Windows-based Installation

CST Studio Suite 2026 Installation Instructions in Windows

Note: For the latest version of CST Studio Suite, check the CIC software repository
(http://swrepo.iitkgp.ac.in).
This guide explains the installation of CST Studio Suite 2026 on a Windows system.

The CST Studio Suite license is configured through the institute license server.
The license server used in this installation guide is:
cststudio.iitkgp.ac.in with port 27000.
Users should remain connected to the IIT Kharagpur network or the approved institute VPN while installing and running the software.

Prerequisites

  1. Use a 64-bit Windows system.
  2. Ensure that you have administrator privilege on the system.
  3. Ensure sufficient free disk space. The Windows installer archive is around 7.9 GB and the installation may require around 30 GB of free disk space.
  4. Ensure network connectivity to the CIC software repository and the CST license server.
  5. Close other heavy applications before starting the installation.

Download the CST Studio Windows Installer

  1. Open the CIC software repository from a browser: http://swrepo.iitkgp.ac.in.
  2. Go to the CST_Studio folder.

CIC software repository CST Studio folder

  1. Open the CST Studio 2026 folder.
  2. Download the Windows installer archive:


    CST_S2_2026.CST_S2_2026.SIMULIA_CST_Studio_Suite.Windows64.zip
  3. Do not download the Linux installer for Windows installation.

CST Studio 2026 Windows installer archive

Extract the Installer Archive

  1. After the download is complete, open the Downloads folder.
  2. Locate the downloaded CST Studio Suite Windows archive.

Downloaded CST Studio Suite Windows archive

  1. Right-click the downloaded ZIP file.
  2. Select Extract All.

Extract CST Studio Suite Windows archive

  1. Open the extracted folder.

Extracted CST Studio Suite Windows folder

The extracted folder should contain the setup application and other installer files.

CST Studio Suite Windows setup files

Start the CST Studio Installer

  1. Right-click the setup application.
  2. Select Run as administrator.

Run CST Studio setup as administrator

The InstallShield Wizard will start preparing the CST Studio Suite 2026 installation.

CST Studio Suite InstallShield Wizard welcome screen

Proceed Through the InstallShield Wizard

  1. On the welcome screen, click Next.

CST Studio installer welcome screen

Enter Customer Information

  1. Enter the user name.
  2. Enter the organization name. In this guide, the organization is entered as IIT Kharagpur.
  3. Click Next.

CST Studio customer information screen

Choose Installation Folder

  1. The installer will show the destination folder.
  2. Keep the default installation path unless your system administrator has instructed otherwise.
  3. The default path is:
C:\Program Files\CST Studio Suite 2026\
  1. Click Next.

CST Studio destination folder screen

Select Setup Type

  1. Select Custom setup type, as shown in the installation screenshot.
  2. Click Next.

CST Studio setup type selection

Select Product Features

  1. On the custom setup page, keep the default selected features unless your administrator has provided a different instruction.
  2. The selected components may include Program Files, Network License Server, Example Files and Distributed Computing System components.
  3. Click Next.

CST Studio custom setup feature selection

Start the Installation

  1. On the Ready to Install the Program screen, click Install.

Ready to install CST Studio Suite

Wait while CST Studio Suite 2026 is installed. This may take several minutes depending on the system speed.

CST Studio Suite installation progress

Configure Licensing

After installation is completed, keep Configure licensing for CST Studio Suite 2026 selected and click Finish.

CST Studio installation completed with licensing option

The licensing window will appear. Select Point to an existing Flexnet-based CST Studio Suite license server system.

CST Studio license configuration window

Enter the following license server details:

Server: cststudio.iitkgp.ac.in
Port:   27000

Click OK.

CST Studio license server configured successfully

Launch CST Studio Suite 2026

  1. Open the Windows Start menu.
  2. Search for CST.
  3. Select CST Studio Suite 2026.

Launch CST Studio Suite from Windows Start menu

During first launch, an Education Version dialog may appear. This indicates that the software is licensed for non-commercial educational use. Click OK.

CST Studio education version dialog

The CST Studio Suite start page will open.

CST Studio Suite start page

Verify License Information

  1. From the CST Studio Suite interface, open File.
  2. Select License.
  3. The License Management window will show available licensed features, license server and port information.

CST Studio License Management window

Open a CST Module

  1. To start using the software, select a module such as 3D Simulation.
  2. Choose the required simulation template from the available options.

Select CST 3D Simulation module

After the module opens, the main CST Studio Suite workspace should appear. This confirms that the installation and license configuration are successful.

CST Studio Suite main workspace after successful launch

Quick Installation Summary

  1. Open http://swrepo.iitkgp.ac.in and go to the CST Studio folder.
  2. Download CST_S2_2026.CST_S2_2026.SIMULIA_CST_Studio_Suite.Windows64.zip.
  3. Extract the ZIP file locally.
  4. Open the extracted folder.
  5. Right-click setup and select Run as administrator.
  6. Complete the InstallShield Wizard.
  7. Select Custom setup and keep the default selected features.
  8. Configure licensing using server cststudio.iitkgp.ac.in and port 27000.
  9. Launch CST Studio Suite 2026 from the Windows Start menu.

Troubleshooting Notes

Setup Does Not Start

If the setup program does not start, right-click setup and select Run as administrator. Also confirm that the ZIP archive was fully extracted before running the installer.

Windows Blocks the Installer

If Windows SmartScreen or any endpoint security tool blocks the installer, verify that the file was downloaded from the CIC software repository. Contact the system administrator if the installer remains blocked.

Insufficient Disk Space

If the installer reports insufficient disk space, free disk space on the system drive before continuing. The selected installation may require around 30 GB of free space.

License Server Cannot Be Reached

If CST reports that the license cannot be obtained, check the following:

  • Ensure that the system is connected to the IIT Kharagpur network or approved VPN.
  • Ensure that the server is entered correctly as cststudio.iitkgp.ac.in.
  • Ensure that the FlexNet port is entered as 27000.
  • Confirm DNS and network reachability with the system or network administrator if the license server cannot be reached.

First Launch Dialogs

The Education Version dialog is normal during first launch. Click OK. After the software opens, the license status can be checked from File → License.

Installation Completion Checklist

  • The Windows installer archive was downloaded from the CIC software repository.
  • The ZIP archive was extracted successfully.
  • The setup program was run as administrator.
  • CST Studio Suite 2026 was installed under C:\Program Files\CST Studio Suite 2026\ or another approved location.
  • Licensing was configured using cststudio.iitkgp.ac.in and port 27000.
  • CST Studio Suite 2026 launches from the Windows Start menu.
  • The Education Version message is acknowledged.
  • License Management shows the available licensed features.
  • A CST module such as 3D Simulation opens successfully.

Installation completed.