To borrow a license

If you have a network license and need to work offline, you can borrow a license for a specified span of time (the borrowing duration). You must be on the network when you borrow and return the license. Borrowing a license reduces the number of available licenses in the pool.

A borrowed license is tied to the MAC address (the 12-character host ID) of the network adapter used when you borrowed the license. If a computer is connected to a docking station, consider whether you will use it after borrowing the license. If not, undock the laptop first and then reconnect to the network to borrow the license.

To borrow a license

1. Open the Borrow A License window in one of the following ways:
   1. Click Tools > License Borrowing > Borrow License.
   2. Click Help > About > Manage License .
2. In the Borrow A License window, select a da y from the calendar. The license is automatically returned at the end of th at day, or you can return the license early.
3. Click Borrow License.
4. Click Close in the confirmation window.
Note: In some products, you can verify that your license is borrowed by placing your cursor over the Borrowing icon in the status tray.

Make sure that your network card remains active, and don’t change the sign-in credentials for end-user computers. Because some computers disable the network card in power save mode, you may need to disable the power save setting.

To check the expiration date of a license

Access to this information, which varies by product, is usually available in one of these ways:

• In the status tray, right-click the License Borrowing icon.
• In the Help menu, click About > Manage License. In the License Manager dialog, view the Subject to License Term date.

To return a license early

Do one of the following:

• Click Tools > License Borrowing > Return License Early.
• Click Help > About. In the About window, click Product License Information. In the Product License Information window, click Return License, and then Yes.
• Enter RETURNLICENSE on the command line.
• In the status tray, right-click the License Borrowing icon. Click Return License Early.
  Note: If your product supports this method, the status tray display settings must be on. Right-click an empty area on the status bar and click Tray Settings.

Configure borrowing options

Use an options file to configure the following borrowing choices:

• Reduce the time span (the borrowing duration).
  Note: Autodesk doesn’t allow license borrowing for more than six months.
• Restrict the number of licenses that can be borrowed.
• Select which users can borrow licenses.