DraftSight is a feature-rich 2D and 3D CAD solution for architects, engineers and construction service providers, as well as professional CAD users, designers, educators and hobbyists.  There are various levels of DraftSight licenses available.  For companies with multiple users, DraftSight Enterprise provides network-based licensing for shared use. The following post provides you with a DraftSight Enterprise Installation Guide.

Two installations are required for Draftsight Enterprise:

1. Install a License Manager application on a server to host the floating licenses
2. Install the Draftsight application on client machines which connect to the server and obtain a license

1. SolidNetWork License Manager Setup

There are two methods to host the DraftSight network licenses on a server: SolidNetWork License Manager (SNL) or Dassault Systèmes License Server (DSLS).  SOLIDWORKS network licensing makes use of the SolidNetWork License Manager to host licenses on a server.  This can be combined with DraftSight Enterprise licenses.  In general SNL is easier to install and maintain vs the DSLS method.

NOTE: This article will only cover the SNL method

New Install

If the SolidNetWork License Manager is not currently used for SOLIDWORKS licenses, the License Manager will need to be installed on a server.  To download the installation files, first create and register a SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal account with your DraftSight Enterprise serial number.

From the Downloads and Updates section, choose the latest version available.  The License Manager is backwards compatible so clients using a previous version can still obtain licenses.

SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal Downloads and Updates

SOLIDWORKS Products – Choose latest version available

On your server, run the downloaded EXE file and choose Install Server Components > Install SolidNetWork License Manager.

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager Installation

Follow the prompts to add your 24-digit Draftsight Enterprise serial number (beginning with 0010 or 9010).  The next window provides information about the server.  By default communication is through TCP port 25734 though this can be changed if needed.  If firewalls are present, enable the checkbox and this will also use TCP port 25735 for communication.  Ensure all firewalls allow inbound and outbound traffic through TCP ports 25734 and 25735 on both the client and server machines.

License Server Information and Firewall

Once installed, launch the SolidNetWork License Manager and follow the prompts to complete the activation.  Automatic activation is preferred, though Manual activation is available if the server does not have internet access.

DraftSight Enterprise Successful Activation

Modify existing installation of SolidNetWork License Manager

If your server already has the SolidNetWork License Manager installed for SOLIDWORKS product licenses, you can simply modify the existing installation to add the DraftSight serial number.  Add a COMMA between multiple serial numbers.

Windows Control Panel Programs and Features

Modify SolidNetWork License Manager Installation

SolidNetWork License Manager Additional Serial Numbers

IMPORTANT: Once the installation has been modified with the new DraftSight serial number, the License Manager must be reactivated to obtain the licenses.  See our blog article Re-activating the SolidNetWork License Manager after purchasing additional licenses.

License Usage

After successful activation, the SolidNetWork License Manager will have visibility of available licenses under the License Usage tab.

SolidNetWork License Manager License Usage

2. DraftSight Enterprise Client Setup

The Draftsight installation files for client machines can be downloaded at draftsight.com/download.  The installation files are the same regardless of license type.

Draftsight Client Download

Run the installer on each client machine.  The first page will allow you to select the license type.  Select SolidNetWork License (SNL).

DraftSight Installation License Type

The next page will require the port and server name that hosts the SolidNetWork License Manager.  By default the port is 25734.  Enter your own server computer name.

DraftSight Installation Server Location

Finally accept the license agreement and begin the installation.  Once complete, opening DraftSight will look to the server for an available license.  The client machines will also have a SolidNetWork License Manager Client application installed where users can access the License Usage tab to see the number of available licenses on the server.

NOTE: In the event that a user is unable to connect to the server and receives an error that no licenses exist, some troubleshooting steps are available in our article SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager Troubleshooting.

The post DraftSight Enterprise Installation Guide appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

Are you experiencing a failed to obtain license error for SOLIDWORKS CAM Standard or SOLIDWORKS Visualize Standard?  Noticed an expiry date regarding licenses for these products?  Why does this happen?  If other SOLIDWORKS products still launch, or if you are using SOLIDWORKS Term Licensing, then keep reading.  Otherwise, try this article on SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager troubleshooting.

