Editor’s Pick: Kenesto Enhances its Cloud-Based Virtual LAN Drive

Dear Desktop Engineering Reader:

The age of cloud-based engineering software and hardware services has arrived. The engineering desktop is tipping that way just like hard-copy print went mostly Internet in 2001. Today’s Pick of the Week is a great example why.

Kenesto recently updated its Kenesto Drive virtual LAN drive functionality with features you don’t find on a shared network drive or a general-purpose cloud storage solution geared to sharing your vacation pictures. More on that in a sec. First, let’s position Kenesto Drive.

Kenesto Drive is a part of Kenesto Pro and Kenesto Free, the company’s secure, cloud-based document management solutions for engineering workflows. Think things like browser-based viewing of 2D/3D designs and the most current version of the document across desktop, Web and mobile platforms.

The Pro version offers lightweight PDM (product data management) system features like document check-in/check-out, collaboration capabilities and task and workflow management tools. You have access to controls, unlimited storage per user and an annual price tag that’s less than a buck a day. Really.

Kenesto Drive works like a shared network drive that you access from your desktop or anywhere in the world. Here you have automatic features like document versioning so that you’re always working with the latest version of a document and notifications of changes to shared folders or documents.

The new round of Kenesto Drive updates includes functionality traditionally only available through physical LAN-mounted drives and PDM systems. The big news here is an auto-lock feature. What this does is block other users from editing a document you have opened. They still have read-only access to in-use documents, and Kenesto automatically unlocks the document when you’re done. This all means that you can modify documents, including CAD files, without worrying about accidental overwrites or wondering how you’re going to buy more drives.

Pictured here is a Solid Edge assembly being shared through Kenesto Drive. Image courtesy of Kenesto Corp.

You can learn more about the other enhancements to Kenesto Drive and the entire Kenesto cloud-based engineering document management system from today’s Pick of the Week write-up. There are a ton of links to check out. Your best bet is to sign up for Kenesto Free and see the system for yourself. The entire idea of Kenesto is to provide small- and mid-sized design and engineering companies a cost-effective, hassle-free alternative to complex and expensive software and hardware installations. Kenesto Drive extends that concept further with an engineering-centric alternative to shared drives and consumer cloud storage solutions. Good stuff.

Thanks, Pal. – Lockwood

Anthony J. Lockwood

Editor at Large, Desktop Engineering

Learn more about Kenesto Drive here.