This article explains:

• How to download the necessary files for installation of ZEMAX
• How to install the Sentinel key driver
• How to install the ZEMAX software
• How to open ZEMAX
• How to ensure that the latest version of ZEMAX is installed

Please note that this article refers to the Single-User (standalone) key. For instructions on how to install the multi-user network key see this article.

This article is also available in Japanese.

This article discusses changes in the ZEMAX installer that will affect anyone upgrading from a version older than 12 October 2009

This article is also available in Japanese.

This article describes how to install the network licensed, multi-user version of ZEMAX.

For instructions on how to install the single-user (standalone) key see this article.

Updated 07/12/06. This article is also available in Japanese.

This article explains:

• What to do if ZEMAX asks you for a license code when you run the program
• What to do if ZEMAX cannot find your hardware key when you run the program

This article is also available in Japanese.

Many corporate customers want to convert from multiple single-user keys to network keys,but want to make sure that their networks are properly configured before changing something that's worked for years. ZEMAX  has a built-in diagnostic that lets you set up a network key server without actually having a network key attached, and that then tests the connection to the server so you're sure the network key won't be blocked by firewalls, security software etc.

This article is also available in Japanese.

Updated December 2009. This article explains what is required to run ZEMAX on an Intel-based Apple Mac and the differences between the methods that can be used. It also provides performance comparisons between the alternate methods.

This article is also available in Japanese.

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) is a web service that provides resizable compute capacity in the cloud. This article describes some early tests using ZEMAX with the EC2 and gives performance metrics.

Optical design has always pushed the boundaries of what's possible on computers. ZEMAX currently supports up to 16 processors per machine, helping to solve the most difficult problems in optical design.

ZEMAX automatically divides most lengthy calculations, such as ray-tracing, diffraction analysis, and optimization into multiple parallel tasks. For example, ZEMAX can trace one ray on one processor, while tracing another on a second processor, and so on, and then combine the results. ZEMAX supports up to 16 CPUs without any user intervention, giving speed increases up to 16x over a single processor.

This article discusses multi-CPU operation in more detail, and gives examples of how well performance scales over multiple processors.

This article is also available in Japanese.

Question: Can ZEMAX be run as a Remote Desktop session?

This article is also available in Japanese.

The Shaded Model layout, NSC Shaded Model layout and NSC Object Viewer are all graphical analysis features in ZEMAX which offer advanced graphics capabilities and striking renderings.  These features use OpenGL, which is a screen rendering technology built into all modern graphics cards. This article describes how to address occasional issues that arise due to driver or memory problems with these cards.

This article is also available in Japanese.