New server how to migrate / find the LM?

[Hammer.John.J]

We're going to be upgrading servers, and there will be a new name for our server "beta".

here are the questions...

do we have to install the LM on the new server or can we migrate it etc?

when we get the LM installed on the new server how do we get the cad seats to find the LM for license purposes?

Can someone explain technically where CAD looks for the license? via search path in options, etc?

thanks so much, we are a little new at Server deployments etc.

thanks again!

[DarrenYoung]

Look in the ATP archives. I did a course on this around July/August time frame of 2006 that covers these topics in greater detail. For the most part, there's no "migration" of a license server. Just reinstall it on the new machine it doesn't take very long. Move your log files too (if you have it configured to creatr them) if you want to keep adding to them.

You'll also need new license files for your products which reference the new server. The license files are bound to the machine with the MAC address. (You might be able to move the network card to to get around this in some cases but I wouldn't recommend or count on that)

Use the network license activation utilities to get your licenses. It's easier and quicker that dealing with a person.

You can use LIC files to point your products to the new server but I've never used them. In fact, depending on the complexity of your network, Autodesk products typically can "find" a server without any help at all. However, if they don't, there's things you can do. The registry is where FlexLM tells autoCAD (or other product to look.) Look in the following Key...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\FLEXlm License Manager

ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE ("") = @flexlm1.coldspringgranite.com;@flexlm2.coldspringgranite.com

This tells FlexLM that we use 2 servers (distributed, searched for in the order they are listed). A single license server would list only one server. Not sure how a redundant setup looks in the registry.

Also, the server "name" in the license files does NOT need to be the same as is specified on the client PCs but must point to the same server. In other words, you could use a server name in the license files, and use an IP address of the server in the registry for the client PCs. All the client PC's need is an address. However, you'll see that I used a fully qualified domain name for ours. This way, when we move lcense servers, I just may the fully qualified domain name on our DNS server to the new server and I don't havre to update the registry of the client PCs.

[rkmcswain]

when we get the LM installed on the new server how do we get the cad seats to find the LM for license purposes?

Can someone explain technically where CAD looks for the license? via search path in options, etc?



The following should answer the above two questions:
http://rkmcswain.blogspot.com/2006/12/network-license-manager-troubleshooting.html

Note that Windows environment variables take precedence over all other ID methods, including registry entries and LIC files.

[Hammer.John.J]

ok thanks for the help, much appreciated

I'm sure we'll have more questions but this will take a while to absorb.

[DarrenYoung]

As R.K. McSwain said, environment variables do take precedence over other settings. However, environment variables are also stored in the registry. Thanks for the remonder R.K. I also set the ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE in this registry location too....

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment

This is where your environment variables are stored. May take a reboot for them to take effect.

[rkmcswain]

As R.K. McSwain, environment variables doo take precedence over other settings. However, environment variables are also stored in the registry. That's for the remonder R.K. but I also set the ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE in this registry location too....

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment

This is where your environment variables are stored. May take a reboot for them to take effect.

I just have a VBS file that is executed at AutoCAD startup that sets the ENV variables. This way even if the machine gets hosed, or if it is a new machine, the FlexLM path gets set.

Yes, ultimately, this info is stored in the registry as you mentioned.
A reboot shouldn't be required either way.