Requirements – PSCAD v5.0.

1. HARDWARE
Category Recommendations
Computer [1]
Good motherboard with fast front-side speed
8 GB + of fast high quality RAM[2]
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 if “Legacy Lock-based Licensing” is used (Section 4.2)
Internet connection

2. USAGE
Category Requirements
Operating System Microsoft® Windows 7 SP1 64-bit and Windows 10 64-bit[4] (officially supported)
• It may be possible to run on a virtual machine.
• The following additional operating systems may also work:
Microsoft®Windows 8 and 8.1, and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, 2012 R2, 2016, and
2019

• Not supported on:

Microsoft®Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 SP0

Prerequisite Software Microsoft® Visual C++ 2017 Redistributables, x86 and x64[5]
Microsoft® .NET Framework 4.6.1 Full, minimum[6]

Launching and Running Microsoft® Windows User privileges

User Profile Mandatory user profiles are not supported

Licensing See Section 4

Third Party Software A compatible FORTRAN compiler is required. For details, refer to Selecting your Fortran
Compiler

Execution Permissions The application executable files must be whitelisted in all protection software:
• For PSCAD:
o The path may be set generally, as:
%PROGRAMFILES%\PSCAD<version>
o 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>

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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 (e.g. 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

3.1 INSTALLATION – General

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

3.2 INSTALLATION – InstallShield Wizard Installer

Category Requirements
General Requirements As listed in Section 3.1

Downloading Internet connection

Installing (and removing) the Software Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges

(PSCAD, License Manager, GFortran,
Prerequisites, Sentinel Drivers)

3.3 INSTALLATION – Installer Utility

Category Requirements
General Requirements As listed in Section 3.1

Downloading Internet connection

Running • Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges

• The user must have full permissions for the following path:
C:\Users\Public\Documents\

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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

3.4 INSTALLATION – MyUpdater

Category Requirements
General Requirements As listed in Section 3.1

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 Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges

(to Install or Update Software) Internet connection

Launching (to Uninstall Software) Microsoft® Windows Administrator privileges

Launching Microsoft® Windows User privileges

(to Launch Installed Software) (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

4.1 LICENSING – Certificate Licensing

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 for certificates for PSCAD v4.5.1…v4.6.3:
• Path: C:\Users\Public\Documents\Manitoba HVDC Research Centre\Licensing\Licenses

• Required permissions: FullControl for Everyone

The following sub-folders will be created for certificates for PSCAD v5 and newer:
• Path: C:\Users\<user_id>\AppData\Local\Manitoba Hydro
International\Licensing\Licenses
• Required permissions: FullControl for <user_id>
The following sub-folder should already exist and will be used:
• Path: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Crypto\RSA\MachineKeys
• Required permissions: Read, Write for Everyone

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Supported Protocols TLS 1.0, TLS 1.1, TLS 1.2

4.2 LICENSING – Legacy Lock-based Licensing - General

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 lock[7]
For Microsoft® Windows 10 (all releases):
• Sentinel System Driver 7.6.0 or better is required[8]
• For Microsoft® Windows 10 Build 1803 or better, Sx32w.dll, version 7.1.0.14 is required
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.

4.3 LICENSING – Legacy Lock-based Licensing – Local Licensing

Category Requirements
General Requirements As listed in Section 4.2

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

Standalone License Manager Must be installed if the PSCAD license contains more than one PSCAD seat
(see Section 5 below)

4.4 LICENSING – Legacy Lock-based Licensing – Network Licensing

Category Requirements
General Requirements As listed in Section 4.2

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)

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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 [email protected] for details.

License Manager Software Must be installed on the server to manage license sharing
(see Section 5 below)

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

5. THE LICENSE MANAGER[9]

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:
• Microsoft® Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• Microsoft® Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows Server 2012 R2, R2016, and 2019
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 [email protected] 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

Running/Restarting the License Manager Whitelist the License Manager executable files in this folder:
C:\Program Files (x86)\HVDC Lmgr\WinNT

TCP/IP and UDP/IP on Ports 2053 / 2054 Must be open on the firewall

6. DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS
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

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 Requirements – PSCAD v5.0.0

Notes

1. 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 Support Desk.
2. 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.
3. 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 (refer here). Additional licensed capabilities may be purchased to
maximize these features. For more information, refer to the requirements manuals or contact the Support Desk.
4. PSCAD v5.0.0 is not supported on a 32-bit operating system.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Sentinel Driver software is installed automatically alongside PSCAD and the License Manager.
8. Sentinel Driver version 7.6.0 is deployed with PSCAD 5.0.0 and License Manager v1.45.
9. The License Manger is required to manage either a “local license” containing multiple seats or a “network licensing” (see
Sections 4.3 and 4.4).

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DOCUMENT TRACKING

Rev. Description Date

0 Initial 05/Mar/2019
1 Numerous updates throughout 22/Sep/2020
2 Updated versions of Windows servers in Chart 2 22/Oct/2020
3 Update to folder permissions in Chart 4.1 27/Oct/2020
4 Update to Chart 5 21/Dec/2020
5 Fixed link to Resolving Issues document in Chart 2 04/Mar/2022

Copyright © 2022 Manitoba Hydro International. All Rights Reserved.

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