LicensingNetwork License FAQFlexLM Network Licensing Guide
  • Setting Up a License Server

    • Setting Up the FlexLM License Server

    License Server Setup:

    1. Set up the Autodesk License Manager (FlexLM)*
    2. Obtain a license file from Ideate
    3. Configure licensing service within LMTOOLS
    4. Start the service
    5. Verify the service is running
    6. Configure Ports and Firewalls

    Be sure to follow all the ACTION ITEMs and remember to set up your Windows Firewall ports!

    1.  Set up the Autodesk License Manager

    Ensure you have the latest version of the Autodesk License Manager installed.

    Note: Please do not install the FlexLM software on the end user machines. The license server is intended to be set up on ONE machine only, typically a network server. End user machines will then run the Ideate solutions, see Setting Up the Workstations for more info.

    Only 64 bit Windows operating systems running 64 bit LMTools are supported!

    The Autodesk License Manager (FlexLM) works with both Autodesk Revit and Ideate Software to manage floating network licenses. The preferred solution is to set up both licensing services on the same server if the customer is using Network licensed (multi-user access) Revit, or Ideate Software licenses can be run on a separate server. More information about setting up FlexLM (AKA LMTools) can be found here.

    *If you are using a 3rd party license monitoring system, please contact [email protected] to determine if a separate lmgrd.exe should be set up.

     

     2.  Obtain a license file 

    ACTION ITEM: Obtain a .lic file from Ideate.

    Please email [email protected] the following information for each server that will host the network licenses for Ideate Software. This information can be found by checking the ‘system settings’ in LMTools on each server. 

    Also include: 

    ACTION ITEM: Copy the file to the (correct) server.

    We recommend that it be placed in the LMTools installation folder — by default it is “C:\Autodesk\Network License Manager”. Create a folder called “Licenses” for easier management, and paste the license file in there.

    NOTE: Ideate support will send you a complete license file for ALL your Ideate products. Do not combine an old license file with the new one, or an Ideate Software license file with a file from another vendor, including Autodesk.

    3.  Configure Ideate Licensing Service 

    For LMTools to work with Ideate licenses, the ideate.exe file (vendor daemon) must be copied into the License Manager installation folder.

    ACTION ITEM: Download ideate.exe from here: Ideate Vendor Daemon

    ACTION ITEM: Extract the contents and place both the ideate.exe (vendor daemon) and the ideate.log (log file) into the license manager installation folder (the one containing lmgrd.exe).

    By default, this is now C:\Autodesk\Network License Manager.

    This video shows a typical license manager configuration:

    For those that prefer screenshots and written instructions:


    Autodesk Revit License Manager dialog

    ACTION ITEM: Configure the license service: 

    Ideate Software for Revit License Dialog

    4.  Start the Service

    ACTION ITEM:

    5.  Verify Service is Running

    ACTION ITEM: Confirm that the setup was successful: 

    If the ‘perform status inquiry’ results in errors, and/or you can see the licensing service is not starting as it should, please review troubleshooting steps here.

    6.  Manage Ports and Firewalls

    ACTION ITEM: Configure Firewall(s)

    If you have the Windows Firewall or any other type of firewall enabled on the server side, workstations will not be able to access the licenses. You can either turn the firewall off, create a program exception, or specify and open a pair of TCP ports for the service to use. Please note that exceptions for Ideate licensing are by default separate from Autodesk (Revit) licensing exceptions.

    Alternate Firewall Port rule setup:

    If you are not happy with creating a program exception, you can specify a pair of ports (or one port and a range, just like for Autodesk licensing) and only open those specific ports.

     

    NOTE: We have found that ports from the 27000-27009 range work best, e.g. set 27005 in the SERVER line of the license file, and 27006 for the VENDOR port. Other ports may work for you as well, but if they do not, you would need to troubleshoot with your company IT. It is likely an internal configuration issue, possibly other applications already using those ports.

    The server side setup is now finished.

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