SAMreport-lite problem

[jpduhon]

Ok, I get the feeling that I’m overlooking something very simple but…



I am having serious difficulty installing SAMreport-lite.

Question 1: Do I install the application to my (administrator) workstation or the server?

Question 2: Do I append the CAD license file on the server with the license obtained from globetrotter or does the license file for SAMreport-lite exist as its own file?

Question 3: Is the Flexlm manager supposed to read this file and issue a license for the program as it does for ACAD?



I’m running a redundant server model. I’m told that I’m one of perhaps two firms in the state using this model and the other is a multi-national 600+ person firm.



Question 4: Since I am running a redundant server model do I need to install the program on all three servers?



Thanks in advance for any help with this issue.

[Mike.Perry]

Hi JP

Please note I have *moved* this thread from the CAD Mgmt. General (http://forums.augi.com/forumdisplay.php?f=119) forum to this one, as I feel this particular forum is a more appropriate place for such a topic.

Thanks, Mike

Forum Manager

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

Have you seen / reviewed the following information found on the Autodesk web site...

AutoCAD - SAMreport-Lite (http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=2538394&linkID=2475161)

Have a good one, Mike

[jpduhon]

thanks for moving the thread, mike. i didn't know where to put it.

yes i looked at this info. it's the same info as the documentation on the disk, but it does not answer these questions. it just says to install the program and gives no specifics about where or where to save the .lic file.

macrovision's documentation leaves a lot to be desired.

[Mike.Perry]

Hi

No worries...

Does this help...

ID: TS66131 - SAMreport-Lite installation guide (http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=2861265&linkID=2475323)

Sorry, I have not got the time to review ( at present ).

Have a good one, Mike

[rkmcswain]

Question 1: Do I install the application to my (administrator) workstation or the server?


Whereever you want.



Question 2: Do I append the CAD license file on the server with the license obtained from globetrotter or does the license file for SAMreport-lite exist as its own file?


It goes on the machine where SAMReport is installed.



Question 3: Is the Flexlm manager supposed to read this file and issue a license for the program as it does for ACAD?


No.



Question 4: Since I am running a redundant server model do I need to install the program on all three servers?

Not 100% sure, but I don't know why you would. See #1

I have 4 license servers on our WAN.
I have a batch file that copies the log files from each LM to my workstation (for ease of browsing), then I run the program, load the logs, and run the report.

[jpduhon]

Thanks for the reply RK,
I figured that you should be able to install just about anywhere, but it wasn’t installing to my workstation. The problem tuned out to be Java. I had a later version installed than what came on the disk. This gave me an error on the SAMreport installation. I uninstalled java and tried again. No dice. I uninstalled and tracked down all version identifiers in Windows registry and deleted them.

Installation was flawless after that.

One warning, however: if you try to install SAM lite on the same server as Flexlm you get some weird results like, can’t read the license file because no server paths were found. It was trying to read the license file for sam lite even after uninstall. Back to the registry.
Now I have to figure out how to use the damn thing. It’s not reading the log file I’ve been saving.

Any advice there?

[Mike.Perry]

Hi JP

Thanks for posting back the above information, I am sure others will find it useful in the future.

Does the log file name or path to the log file, contain any spaces ?

:beer: Mike

[jpduhon]

Mike,

Yes but according to the Macrovision documentation if the unc path is surrounded by quotes, i.e. REPORTLOG “+<path>/<reportlog name.rl>” then that shouldn’t matter.

The report log is being written to. When I open the log in a text editor it’s just code. Very little clear text. I’m unsure what the file result is supposed to look like so I’m not sure if it’s really working right.

I also found a document on Macrovision’s site entitled “How To Turn On A Report Log” which talks about an edit that you have to make to the product license file (revit series in our case) in order for it to point to the options file. Is this something that I have to do? Autodesk’s information says nothing about editing the license file and I have borrowing and timeout options running already so I don’t want to try editing the lic file if I don’t have to.

Thanks,

[Mike.Perry]

<SNIP>

I also found a document on Macrovision's site entitled "How To Turn On A Report Log" which talks about an edit that you have to make to the product license file (revit series in our case) in order for it to point to the options file. Is this something that I have to do? Autodesk's information says nothing about editing the license file and I have borrowing and timeout options running already so I don't want to try editing the lic file if I don't have to.Hi

I have just spoken with the person in our IT department who administers our Autodesk licenses...

Apparently he installed SAMreport-lite, then promptly un-installed it - did not like the interface, functionality, and thought it was overly complicated for such a tool.

He finds it easier to just log-on to the license-server directly, and perform the tasks he needs to.

Sorry, I can not help much more than that...

Have a good one, Mike

[rkmcswain]

The report log is being written to. When I open the log in a text editor it’s just code. Very little clear text. I’m unsure what the file result is supposed to look like so I’m not sure if it’s really working right.


Yes, it's a binary file so that only Macrovision can provide reporting tools.



I also found a document on Macrovision’s site entitled “How To Turn On A Report Log” which talks about an edit that you have to make to the product license file (revit series in our case) in order for it to point to the options file. Is this something that I have to do? Autodesk’s information says nothing about editing the license file and I have borrowing and timeout options running already so I don’t want to try editing the lic file if I don’t have to.


Never heard of that. You only need the OPTIONS file (named ADSKFLEX.OPT in the license subdirectory) to capture log data.

Have you also looked at JTB FlexReport? [ http://www.jtbworld.com/jtbflexreport/index.htm ]

[rkmcswain]

I have just spoken with the person in our IT department who administers our Autodesk licenses...

Apparently he installed SAMreport-lite, then promptly un-installed it - did not like the interface, functionality, and thought it was overly complicated for such a tool.


I don't like the interface either, but it's almost a necessary evil.



He finds it easier to just log-on to the license-server directly, and perform the tasks he needs to.

How does your IT guy review the log files?

[jpduhon]

RK,

Thank you for reminding me about JTBworld. We had purchased Jimmy’s Smart Purger program at one point in time and we still use it on almost a weekly basis. I’ve gotten in touch with him and received his trial version of flexreport. This was such a relief. It works great and reports exactly what we need it to. I’ll let this run and collect data for a week or so then get approval for purchase.

Thanks again,

[pould]

As an alternative for something that is easier to use you might want to look at this License statistics tool ( http://www.x-formation.com/license_statistics ). It's inexpensive and provides nice looking graphs that can be presented real-time through a browser.

-- Poul

[Andre Baros]

Yes, it's a binary file so that only Macrovision can provide reporting tools.



Never heard of that. You only need the OPTIONS file (named ADSKFLEX.OPT in the license subdirectory) to capture log data.

Have you also looked at JTB FlexReport? [ http://www.jtbworld.com/jtbflexreport/index.htm ]

Which License Subdirectory SamReport or FlexLM?
Also, it would be nice if they warned you that installing flexLM changes the path to your license file in FlexLM.

[nowy9]

I've checked out the License statistics tool with their online demo http://licstat-demo.x-formation.com and it looks interesting. Has anyone tried this internally???