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 TBC scan files and storage

Lisa Metz's profile image
Lisa Metz posted 09-12-2024 11:54

Hi All, we started using a Trimble SX 7 scanner with our TBC software.  Has anyone attempted to run TBC on a virtual machine and experience any issues? Software loaded locally and access scanned files on a cloud platform? The files are extremely large and can not be saved locally and taking up space on our servers. Our vendor recommended external hard drives but not sure that is our long term solution.  any recommendations would be appreciated.

Andrew Haukaas's profile image
Andrew Haukaas

I do this on a regular basis for small jobs (scans are located on remote company servers 300+tb), but for anything exceeding one or two scans it's not viable. The amount of time wasted will quickly pay for massive amounts of memory and a large ssd to run things locally and back up to a cloud as  needed.

Robert Hoy's profile image
Robert Hoy

I agree with Andrew. I store all my TBC files on my 1 TB laptop SSD using OneDrive that automatically is backed up to OneDrive cloud. and use a SX10. So point cloud data is on my local SSD.  When I'm finished with a project I tell OneDrive to keep only on OneDrive cloud and remove from my SSD.

James McWha's profile image
James McWha

When working with point cloud data, you need to have an external graphics card. So if your virtual machine only has access to integrated graphics, it's not going to be suitable for working with scan data. You need a virtual machine that can access the GPU.

As for storing the TBC project, when working with point clouds, it is highly recommended that you store the project locally on a good quality solid state drive. Once you have saved the project, you can then back it up to the cloud, network drive or other external hard drive, but while working in it, save the project to your local SSD.