License Server

This page describes the process for installing and running a Mathflow SDK License Server. The subject is relevant only if you are using concurrent licensing.

Install the License Manager Daemon

Follow the steps below to set up the License Server.

Follow the instructions for obtaining your concurrent license as described in the topic Permanent License (see Concurrent Licenses section).
Download the following executables for Design Science's License Daemon and FlexNet's License Manager Daemon software (note that your company ID is required to sign into this site):
- Design Science's License Daemon - named dessci.exe
- FlexNet's License Manager Daemon - named lmgrd.exe
Install your License Manager software into a directory of your choice on the appropriate machine.
Place the Design Science License Daemon (dessci.exe), the FlexNet License Manager Daemon (lmgrd.exe) and a copy of the license file (dessci.lic) in the same directory.

If you are already using a FlexNet license server on the machine you got the License File for, you could keep using it for MathFlow licenses. Note, however, that the License Manager Daemon should be of a newer version than the FlexNet version MathFlow uses. This is v11.10, so if your FlexNet License Manager is older than that you would still need to install the newer version. Flexera recommends that you always use the latest version of their License Manager.

Start the License Manager Daemon

The precise command for actually starting the Daemon depends on your platform. Below is a brief outline, and more details on the License Server Manager can be found in the License Administration Guide, available on our website from the page linked in step 2 above.

Windows Platform

Manually from a command line

Start lmgrd as an application from a Windows command shell using the following syntax:

C:\flexnet> lmgrd -c dessci.lic -L [+]debug_log_path

NOTE: dessci.lic is the license file that you obtained from Design Science, and debug_log_path is the full path to the debug log file. Pre-pending debug_log_path with the + character appends logging entries. Spaces in pathnames require double quotes around the path.

As a Windows Service

LMTOOLS, a license manager tools GUI, is part of the download linked in step 2 above. Some of the functions LMTOOLS performs include the following:

Starting, stopping, and configuring FlexNet license servers.
Getting system information, including hostids.
Getting server status.

In order to control the operation of lmgrd from the LMTOOLS user interface, you first must configure it as a license manager service. To configure a license server as a service, you must have Administrator privileges.

Download and run LMTOOLS.
Click the Configuration using Services radio button, then click the Config Services tab.
In the Service Name, type the name of the service that you want to define (e.g., the Design Science License Manager).
In the Path to the lmgrd.exe file field, enter or browse to lmgrd.exe for this license server.
In the Path to the license file field, enter or browse to the dessci.lic file.
In the Path to the debug log file field, enter or browse to the debug log file that this license server writes. Pre-pending the debug log file name with the + character appends logging entries.
To save the new Design Science License Manager service, click the Save Service button.

Manually from LMTOOLS

Follow the procedure outlined above to configure FlexNet as a service before proceeding. Once the license manager service is configured, lmgrd is started by starting the service from the LMTOOLS interface.

Start LMTOOLS.
Click the Configuration using Services radio button.
Select the service name from the list presented in the selection box. In this example, the service name is Design Science License Manager.
Use the buttons on this panel to stop and start the Design Science License Manager.

Automatically at System Startup

Start LMTOOLS.
Click the Configuration using Services radio button.
Select the service name from the list presented in the selection box. In this example, the service name is Design Science License Manager.
Click the Start/Stop/Reread tab.
With LMTOOLS started and the desired service name selected, click the Config Services tab.
Make this license manager a Windows service: check the Use Services check box.
Configure it to start at system startup time by checking the Start Server at Power Up check box. From this point forward, this License Manager will start as a Windows Service at system start up.

Unix Platforms

The FlexNet License Manager Daemon, lmgrd, is started either manually from a terminal or automatically at system startup.

Manually from a terminal

Start lmgrd, by a user other than root, from a UNIX terminal using the following syntax:

lmgrd -c dessci.lic -L [+]debug_log_path

If lmgrd must be started by the root user, use the su command to run lmgrd as a non-privileged user, as shown below.

su username -c "lmgrd -c license_file_list -l debug_log_path"

NOTE: username is a non-privileged user. Ensure that the Design Science License Daemon (dessci) has execute permissions for username.

Automatically

Edit the appropriate boot script (/etc/rc.boot, /etc/rc.local, /etc/rc2.d/Sxxx, /sbin/rc2.d/Sxxxx, etc.) and add the following line:

su username -c "umask 022; lmgrd -c license-path -l log"

username: is a normal, non-root, non-privileged user
lmgrd is the complete path and file name to the lmgrd binary
license-path is the complete path and file name (dessci.lic) to the license file
log is the complete path and file name to the debug log file

NOTE: This does not start the daemon until you reboot your license server machine.

License Server Failover

If you use concurrent licensing, then you may employ a simple mechanism for license server failover. If your primary server machine is unreachable, or the license manager software is down, a redundant backup server will continue to administer your license. To take advantage of the license server failover mechanism, you must request it from Design Science Support (premiumsupport@dessci.com). We will provide you with two license files: one pointing to the main server and the other pointing to the failover server. These two files need to be copied onto each client machine, as well as distributed to their corresponding servers. The name (and path) of the second license file should be identical to the first license file, except that it should have "-failover" appended before the file name extension.

Example:

First license file - "c:\licenses\dessci.lic"

Second license file - "c:\licenses\dessci-failover.lic"

You have the option of changing the license file names and paths, however please contact Design Science Support (premiumsupport@dessci.com) for instructions before doing so.