Failed to obtain license SOLIDWORKS error

SOLIDWORKS Subscription Service Products

This is likely because SOLIDWORKS CAM Standard and SOLIDWORKS Visualize Standard are tied to your SOLIDWORKS Subscription Service (also known as maintenance), which expires unless renewed.  Below is a typical screen shot from SOLIDWORKS > Help > Activate Licenses.  Although most other SOLIDWORKS products show expiry date of “Never” (unless a term license), SOLIDWORKS CAM Standard and SOLIDWORKS Visualize Standard show a date which matches the expiry of maintenance (subscription).

SOLIDWORKS Product Activation

For SOLIDWORKS Term licenses, note that generally the activation and maintenance (subscription) expiry dates will be the same.

How to resolve the failed to obtain license issue?

First, ensure that your SOLIDWORKS Subscription Service has been renewed. Then do one of the following depending on your license type:

• For Standalone licenses: Start > type the first part of the word “activation” > select SOLIDWORKS Activation Wizard, and choose Activate/Reactivate your product license(s)
• For Network licenses: Activate/reactivate your SOLIDWORKS License Manager.

The post Why did SOLIDWORKS CAM or Visualize fail to obtain a license? appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

When there is a new release of SOLIDWORKS PDM, it is wise to first test the upgrade so that you can identify and address any problems, before updating your production vault.

SOLIDWORKS PDM uses the SolidNetWork License Manager (SNL) and this needs to first be updated to the same version of SOLIDWORKS PDM that is to be installed. The License Manager is backwards compatible, so a separate installation of the license Manager is not required. It is wise to update the License Manager after hours, to be sure there is no impact on production if issues are encountered. The License Manager is installed from the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.

Updating License Manager

Create a SOLIDWORKS PDM Test Environment

Once the License Manager is updated, the new version of SOLIDWORKS PDM can be installed. You will require a different system to install the new version of SOLIDWORKS PDM. This can be a different server, a PC used for testing, or a virtual machine. If you are going to be using a virtual machine, please ensure that the virtual environment you are using is supported. The same SQL installation you use for your production vault can be used for your test vault, so SQL does not need to be installed on your test environment.

Using a PDM Sandbox Vault

Once SOLIDWORKS PDM has been installed on your test system, you can now import the contents of your production vault into your sandbox vault. The steps to do this can be found in my blog article SOLIDWORKS PDM – Sandbox Vault.  This process will copy your vault settings, but not the archive or database.

Setting up an Independent Test Environment.

While testing only your vault settings is useful, having a duplicate of your PDM environment is often the best way of testing a new release. This will require at minimum a new database on the same instance of SQL. In general, the process consists of backing up and restoring the database to the vault. Once this is done, part or all of the archive is copied into the new vault. This process is explained in the PDM Installation guide as well as a previous article of mine.

If you wish to avoid using the same SQL instance, you can install a separate instance on a separate physical server or on a Virtual Machine (VM). For PDM licensing, you can still use the same SOLIDWORKS License Manager. To avoid licensing issues with Microsoft SQL, SQL Server Developer Edition can be used. SQL Server Developer Editions is a “full-featured free edition, licensed for use as a development and test database in a non-production environment.” Another tool that I find useful for testing is Windows Sandbox. This tool allows me to quickly create a VM without requiring any licensing. Be aware that once you close down the application, the VM is permanently removed.

Learn More

Javelin provides PDM training in-class or live online. Check out the training courses available.

The post Setting Up a SOLIDWORKS PDM Test Environment for a New Major Release appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

When server components are moved, in particular, the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager, the path to the new location may need to be defined. This is done from the SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration.  To do this, double-click the License node to open it.

PDM License Node

In the server list, add the new server and remove the old one. Be sure to specify the new server by port@server name. The default port for the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager is 25734.

Defining Server and Port Number

As well as defining the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager server, license usage can be monitored from the License node of SOLIDWORKS PDM Administration, by selecting the License Usage tab.

License Usage

The post Specifying a New License Manager Server Location for SOLIDWORKS PDM appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

The continuing spread of the COVID-19 virus (Coronavirus) is causing significant impact around the globe.  While health is always of primary importance, this pandemic also affects business productivity.  As shutdowns and quarantines are rapidly expanding, more and more employees are being asked to work from home.  This can cause challenges with access to SOLIDWORKS software and data.

