Multiple users accessing same .dwg

LOL I guess my guess was abusive?

c2it,
you say that multiple users can open same dwg without the read only message, but can they make changes and save the dwg also? Does "read only" show up in the dwg pat\name in the title bar? I use Map and it has a multi-user environment options, are your users implementing any of these options in the various products, possibly unintentionally? Are they "partially opening" the dwgs?

I never knew you were so abusive D.T. ;)

@ norrin_radd : ROFL

@ c2it,
OK looks like we have it about covered, the networking issues and the configuration issues (this should cover the pc permissions also right?)

also does the "whohas" command come up with the current user of the dwgs?

Yes, the permissions are the same either in the directory or users have complete administrative control of their workstations.

The read-only does appear in the title bar for the first person after the second person opens the same file.

This doesn't happen all the time about once or twice a month.

We have a Riverbed network accelerator, but this happens in the datacenter side and occasionally at the remote site.

Not a solution but an FYI

http://blog.jtbworld.com/2007/04/dwl2-new-dwl-in-autocad-2008.html

Is AutoCAD loaded locally on each machine or are you running off the network.  If you are running of the network.. Try loading it local on one workstaition and duplicate the condition.  If after serveral days the 2nd person always gets the read only then you may have to load ACAD locally on all workstations.  I find AutoCAD is less fussy when loaded locally.  It is more work for me in the beginning, but I get less headaches.

It sounds like the computer is getting disconnected with the server somehow.  If this happens AutoCAD still functions normally for the user.  So User1 will get disconnected and User2 will come along and open the file.  User2 can open the file normally because the system assumes the file is closed and was unchanged.  If User2 saves his changes and closes and later User1 gets reconnected then he can save and look like nothing happened.  I have seen this before in 2005, and I don't think things has changed in the newer releases.

It may be a DHCP issue.  Try giving 2 work stations a static IP address and test.  A static address will ensure connection all the time.  Again, have a static network is more work up front but I have NO problems. All my printers range from say 51 to 100 and all my machines range from 100 to 254 you can then set up different sub net ranges for a larger network.