New in this Release

Created: June 11, 2019 | Updated: April 22, 2021 | Applies to version: 2.1

Now reading version 2.1. For the latest, read: New in this Release for version 5.0

This documentation page references NEXUS Server (part of the deployed NEXUS solution), which has been discontinued. All your PCB design, data management and collaboration needs can now be delivered by Altium Designer and a connected Altium 365 Workspace. Check out the FAQs page for more information.

Altium NEXUS Server 2.1

Released: 10 April 2020 - Version: 2.1.9 (build 96)
Released: 5 February 2020 - Version: 2.1.8 (build 87)
Released: 24 December 2019 - Version: 2.1.7 (build 83)
Released: 03 October 2019 - Version: 2.1.6 (build 73)
Released: 02 August 2019 - Version: 2.1.4 (build 61)

This release sees further beneficial enhancements to the Altium NEXUS Server and its related technologies. In addition, numerous fixes have been made to resolve issues raised by customers through the AltiumLive Community.

While the Altium NEXUS Server installer includes automated backup of your existing installation, it is always a good idea to make a pre-update backup of your data yourself - taking a redundancy copy off to one side as it were. This provides additional safety, should any unforeseen technical difficulties arise (see Backing up and Restoring Your Installation). It is advised to test out a new release of the NEXUS Server on a different machine, before updating your production instance. Use of Virtual Machines can be invaluable in this respect.

In addition, please ensure that you refresh your NEXUS Server licensing. From the Admin - Licenses page of the NEXUS Server's browser interface, delete the existing licenses (Altium NEXUS Server and Altium NEXUS Server CAL) and then add fresh instances back in. This will ensure you have the latest licensing, incorporating any licensing-related feature changes.

While connection to Altium NEXUS Server 2.1 is possible from previous versions of Altium NEXUS, users are encouraged to update to the latest version of Altium NEXUS – especially where Server enhancements relate to changes to the user interface within Altium NEXUS (such as the addition of the Components panel).

Managed Data and Processing Updates

The analysis and generation of design data has been enhanced in this server release through the addition of new features for the server Web Review, updated activity processing, and the ability to convert older project structures to be compatible with the new data-rich format.

Health Monitor in Browser Interface

Previously delivered as a local standalone application only, the new integrated Server Health monitor provides server status information via the server's own browser interface. Accessible over the network by Administrators, the health reporter offers an immediate overview of the server's performance and any issues, and also provides direct access to server logs.

PLM Integration Improvements

The server's ability to integrate with external enterprise systems such as a PLM has been updated with better data processing performance, improved handling of component Part Choices and Parameter units, the ability to nominate an explicit component template for component synchronization, and more Arena PLM instance capabilities.

Additional Features and Enhancements

The server can now be installed with a full set of sample data which includes projects, components (and associated models), managed schematic sheets, plus templates for components and all common design file formats. Select the Install Sample Data option during the server's installation.
The Altium Parts Provider part source now includes a larger range of Locations and Currencies to choose from. Open the Altium Parts Provider entry on the Catalog Management page (Admin » Part Providers) to configure its options.
A System user profile is no longer present on the User Management page (Team » Users). The System user is nevertheless active for internal server processes and will therefore appear in the Active Sessions list (Team » Sessions).
The server's data analysis and generation capabilities have been enhanced by updates to the internal ARK Service. The performance and memory footprint of the component synchronization engine has also been improved.
A new page has been added to the Admin section of the server's browser interface - Admin-Settings-MCAD CoDesigner. This page provides a control to enable component recognition between the ECAD and MCAD domains, when using ECAD-MCAD CoDesign. This facilitates recognition and therefore 1-1 mapping of components on either side, through the use of a dedicated Company Component ID.

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