Category |
Requirements |
Computer1 |
Good motherboard with fast front-side speed 8 GB+ of fast, high-quality RAM2 Solid-state hard drive 64-bit operating system 8 CPU cores (minimum 4)3 with a decent CPU ranking One USB 2.0 port or better (see Legacy Lock-based Licensing below if using) Internet connection |
Category |
Requirements |
Operating System |
Microsoft® Windows 7 SP1 64-bit and Windows 10 64-bit4 (officially supported)
|
Prerequisite Software |
Microsoft® Visual C++ 2017 Redistributables, x86 and x645 Microsoft® .NET Framework 4.6.1 Full, minimum6 |
Launching and Running |
Microsoft® Windows User privileges |
User Profile |
Mandatory user profiles are not supported |
Licensing |
See Licensing. |
Third Party Software |
A compatible Fortran compiler is required. For details, refer to Selecting and Setting up your Fortran Compiler |
Execution Permissions |
The application executable files must be whitelisted in all protection software:
For PSCAD:
The path may be set generally, as: %PROGRAMFILES%\PSCAD<version>
Or, the path may be specified as: C:\Program Files (x86)\<version>\bin\win64\pscad.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\<version>\bin\win\tline.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\<version>\utilities
For the Intel® Parallel Studio Composer Edition for FORTRAN: %PROGRAMFILES%\Intel
For Microsoft® Visual Studio: %PROGRAMFILES%\Microsoft Visual Studio <version>
Allow the user execute permissions to the following within %SYSTEM32%: cmd.exe conhost.exe
The executable files created by the application must be permitted in all protection software. See listing in Appendix F of Resolving Issues. |
Folder Permissions |
The user must have full permissions for the following folder and sub-folders:
Common Documents folder (ex. C:\Users\Public\Documents)
The following sub-folders will be created, and the user must have full permissions:
C:\Users\<your username>\AppData\Local\Manitoba HVDC Research Centre C:\ProgramData\Manitoba HVDC Research Centre |
Communication Over TCP/IP |
This is required for PSCAD and the executables listed in Execution Permissions above, for the purpose of simulation control and data collection for plots. |
Network Ports |
Ports 30,000 to 40,000 must be available to allow PSCAD and EMTDC communication. |
There are three ways to install the PSCAD application. The following lists the minimum requirements for each method.
Category |
Requirements |
Registry Keys Permissions |
32-bit registry keys (used by PSCAD (64-bit)):
HKCU\Software\Manitoba HVDC Research Centre\Pscad HKCU\Software\Manitoba HVDC Research Centre Inc\Pscad HKLM\Software\Manitoba HVDC Research Centre\Pscad HKLM\Software\Manitoba HVDC Research Centre Inc\Pscad
64-bit registry keys (used by PSCAD (64-bit)):
HKCU\Software\Manitoba HVDC Research Centre\Pscad HKCU\Software\Manitoba HVDC Research Centre Inc\Pscad HKLM\Software\Manitoba HVDC Research Centre\Pscad HKLM\Software\Manitoba HVDC Research Centre Inc\Pscad |
Category |
Requirements |
General Requirements |
As listed in General Installation Requirements, above |
Downloading |
Internet connection |
Installing (and removing) the Software (PSCAD, License Manager, GFortran, Prerequisites, Sentinel Drivers) |
Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges |
Category |
Requirements |
General Requirements |
As listed in General Installation Requirements, above |
Downloading |
Internet connection |
Running |
Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges
The user must have full permissions for the following path:
C:\Users\Public\Documents |
Logging |
The following sub-folder will be created, and the user must have full permissions:
C:\Users\<your username>\AppData\Local\Manitoba HVDC Research Centre\Installer |
Category |
Requirements |
General Requirements |
As listed in General Installation Requirements, above |
Access to Product Downloads |
Add the first or both of the following URLs to all anti-virus/firewall whitelists:
https://products.pscad.com ftp://ftps.pscad.com |
Installing |
Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges Internet connection |
Launching (to Install or Update Software) |
Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges Internet connection |
Launching (to Uninstall Software) |
Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges |
Launching (to Launch Installed Software) |
Microsoft® Windows User privileges (unless otherwise specified) |
Connection to Publication Server |
Add the first or both of the following URLs to all anti-virus/firewall whitelists:
http://publisher.pscad.com:80/ net.tcp://publisher.pscad.com:443/ |
Supported Protocols |
TLS 1.0, TLS 1.1, TLS 1.2 |
There are two ways to license the PSCAD application. The following lists the minimum requirements for each method.
See Certificate Licenses for more details.