SOLIDWORKS Remote License

Several methods are available to use SOLIDWORKS at home or in a remote location.  In each case SOLIDWORKS will need to be installed on the remote computer.  Review our Installation Guide FAQs on our Technical Support page for installation instructions.

Here are the options based on different licensing structures:

SOLIDWORKS Standalone Licenses (Individual)

Standalone licenses are tied to individual users.  These serial numbers start with 0000, 0001, 9000 or 9001.  You can locate the serial number by opening SOLIDWORKS and go to Help > About SOLIDWORKS.  There are two options for this license type: activation-based or online.  It must be set to one or the other.

Option #1: Activation-based

Installations that run through the SOLIDWORKS Activation process have its license tied to the physical machine.  SOLIDWORKS can be installed on multiple computers with the same license but can only be active on a single machine at one time.  You can transfer the license from a work computer using the Deactivation process so a home/laptop computer can be activated.  Review our SOLIDWORKS Standalone License Deactivation and Activation article for instructions.

Option #2: Online

Online mode is an alternative to license activation.  The license is tied to a specific SOLIDWORKS user account that is created.  When SOLIDWORKS is launched on a computer using this option, the user logs in with their credentials.  When SOLIDWORKS is closed, the license is automatically released.  Therefore SOLIDWORKS can be installed on a remote computer with the same license and only requires logging in to launch.  Review our Online Licensing Overview article for further explanation and instructions.

NOTE: A standalone license defaults to activation-based.  Changing to online licensing requires first deactivating any active computers.

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork Licenses (Floating)

SOLIDWORKS network licensing requires access to the server hosting the floating licenses.  These serial numbers start with 0010 or 9010.  Within the workplace environment, computers are connected to the network to obtain licenses.  Working remotely can be accomplished with two methods: VPN or Borrowing.

Option #1: VPN

VPN (Virtual Private Network) allows users to connect to the workplace network via an internet connection.  This simulates a physical connection to the network.

Option #2: Borrow

Borrowing a license requires an initial connection to the network, then a license is obtained and locked on a client machine.  At which point the computer can be disconnected from the network and Internet but will still allow access to SOLIDWORKS.  The license will be tied to this client machine until the license is returned.

IMPORTANT: Do not borrow a license when connected to VPN.  Only borrow when physically connected to the network.

For more detailed information on VPN and Borrow capabilities, review our article: Using your SOLIDWORKS Network Licenses away from the office.

Other possible options include the use of Remote Desktop Tools or Cloud Options.  Review our article How can I work remotely during COVID-19 Isolation or Quarantine Response for additional information.

If you are unable to set up a VPN connection or borrow licenses for a specific reason, please contact your SOLIDWORKS Value Added Reseller for potential options.

SOLIDWORKS has also generated their own blog article on how to use SOLIDWORKS at home.

The post Working with SOLIDWORKS at Home through COVID-19 Shutdowns appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

In his article “Moving The SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License (SNL) Manager“, my colleague Andrew, explains how to move the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager to another server. And for the most part, this works well. But in some cases, the licensing server that the client computers point to, reverts to the old server. Typically this is related to permissions to that client’s computer registry.

In most cases logging in as system administrator allows the path to the license server to be updated. I personally like to do this when logged in as the computer’s local system administrator, as this removes any variables associated with a domain. In rare cases, this may fail to update the path. In these situations, there is a possible Windows Registry fix.

The Windows Registry solution would be done on the client computer (though it is worth checking the registry on the server) and involves assigning sufficient permissions to a number of keys.

IMPORTANT: Editing the Windows Registry can severely damage the operation of installed programs. This should only be done by someone that is familiar with working in the Windows Registry.  The Registry should also be backed up before making any changes.

Editing the Windows Registry

On a x32 system, the following key needs to be modified:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\FLEXlm License Manager

On a x64 system, the following key must also be modified. In these keys, ensure that the logged-in Windows user has full permissions.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\FLEXlm License Manager

Ensuring Logged in User has Full Permissions

At this time, with the registry key selected, also confirm the path to the license server is correct and update it as required.

