target machines using IP address range(s), an import of computer names from Active
Directory, or via a logon script using a command-line version of the tool. The scan is designed to have little to
no impact on your systems or network. AIA does not communicate with Autodesk servers and you are in
control of the data until it is sent to Autodesk or its representative.

Does the AIA tool collect personal data from my PCs?

Autodesk Inventory Advisor only will capture Autodesk product-related information and machine IDs. If a
company’s machine ID naming convention includes personal data, then such information will be captured.
This information will be treated in accordance with the Autodesk Privacy Statement. If this is a concern for
your company, we suggest that your naming convention be anonymized.

How do I install and run the Autodesk Inventory Advisor?

Please refer to the Autodesk Inventory Advisor Quick Start Guide to help you install and run the tool.

Can I ask someone else in my company to complete this Software Review?

Yes. If you are not the right contact for this activity – for example, you are not the person who is responsible
for managing Autodesk Software in your company – please forward the request and registration code to the
appropriate person. Also, if you are the correct contact, but prefer someone else in your company to perform
the Software Review then please ask this person to perform the task.

How long will it take for Autodesk to inform me of the results after I upload the software inventory file?
Autodesk aims to provide the results of your Software Review within 3-5 business days. However, in peak
periods there may be some delay. We thank you in advance for your patience.

How much of our company’s time need to be invested in this process?

There are 2 key components to the Autodesk Software Review Portal. The first part is a simple company
profile section, which will take you a few minutes to complete. The second part is the actual software
Inventory using the Autodesk Inventory Advisor.

We have prepared a guide with step-by-step instructions relating to deployment and implementation of the
Autodesk Inventory Advisor. If the guide is followed correctly, the process should require light investment of
time. Difficulties generally arise if the guide is not followed. As a first line of support, please see the
troubleshooting section of the quick start guide.

Typically, Autodesk Inventory Advisor should take no longer than 45 minutes to install and finalize an initial
Inventory. Once the initial scan is complete, AIA does not continue to scan machines in the background. The
user will need to manually run a scan once per day for the duration of the data capturing process. We
recommend each scan be performed at different times of day to capture the highest percentage of PCs. Each
scan will require just a few minutes to complete. The AIA database operates in an additive manner, each scan
will be working only to locate and inventory machines that it has not seen during a previous scan. With this in
mind and without unforeseen technical challenges, minimal time investment is required to complete scanning
of your environment using Autodesk Inventory Advisor. Once you are satisfied that all the machines in the
environment have been scanned, you may submit the inventory to Autodesk via the Portal.

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What if compliance issues are identified during the Review process?

An Autodesk Software Management Representative will be in touch to discuss the matter and work together
on a resolution.

Who do I contact at Autodesk if I have any questions about this Software Review?
The Portal has messaging functionality that allows you to ask questions and interact with the Autodesk
Software Management team.

Glossary of Terms

Term Meaning

Active Directory. Microsoft technology to manage users and devices in your network.
AD
Used for finding users and workstations to scan during inventory.

Autodesk Inventory Advisor. A free inventory tool that scans your entire network and
AIA
reports back all the installed Autodesk software with correct serial numbers.

Customer Specific Number. Your Autodesk customer code. You might have several
CSN
CSNs for your company.

Environment Your current PC’s, printers and other network connected equipment.

Inventory Stock taking of your currently installed software on all your PC’s.

Software Review Effective Software Position. Any difference between your installed software and the
Report software that you have registered with Autodesk.

Registration
A report of all your registered Autodesk software.
Report

Proof of Methods of providing proof of purchase of your Autodesk software. These include
Ownership volume license agreement numbers, or purchase invoices, as examples.

Software Asset Management (SAM) is a set of tools and processes that help
SAM
companies manage and keep track of the software they have licensed.

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager. SCCM is a Windows product that

SCCM enables administrators to manage the deployment and security of devices and
applications across an enterprise.

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Inventory Tools
Autodesk Inventory Advisor (AIA) is a professional scanning tool that only reports on Autodesk products. It is
free to use and will only collect information about the Autodesk software you have installed on your PCs. It
puts this information into a simple .XML file that you then import into the Portal.

Download Autodesk Inventory Advisor (AIA):

https://autode.sk/2HpP09B

AIA Quick Start Guide:

https://autode.sk/2HpP09B

AIA Manual Scan Video:

https://autode.sk/2nwyCOx

More Resources
Autodesk Websites
More information on Autodesk licensing can be found at www.autodesk.com/licensing/overview

There is a dedicated section for License Compliance at www.autodesk.com/company/license-

compliance/license-compliance

Read more about Software Asset Management and benefits at https://www.autodesk.com/genuine/software-

asset-management

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AUTODESK SOFTWARE REVIEW PORTAL

THANK YOU FOR USING

THE AUTODESK SOFTWARE
REVIEW PORTAL

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