Setting Up & Configuring a Distributed License Server

The task of configuring a license server can be a daunting task.  Just the name itself implies cancel all of my afternoon meetings, get me some coffee, I’m going to be here a while.  Thankfully that’s just the stigma surrounding the configuration of license files.  Knowing that some of the other documentation out there can be a little confusing, I have attempted to summarize (with screen shots) the process as concisely as possible.

Before we get started, you should first begin by installing FlexLM onto your desired license server.  The install for FlexLM can be found on the same CD/DVD as your Autodesk product (ie. AutoCAD install disk)

Obtaining a License File

There are a number of ways to acquire a license file.  These include by:

• Web: http://register.autodesk.com
• Email: authcodes@autodesk.com
• Phone (consult subscription documentation)
• Reseller (contact your local reseller)
• Fax (consult subscription documentation)

Whichever method you choose, you’ll need three pieces of information.

1. Your subscription/serial number (generally formatted ###-########)
2. Name of your license server
3. MAC ID or Ethernet Address of your primary NIC.

You can generally find your subscription/serial number on the back of the CD/DVD case of your Autodesk product.  As for the name and MAC id of your NIC; both of those can be obtained inside LMTOOLS.

1. Launch LMTOOLS
   
2. Go to the System Settings tab
   
3. Record each the Computer name and Ethernet address
   

Configuring the License Manager

Once you recieve your license file (however you choose to obtain it), you can then proceed to configuring your license server. 

Placing your License File

I store my license file in the aptly named “License” directory (C:\Program Files\Autodesk Network License Manager\License).  My personal preference is to name the LIC file the same thing as my server. 

Config Services

With our license file in place, we can now go about configuring the license server itself.  To do this we’ll…

1. Launch LMTOOLS (if it isn’t already), and go to the “Config Services” tab.
   
2. As a general rule you can simply accept the default service name “Flexlm Service 1”, although you are certainly free to specify some other name.
   
3. Next we need to specify the path to lmgrd.exe.  You can use the [Browse] button to browse to it’s location: C:\Program Files\Autodesk Network License Manager\lmgrd.exe.
   
4. At this point we’ll specify the location of our LIC file.  If you followed the above instructions on “Placing your License File” than you’ll find your license file: C:\Program Files\Autodesk Network License Manager\License\servername.lic
   
5. A debug.log file is not necessary for the server to work, but can prove invaluable when troubleshooting licensing issues.  To configure this, simply create a file named debug.log, and save it in your “Autodesk Network License Manager” directory.  Once created, simply browse to the file from LMTOOLS.
   
6. I really wish this was enabled by default, but it’s not.  Be sure to check the “Use Services” option, and then the “Start Server at Power Up” options so your license server will automatically run when ever your machine is running.
   
7. The final step to configuring the server is to press the [Save Service] button, and accept the prompt to save your settings.
   
   

Starting the Server

With gas in the tank, and the key in the ignition, we’re ready to start our license server.  To do that:

1. Launch LMTOOLS (it it isn’t already), and navigate to the “Start/Stop/Reread tab.
   
2. Click the [Start Server] button, and look for confirmation saying “Server Start Successful
   

Confirmation

Although LMTOOLS has said the license server started correctly, we’ll want to confirm the server is in fact serving up licenses.  To do this:

1. Go to the “Server Status” tab from within LMTOOLS
   
2. Click the [Perform Status Enquiry] button and verify licenses are being issued.  You’ll probably have to scroll down to find the text (Total of # licenses issued; Total of # licenses in use)
   

And that’s a wrap; you now have an operational license server.  While this post does document how to configure a license server, know this post should not be considered official Autodesk documentation.

Tagged as: AutoCAD, Civil 3D, FlexLM, License Server, LMTOOLS