Confirming License Server Path

NOTE: I always like to reboot the computer after modifying the registry, so that the changes stick, but this is not always required.

The post Troubleshooting SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager After a Server Move appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

For the most part, moving the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License can be performed, as explained in my colleague’s article, Moving The SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License (SNL) Manager. But in some cases, Windows user permissions can cause issues.

Many of these issues can be addressed by logging into the server as an administrator. I personally like to use the Local System Administrator, as this eliminates any variables that may be related to a domain. Of course, this will depend on how your environment is set up.

Move SOLIDWORKS license executable

Alternatively, permission issues can be bypassed, by manually running the utility used to move a license. This utility is the SOLIDWORKS Product Activation application. The executable for this application is called swlmwiz.exe and, by default, it is located in:

C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SOLIDWORKS\setup\i386

To launch this utility, on the old server, right-click on the executable and choose ‘Run as administrator’ to elevate permissions.

Running swlmwiz.exe as Administrator

SOLIDWORKS Product Activation utility

This will launch the SOLIDWORKS Product Activation utility, which is part of the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager. Choose the option to Move your product license(s) to a new/upgraded computer, then select Next

Move License Product Activation

Select the licenses you want to deactivate and press Next to deactivate them on the old server.

Now that the license(s) have been deactivated old server, you can now activate them on the new server. If you run into issues activating the license(s) on the new server normally, the above method can be used to activate it. In this scenario use the ‘Activate/Reactivate your product licenses’ in the SOLIDWORKS Product Activation utility.

The post Alternative Method to Move SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

In this tech tip we provide an overview of how to install the SOLIDWORKS Network license desktop version, this process applies to SOLIDWORKS Standard, Professional, or Premium software. You will first register your serial number, download the software, and install the SolidNetWork License Server and then a SOLIDWORKS Client.

Register your SOLIDWORKS serial number

Before you can download the software you need to register your serial number on the SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal. You will have likely received your SOLIDWORKS serial number from your Value Added Reseller (VAR) after making your purchase:

1. Go to the SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal at http://customerportal.solidworks.com/
2. You will be presented with the SOLIDWORKS One Account form in your browser as shown below
3. Assuming you are a brand new customer you can pick the Create a SOLIDWORKS ID button to create a new account:

SOLIDWORKS ID One Account

Create a SOLIDWORKS ID

You will need to enter your details to register the serial number with your email address.

4. Enter your email address and serial number in the registration page and pick the Next > button
5. On the next page you will be presented with your company information. Verify the information displayed is accurate, then click Yes to finish the process (if there are any errors or difficulties registering, contact your VAR for assistance).

Note: Use the navigation buttons in the pages. Do not use the standard browser navigation buttons.

Create SOLIDWORKS ID

Log into the Customer Portal

After registering your details you can then log into the customer portal with your credentials:

6. Return to the Customer Portal and enter your email address and your password into One Account form
7. Select the Log In button:

SOLIDWORKS ID One Account

The SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal

Within the Customer Portal you can access a variety of resources under four sections, My Support, References, Download, and Community.

8. In the Download section select the Downloads and Updates link

NOTE: If sections of the customer portal are locked use the Register My Products link as described in our unlocking the Customer Portal article

Download from Customer Portal

SOLIDWORKS Downloads

You will now be redirected out of the customer portal to the SOLIDWORKS website download page where you can select the product you need. The last four versions/releases of SOLIDWORKS are available to choose here, and you can select the Service Pack (SP) that you require:

9. In Downloads page select the version you require from the dropdown menu
10. Pick the SOLIDWORKS Products link adjacent to the service pack you require (pick the highest number SP if you are a new customer):

Select SOLIDWORKS Products in the Downloads page

11. You then need to accept the license agreement to download the software by picking the Accept Agreement and Continue button at the foot of the page:

Accept SOLIDWORKS License Agreement

Run the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager

Now you can download the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to get started with the installation process:

