Hello,

I’ve set up a NLM: I installed the network license manager on my laptop and Softimage on my workstation. The two are connected through a Local Area Connection network, which is up and running.

I filled out all requesters during install of both according to the installation guides, requested a license from autodesk, pointed my license manager to it, etc etc. As far as I can see, all of that went allright.

Only, when I want to start Softimage, I get the message

“Error: there is no interactive network license available to run Autodesk SOftimage 2011. Would you like to run in Standalone mode?”

What could be wrong, what am I missing, what info would I need to put here to solve the problem?

Thanks for any advice!

(BTW, some additional information: I’m on Win7 64bits, I’ve disabled the firewall between the two commputers, on the server comp license is running, license is for 2011)

To confirm that your license server is really up and running, go to the Server Status tab and click Perform Status Enquiry.

You want to see three things.

First, license server UP:

Second, adskflex: UP:

Finally, your licenses (aka features). To run Softimage 2011, there has to be a 85563SFTIM_2011_0F feature available.

You’ll also see Batch licenses like 85563SFTIMSIB1_2011_0F, 85563SFTIMSIB2_2011_0F, ..., 85563SFTIMSIB5_2011_0F.

Then, use the Softimage UserTools utility to check your setenv.bat.
Confirm that _ADSK_LicServers is set correctly. If you laptop name is LAPPY, then:

Any luck? Did you get Softimage to run?

Hi Stephen,

first part of status check says

--------
Status
--------
Flexible License Manager status on Thu 12/16/2010 13:12

[Detecting lmgrd processes...]
License server status: 27000@kleintje
License file(s) on kleintje: C:\Program Files\Autodesk Network License Manager\SFTIM2011enlicense.lic:

kleintje: license server UP (MASTER) v11.7

Vendor daemon status (on kleintje):

adskflex: UP v11.7

after that lots of ‘Users of (......)(Total of 1 license issued; Total of 0 licenses in use)’ lines, for 7.5, 2010, 2011. the 2011 ones look like

Users of 85563SFTIMSIB5_2011_0F:  (Total of 1 license issued; Total of 0 licenses in use)

setenv.bat says (copypasted lines):

rem Licensing method: Stand-alone | Multi Seat Stand-alone | Network
set SILicMethod=Network

rem License servers specified from the setup. Format: [port1]@host1[;[port2]@host2]…
set _ADSK_LicServers=@KLEINTJE

(KLEINTJE is name of my laptop)

Looks like all is in place. Still no succes though. I still have my 7.01 installed, would that interfere?

Is there a tool that I can run from my workstationside that would show if communication with the server is happening or maybe blocked somewhere? Antivirus, firewall, etc. (I disabled firewall & antivirussoftware on both machines, made no difference)

[edit:] Wait up! In your example, the server status lines read ‘mtl_example’, is that the server in your case or is it the machine SI is running on? In my case, the license manager is installed on the laptop (= the server) only, should it be installed and running on my workstation as well?

_ADSK_LicServers should be set to point to the license server, so it looks like you have it set correctly on the workstation.

You need the license server on one computer only.

7.01 won’t interfere.

Try using the IP address instead of the computer name.

I know you said you disabled the firewall, but I would double-check anyway.
Can you ping the laptop from the workstation?
Can you telnet to ports 2080 and 27000-27009 on the laptop from the workstation?
(note that telnet is not installed by default: go to Control Panel, Programs and Features, Turn windows features on and off, and install Telnet Client)

On the workstation, check SoftimageLicense.log for errors.
You’ll find it in your TEMP folder eg C:\Users\blairs\AppData\Local\Temp

Hi Stephen,

yes, I can ping the server without problems

Can you be a bit more specific about the Telnet thing? I installed (on both machines) and opened it’s window, but what command should I use? I tried o KLEINTJE 2080 (or open KLEINTJE 2080), it says ‘ Connecting to KLEINTJE...COuld not open connection to the host, on port 2080: Connect failed’

But then again - I disabled, re-enabled then disabled again all firewalls on both comps, and then it works. Turning each one back on, I found out it’s the server-side Public networks firewall that’s the culprit. If I turn that one off, Soft comes up smooth as butter. Which is good of course, except that I’m without a firewall… don’t know if that would be a problem.

In fact, that may be related to the problem I’m having with making Windows7 realise it’s a home or work network, not a public one. I’ve browsed the net for the last week about it and learned that it’s a major problem with win7 - it defaults local area connections to ‘public’ without offering options to manually change that. Any and all solutions I’ve found thus far have not ‘stuck’, meaning that it’ll work for a while on some level and then revert back to it’s default behavior. Going ‘public’ and denying access or disconnecting from the network.

Maybe a know issue for Autodesk and perhaps there is a solution available?

(Telnet still doesn’t connect though)

druitre 15 December 2010 08:55 AM

Hi Stephen,

yes, I can ping the server without problems

Can you be a bit more specific about the Telnet thing? I installed (on both machines) and opened it’s window, but what command should I use? I tried o KLEINTJE 2080 (or open KLEINTJE 2080), it says ‘ Connecting to KLEINTJE...COuld not open connection to the host, on port 2080: Connect failed’

But then again - I disabled, re-enabled then disabled again all firewalls on both comps, and then it works. Turning each one back on, I found out it’s the server-side Public networks firewall that’s the culprit. If I turn that one off, Soft comes up smooth as butter. Which is good of course, except that I’m without a firewall… don’t know if that would be a problem.

In fact, that may be related to the problem I’m having with making Windows7 realise it’s a home or work network, not a public one. I’ve browsed the net for the last week about it and learned that it’s a major problem with win7 - it defaults local area connections to ‘public’ without offering options to manually change that. Any and all solutions I’ve found thus far have not ‘stuck’, meaning that it’ll work for a while on some level and then revert back to it’s default behavior. Going ‘public’ and denying access or disconnecting from the network.

Maybe a know issue for Autodesk and perhaps there is a solution available?

(Telnet still doesn’t connect though)

You just need to check whether telnet can connect (eg the port is not blocked).
So run this command to check if port 2080 is open:

telnet KLEINTJE 2080

I would add exceptions in the firewall for ports 2080 and 27000-27009.

Hi Stephen (sorry, didn’t check the notify box),

yes, the delay is before the splash screen. The registry key points to the server allright. Has been slow starting up every time.