Solidworks Host File Block
Use ping or nslookup to confirm resolution:
ping activation.solidworks.com
Expected output: Reply from 127.0.0.1
Dassault Systèmes offers a full-featured version for hobbyists and makers. It has a watermark. It cannot open commercial files. But for learning and personal projects, it is $9 a month—cheaper than a pizza.
If you are troubleshooting or studying how this works, here is the technical process. Do not do this to avoid paying for software.
If a virus gains access to your hosts file, it can redirect bankofamerica.com to a fake phishing site. Once you have manually edited your hosts file to block SolidWorks, the file is no longer "signed" or protected by Windows. Malware loves to append extra lines to an already-modified hosts file because users never check it again.
The hosts file is a crude, partially effective, and high-maintenance method to block SolidWorks network traffic. It is widely documented in piracy circles but carries legal, operational, and technical drawbacks. For any professional environment, use proper firewall rules, software configuration, or accept the telemetry as part of the licensed software agreement.
Final recommendation: Do not rely on host file blocking for license circumvention. Use it only in controlled, legitimate scenarios (e.g., stopping crash reports from leaving an air-gapped engineering PC).
Report generated for technical awareness.
The "SolidWorks host file block" usually refers to a technical workaround used to fix connection issues between a client computer and a SolidWorks PDM (Product Data Management) server. This is necessary when your computer’s DNS (Domain Name System) cannot properly resolve the server's name to its IP address. Purpose of the Host File Block
DNS Workaround: Bypasses faulty network name resolution by manually "hard-coding" the server's IP address to its name on your local machine.
PDM Connectivity: Ensures the PDM client can find the Archive Server and Database Server to check files in and out.
Installation Fixes: Sometimes used to prevent "blank" installation screens caused by the firewall or browser blocking necessary HTML files. Detailed Step-by-Step Configuration
To implement this "block" (which is actually an entry in the Windows hosts file), follow these steps: Open Notepad as Administrator: Click the Start menu and type "Notepad."
Right-click it and select Run as Administrator (this is critical for saving changes). Navigate to the Hosts File: In Notepad, go to File > Open. Browse to: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\.
Change the file type dropdown from "Text Documents (.txt)" to **All Files (.*)**. Select the file named hosts and click Open. Add the Server Entry:
Scroll to the bottom of the file (below any lines starting with #).
Enter the Server IP Address, hit TAB, and then enter the Server Hostname. Example: 192.168.1.100 SRV-PDM01. Save and Flush DNS: Save the file and close Notepad. Open a Command Prompt (type cmd in Start).
Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter to force Windows to recognize the new entry. Common Troubleshooting Scenarios
Permission Denied: If you get a "permission denied" error, you did not run Notepad as an Administrator. Solidworks Host File Block
Firewall Blocking: If the host file is correct but connection fails, you may need to create an Inbound Rule in the Windows Defender Firewall for ports 3030 (Archive), 1433/1434 (SQL), and 25734/25735 (License).
Blank Installer: If you are trying to install and the screen is blank, right-click the installation HTML files (e.g., frameset.html) and check Unblock in the Properties menu. Retired - SOLIDWORKS Forums
In SOLIDWORKS, a "Host File Block" typically refers to a critical diagnostic workaround involving the modification of the Windows hosts file to resolve connectivity or performance issues between a workstation and a SOLIDWORKS PDM server. This technical intervention is primarily used when Domain Name System (DNS) failures prevent a computer from correctly translating a server's name into its IP address, causing the PDM client to hang or fail. Why the Host File is Blocked or Modified
The Windows hosts file serves as a local "address book" that the operating system checks before reaching out to external DNS servers. In a SOLIDWORKS environment, this file is used to:
Resolve Connection Lag: High latency in DNS resolution can cause massive slowdowns when opening or saving files in PDM. Manually mapping the server IP to its name in the hosts file bypasses this delay.
Bypass DNS Failures: If the PDM Archive or Database server cannot be found by its name, adding it to the hosts file ensures the client connects directly to the correct IP.
Identify Security Blocks: Antivirus programs (like SentinelOne, ZoneAlarm, or Webroot) often "block" the ability to write to the hosts file to prevent malware from redirecting traffic. These blocks must be temporarily disabled to apply the SOLIDWORKS fix. How to Configure the SOLIDWORKS PDM Host File
To implement this workaround, follow these steps to ensure the file is correctly updated and not being blocked by system permissions:
Launch Notepad as Administrator: Navigate to the Start menu, search for Notepad, right-click it, and select Run as Administrator. Open the Hosts File: Go to File > Open. Navigate to: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\.
Change the file type filter in the bottom right from Text Documents (*.txt) to All Files to see the hosts file (it has no extension).
Add Server Entries: On a new line at the bottom of the file, enter the server's IP address, followed by a tab or space, and then the server name. Example: 192.168.1.100 PDM-SERVER-01
Save and Verify: Save the file. If Windows denies saving, right-click the hosts file in File Explorer, select Properties, and ensure Read-only is unchecked. Troubleshooting Common Blocks
If you are unable to save the changes or the fix doesn't work, consider these common "blocks":
Antivirus Interference: Check your security software settings. For instance, in Webroot, you may need to uncheck "Prevent any program from modifying the HOSTs file".
Read-Only Attributes: Ensure the file is not locked by the system or another open application.
DNS Flush: After saving, open a Command Prompt and type ipconfig /flushdns to ensure the system recognizes the new local mapping.
Note: This modification is intended as a temporary diagnostic tool or a short-term workaround. For long-term stability, it is recommended to work with your IT department to resolve the underlying DNS issues within the network infrastructure.
