Licensing

Local Simulation licensing changed for the 2020 product release, but running both the pre-2020 product and the 2020 or later version on Linux is supported. Configuration details for both product types are described below, along with the process for switching between the products.

2019 and earlier licensing

Local Simulation uses the ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE environment variable to store the name of the license server. You should have entered this value during installation. If you need to change the license server at a later date, set this environment variable in the netfabb_sim_vars.sh file. If the ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE server does not have any available licenses, Local Simulation will also try the servers cached in the file ~/.flexlmrc.

2020 and later licensing

Local Simulation uses the ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_SERVER and ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_PORT environment variables to store the name and port of the license server. You should have entered these values during installation. If you need to change the license server at a later date, set these environment variables in the netfabb_sim_vars.sh file.

Switching between versions

A new variable exists that must be unset/exported when switching between the 2019 or earlier product and 2020 or later. To switch from 2020 or later to 2019, run

unset AUTODESK_ADLM_THINCLIENT_ENV. 

To switch from 2019 to 2020 or later, run

export AUTODESK_ADLM_THINCLIENT_ENV=$ADSK_NETFABB_LOCAL_SIM_HOME/bin/AdlmCustomEnvV2.xml

Whichever version is installed last will work out of the box, but when switching back-and-forth without reinstalling, the variable must be unset for 2019, and exported for 2020 or later.

To set up a thin-client server

1. On a license server, setup a network license manager, as documented here: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-set-up-a-license-server-on-Windows.html
2. Install Netfabb Local Simulation 2021 on the license server
3. Edit the file C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\AdskLicensingService\AdskLicensingService.data:
   1. Replace the default IP address 127.0.0.1 with the license server's own IP address.
   2. Add a new entry "AutoPickFreePort":false

      An example of the data file's contents on a machine is {"Addr":"rem1nlrgb2.ads.autodesk.com:49876","AutoPickFreePort":false}

      where "49876" is the thin-client port, which needs to be different than the FlexLM port. Any five-digit number can be chosen, as long as the port is free. The Linux environment variable ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_PORT must match this number.

4. Add an inbound firewall rule to open the port from the file in step 3.
5. To test access from the client, type in "127.0.0.1:49876" from a web browser, replacing the IP address and port number from step 3 and press Enter. If steps 1-4 were performed correctly you should see a page labeled "Autodesk Licensing Service."
   1. Register the FlexLM server address with the thin-client server.
   2. Start a command prompt using Administrator privileges:

      "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AdskLicensing\Current\helper\AdskLicensingInstHelper.exe" register -pk C02M1 -pv 2021.0.0.F -cf C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Adlm\ProductInformation.pit -el us -lm NETWORK -ls [e-mail]

      where "2080" is the FlexLM port

      replacing "rem1nlrgb2" with the license server hostname.

      The contents of the PIT file can be verified by running "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AdskLicensing\Current\helper\AdskLicensingInstHelper.exe" list.

6. Restart the service (Windows Services - "Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service").