Arena Simulation Software FAQs

Go in to FactoryTalk Manager>Manage Activations tab.

1. Click  Rehost Activations
2. Click on Select Activations. Make sure I have internet access from this computer is checked.
3. Select the activations to be rehosted then click Complete Rehosting. Your license is now available.

Use FactoryTalk Activation Manager to download a new activation for this computer. Your computer must be connected to the Internet.

For each product you want to activate, you need the following:

• Product serial number
• Product key

1. Click the Manage Activations tab.
2. Click Get New Activations.
3. Enter the serial number and product key for each software product and click Validate Activation to display the list of products that you entered. A red exclamation point  icon indicates the product activation has an error. Hover over the icon to see details. For each product in the Validate Activation table, the Product Version column displays the earliest version of the product available. Use this default value.
   • Optional - To select a different version and download more than one copy of a product's activation:
     • Edit the earliest version to match the version you are activating.
     • Edit the value in that product's # to Download column.
   • Note - After the earliest version selections have been validated, the Binding columns become active and display the default binding.
4. Click Select to accept the binding.
   • Optional - To select a different binding:
     • Click in the Binding cell.
     • Click Browse to open the Binding Selection window.
     • In the Binding Selection window, choose the binding to use.
5. Close the Binding Selection window.
6. Click Download Activation.
7. After the activations have downloaded, click Print to save a copy of the activation information for your records.

FactoryTalk Activation Manager is included with the Arena download. Use the version of Factory Talk Activation Manager included with your Arena download.  To install Factory Talk Activation Manager, select the MediaImage folder > autorun.exe, select Install Factory Talk Activation Manager.

1. Open FactoryTalk Activation Manager.  Select the Manage Activation tab > Get New Activations. 
2. Enter the Serial# and Product Key then select Validate Activations. 
3. Change the # to download if needed.
4. Change the Earliest Version to the version you want to activate.
5. Select Download Activation.
6. Select Manage This Server > Refresh Server.  The Server State will turn yellow then green – Running. 
7. Select the Manage Activation tab > Find Available Activations > Refresh Activations.  You should see the activations displayed under Available Activations. 
8. Open Arena.

On the Clients who will be using Arena.

1. Install Arena/Install Factory Talk Activation Manager.  Reboot.
2. Point each client to the server using the following instructions.
3. Open Factory Talk Activations Manager> Manage Activations tab > Find Available Activations
4. Select Update Activation Search Path
5. Select Add Server

Add the path to where the license resides on the server. You can also enter the server name.  You can find the name by opening Factory Talk on the server > Manage Activation tab > Find Available Activations.   The name is located under Location which is under Available Activations.

1. Click Up to make this path the 1st line. Make sure it is selected then click Save
2. Click the Advanced tab > Manage this Server.
3. Click Refresh Server.  Server State should be Green – Running
4. Click on the Manage Activation tab > Find Available Activations
5. Click on Refresh Activations.  You should see the Activations appear under Available Activations

Arena is a Windows application that runs on both 32-bit and 64 bit operating systems.  You must have Administrator privileges to install the software.

We support the following operating systems:

• Microsoft Windows® 10 Pro/Enterprise
• Windows® 7
• Windows® Server 2016

Although not officially supported or tested, users have successfully used Windows emulation packages to work with Arena on a Mac.

Included with a typical installation of Arena, the Input Analyzer, Process Analyzer and Optquest can be found in Arena, under the Tools tab, Analysis group.

On the Arena website, the Download the Trial option will provide you with the latest release of Arena.  (You will be required to register. You will receive a link to download the software when you complete your registration.) During the installation of Arena, when asked for a serial number, use STUDENT to install with the academic modeling limits.

Select Start > All Programs > Rockwell Software > Arena > Output Analyzer

This error typically appears when you are trying to open a model created in a newer version of Arena than you are currently using.  You may open models created in older versions of Arena with a newer version of the application.  You may NOT use an older version of the software to open a model created with a newer version of Arena. (Available with 32 bit Arena, see Tools (IMPORT/EXPORT) model to database option to move model logic.)

Smarts files are a unique collection of small models that demonstrate a variety of modeling techniques and situations commonly encountered using Arena. Smarts have been specifically designed for use as a training or reference tool to assist you in your model-building efforts. 

Click on File>Browse SMARTS to choose a category then a model.

You can contact Arena Support to discuss previous versions.