Category |
Requirements |
Certificate |
MyCentre user account with access to a licensed workgroup. |
Operational Requirements |
Supported on a local desktop, or remote desktop, or over virtual private network (VPN). Not guaranteed in a cloud desktop environment, but could be verified using diagnostic tools. |
Connection to the License Server |
Add both of the following URLs to all anti-virus/firewall whitelists:
http://licensing.pscad.com:80/Licensing net.tcp://licensing.pscad.com:443/Licensing |
Activate/Release/Refresh a Certificate |
Microsoft® Windows User privileges Internet connection |
Using Certificates |
The following sub-folders will be created, and the user must have full permissions:
C:\Users\Public\Documents\Manitoba HVDC Research Centre\Licensing\Licenses C:\Users\<user_id>\AppData\Local\Manitoba Hydro International\Licensing\Licenses |
Supported Protocols |
TLS 1.0, TLS 1.1, TLS 1.2 |
There are two ways that lock-based licensing may be used to license the PSCAD application. The following lists the minimum requirements for each method.
General Lock-Based Licensing Requirements
Category |
Requirements |
Licensing Media |
The License Database File must be installed on the licensed machine The Sentinel USB Lock must be installed on the licensed machine |
To Communicate with the Sentinel Lock |
Sentinel Driver software to use the Sentinel USB lock7
For Microsoft® Windows 10 (all releases):
One USB 2.0 port or better. |
To Install a License Database File |
Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges |
To Use the License Update Tool |
Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges Internet connection is required if downloading the posted (current) version |
To Activate a License |
Microsoft® Windows User privileges |
Access to Obtain and Retain Licensing Settings |
Settings accessible to everyone on the specified machine:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Manitoba HVDC Research Centre Inc\PSCAD\License
Note: Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges are required to modify them.
Settings applicable only to specified individuals on a machine:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Manitoba HVDC Research Centre Inc\PSCAD\License
Note: Only Microsoft® Windows User-level privileges are required to read or modify them, unless prohibited by a group policy. |
Single-User Lock-Based Licensing Requirements
Category |
Requirements |
General Requirements |
As listed in General Lock-based Licensing Requirements, above |
Machine |
Supported on a local machine, but may be possible to use virtual private network (VPN) to remote log in.
Not supported in a cloud desktop environment. |
Firewall |
Ports 2053 and 2054 must be open |
Multi-User Lock-Based Licensing Requirements
Category |
Requirements |
General Requirements |
As listed in General Lock-based Licensing Requirements, above |
Machine – Client |
Supported on a local machine, but may be possible to use virtual private network (VPN) to connect to the server.
Not supported in a cloud desktop environment (generally they are not connected to the corporate network).
Internet connection is required if using VPN for a remote License Manager |
Machine – Server |
Supported on a physical machine, but may be possible to use a virtual server. Contact the PSCAD Support Desk support@mhi.ca for details. |
Must be installed as applicable:
|
|
ICMP Ping Echo and ICMP Ping Reply |
Must be enabled on the firewall for the host and client machines |
TCP/IP and UDP/IP on Ports 2053 / 2054 |
Must be open on the firewall |
NetBIOS (if used) Port 137 |
Must be allowed on the server |
Start / Stop / Restart the License Manager Service |
Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges |
Using the License Manager Setup Tool |
Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges Internet connection is required if downloading the posted (current) version |
Required when using Multi-User Licensing.
Category |
Requirements |
Operating System |
Microsoft® Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 10 (32-bit and 64-bit) (officially supported).
The following operating systems may also work:
The License Manager is not supported on the following: Microsoft® Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 SP0
Supported on a physical machine, but may be possible to use a virtual server. The USB lock must be connected. Contact the PSCAD Support Desk support@mhi.ca for details. |
Installation |
Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges |
Start/Stop/Restart the License Manager |
Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges |
License Manager Setup Tool |
Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges.
Internet connection is required if downloading the posted (current) version |
Category |
Requirements |
Running the Get Info tool |
Microsoft® Windows User privileges Internet connection is required if downloading the posted (current) version |
Running the Fortran Medic Tool |
Microsoft® Windows User privileges Internet connection is required if downloading the posted (current) version |
Viewing Log Files |
Microsoft® Windows User privileges |
Notes:
PSCAD is a numerically intensive power system transients simulator; a fast and efficient personal computer is recommended for best results. To obtain specifications for extremely high workloads, please contact the PSCAD Support Desk for information (support@mhi.ca).
Personal computers configured with slower processors and lesser RAM may be used, but slower execution performance will result. In other words, simulation speed increases with processor speed and amount of installed RAM.
Generally, the faster the better. We recommend an eight-core processor (or at least a four-core processor) to take advantage of Parallel and High Performance Computing. Additional licensed capabilities may be purchased to maximize these features. For more information, refer to this topic or contact the Support Desk (support@mhi.ca).
PSCAD v5.0.0 is not supported on a 32-bit operating system.
Both the 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Visual C++ Redistributables are required on your Windows 64-bit Operating System. If this prerequisite software is not already installed, the user will be prompted to install it when PSCAD is installed.
If Microsoft® .NET Framework 4.6.1 Full or better is not already installed, the user will be prompted to install it when PSCAD is installed.
Sentinel Driver software is installed automatically alongside PSCAD and the License Manager.
Sentinel Driver version 7.6.0 is deployed with PSCAD 5.0.0 and License Manager v1.45.