Users often modify the Windows hosts file to prevent SolidWorks from communicating with its home servers. This is sometimes used for privacy or to manage software activation locally. Use ping or nslookup to confirm resolution: ping
The Logic: By mapping a software's activation or telemetry URL to a "dead" IP address like 0.0.0.0 or 127.0.0.1, you effectively cut off the application's ability to reach that site.
Alternative Method: Experts often recommend using the Windows Defender Firewall for this instead, as it is easier to manage and less likely to be bypassed by modern Windows security features. 2. Resolving PDM Connectivity (The "Positive" Block)
In a professional setting, editing the hosts file is a common workaround when your computer cannot "find" the server hosting your SOLIDWORKS PDM (Product Data Management) vault.
The Issue: If your DNS (Domain Name System) fails to translate a server name into an IP address, PDM will fail to connect.
The Fix: Adding a manual entry to the hosts file ensures your machine always knows exactly where the server is located. How to Edit the Hosts File
If you need to perform either of these actions, the process is as follows:
Open Notepad as Administrator: Search for Notepad in the Start Menu, right-click it, and select Run as Administrator.
Navigate to the File: Go to File > Open and paste this path: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\. Change the file type dropdown from "Text Documents (.txt)" to **"All Files (.*)"** to see the hosts file. Add Your Entry: To Block: Add a line like 0.0.0.0 license.solidworks.com.
To Connect (PDM): Add a line with the server IP followed by the name, e.g., 192.168.1.100 PDM-SERVER.
Save and Close: Save the file. You may need to restart your browser or SolidWorks for the changes to take effect. 3. SolidWorks "Blocks" (Internal CAD Feature)
It is worth noting that in SolidWorks, a "Block" is also a standard CAD feature used to group sketch entities.
block linked to file - best way to edit the block? | SOLIDWORKS Forums
In SOLIDWORKS, there isn't a native "Host File Block" feature. However, modifying the Windows hosts file
is a common administrative workaround to resolve server connectivity issues or block specific traffic for licensing and PDM (Product Data Management) systems. Modifying the Windows Hosts File
The Windows hosts file acts as a local DNS override. To modify it for SOLIDWORKS server resolution: Run Notepad as Administrator
: Search for Notepad in the Start menu, right-click it, and select Run as Administrator Open the Hosts File : In Notepad, go to File > Open and navigate to: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\ Note: Change the file type filter to **All Files ( )** to see the "hosts" file. Add Server Entries : At the bottom of the file (on a new line without a ), add the IP address, a tab/space, and the server name. 192.168.1.100 MyPDMServer Save and Flush DNS
: Save the file. To ensure the change takes effect immediately, open a Command Prompt and type ipconfig /flushdns MLC CAD Systems Common Issues & Troubleshooting
If you are unable to save changes or the feature is "blocked," check the following: Write Access Blocked Expected output: Reply from 127
: Antivirus software (such as Webroot, ZoneAlarm, or SentinelOne) may actively block any application from writing to the hosts file. You must uncheck settings like "Prevent any program from modifying the HOSTs file" in your security software. Read-Only Attribute : Right-click the hosts file, select Properties , and ensure the box is unchecked. Administrative Permissions
: Installation or modification of licensing services requires local administrative rights to write to the Windows registry. Related SOLIDWORKS "Block" Features
If you are looking for specific CAD or PDM features named "Block": File Locations Options - 2023 - SOLIDWORKS Design Help
The Windows hosts file is a local plain-text file used by the operating system to map hostnames (like myserver.com) to specific IP addresses. It is located at:C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
When your computer tries to connect to a server, it checks this local file first before asking a Domain Name System (DNS). 1. Using a Hosts File Block for Troubleshooting
In many professional environments, SolidWorks PDM or network licenses fail because the client computer cannot find the server by its name. A "host file block" (or more accurately, a manual entry) can bypass these DNS errors.
The Issue: A client can "ping" the server's IP address but not its name, leading to connection timeouts.
The Fix: You can manually map the server name to its IP address to ensure a direct connection. Step-by-Step Configuration: Open Notepad as an Administrator. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\.
Open the hosts file (you may need to change the file type to "All Files").
Add a new line at the bottom: [Server IP Address] [Server Name]. Example: 192.168.1.50 MyArchiveServer.
Save the file and run ipconfig /flushdns in the Command Prompt to apply the changes. 2. Blocking SolidWorks from the Internet
Some users intentionally block SolidWorks domains in the hosts file to prevent the software from contacting the manufacturer's activation or telemetry servers. This is often done by mapping SolidWorks URLs to the loopback address (127.0.0.1 or 0.0.0.0), which effectively kills the connection. Common Domains Blocked: install.solidworks.com api.solidworks.com www.solidworks.com Risks of This Method:
Activation Failures: You will be unable to activate, reactivate, or transfer your license.
Update Issues: The SolidWorks Installation Manager will fail to check for updates or download required files.
Feature Loss: Cloud-integrated features or the 3DEXPERIENCE platform may stop working. 3. Resolving Unintended Blocks
If you are receiving "Cannot find license file" or "License server down" errors (Error -15,10,10061), a rogue entry in your hosts file might be the culprit.
At the bottom of the file, you will add lines that redirect SolidWorks servers back to your local machine (127.0.0.1).
Common addresses to block include:
# SolidWorks Block List
127.0.0.1 localhost
127.0.0.1 solidworks.com
127.0.0.1 www.solidworks.com
127.0.0.1 login.solidworks.com
127.0.0.1 activation.solidworks.com
127.0.0.1 license.std.3ds.com
127.0.0.1 std.3ds.com
127.0.0.1 events.3ds.com
127.0.0.1 swym.3ds.com
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