12. Select the Download link in the page and a zip file will download from the SOLIDWORKS web site. This file is around 32MB and will manage the installation process for you without having to manually download files
13. After the SolidWorksSeup.exe zip file has completed downloading run the SolidWorksSeup.exe file from your local machine

SOLIDWORKS Software Download

14. You may be asked to authorize the app to make changes on your device, select Yes

Allow SOLIDWORKS Setup zip to make changes

15. You can then Browse to the location where you want the files to unzip using the browse button on the WinZip dialog or use the default location

NOTE: not all the SOLIDWORKS installation files will download at this point, just the Installation Manager

16. Select Unzip and the files will be extracted and the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager will load

Winzip Self Extractor

17. After the files have extracted select OK and the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager will start automatically

SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager Extracted

Using the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager

The SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager will now guide you through the rest of the installation process and provide you with options for installing your purchased SOLIDWORKS software and add-ins. Browse our library of posts on the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager for more information.

IMPORTANT NOTE: During installation the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager will determine the files you need based on the serial number you enter, this could by up to 16GB. So be prepared for a large download and ensure there is enough room on your machine to accommodate the download files and the installation itself.

18. First step in the installation process is to select the type of install required from the four choices. For a network installation select Download and share all files. Create individual installs or administration images on multiple machines with a single download.
19. With the option selected select Next >

SOLIDWORKS Install Download Files

Entering your Serial Number

At this point in the installation you will need to enter your serial number[s] for the SOLIDWORKS products you have purchased. At this stage you can install any of the 3D Design, Visualization, Simulation, CAM, Technical Communication, and Electrical Design licenses you have purchased:

20. The next step is to enter your SOLIDWORKS Serial number[s] for the purchased product[s], you don’t have to install all products at once, you can modify the installation later if required

NOTE: You can populate the serial numbers automatically using the Log In button, but that process requires creating a SOLIDWORKS Admin Portal account. It is much easier just to enter the serial numbers into the boxes as you should have received the number already from your local reseller.

SOLIDWORKS Install Serial Numbers

21. Select Next to continue and SOLIDWORKS will connect to the online installation server and determine which products you have purchased based on the entered serial number.

NOTE: If an existing version of SOLIDWORKS is found on your machine the installation manager will give you the choice of upgrading your existing version or installing a new separate instance.

Download Options

The Installation Manager will now display a summary of your action along with download options for you to change the download location and an estimated download size

22. The default options will save to Documents\SOLIDWORKS Downloads (in the screenshot below a custom directory is selected but you can choose any location you like). Click Change to modify the download folder.

SOLIDWORKS File Download Options

23. OPTIONAL: Pick Browse to choose the folder location required
24. Enable the Use the background downloader option which can automatically notify and download newer service packs as they become available.
25. Select < Back to Summary

SOLIDWORKS File Download Location

Download SOLIDWORKS Software

The final step is to download and install onto your machine, you will notice the estimated installation file size is listed along with the download file size:

26. Make sure you check the I accept the terms of the SOLIDWORKS license agreement option
27. Select Download Now to obtain the installation files

SOLIDWORKS File Download Options

28. When the files have finished downloaded from the SOLIDWORKS web server the following Download Complete message will be displayed. Pick Close to finish.

SOLIDWORKS Download Complete

SolidNetWork License Manager

The SolidNetWork License Manager hosts the SOLIDWORKS network licenses on a server to provide to client machines. This is a small application that runs a service in the background. The installation files for the SolidNetWork License Manager are included with the overall SOLIDWORKS download files the you obtained in the previous steps.

For a smaller download of only the License Manager files, use the Installation Manager obtained from the Customer Portal. Then run the Installation Manager on the server to only install the License Manager. This will download the required files for the installation (rather than Download and Share).

IMPORTANT: The SolidNetWork License Manager must be the same major release (year) or newer than all SOLIDWORKS clients. The minor release (service pack) doesn’t apply. The License Manager can provide licenses for prior releases.

Server – Installing SolidNetWork License Manager

Before client machines can launch SOLIDWORKS, the SolidNetWork License Manager must be installed and activated to provide licenses.

NOTE: The License Manager must be installed on a machine connected to the same network as all client machines.

1. Locate the SOLIDWORKS Installation file set that you just downloaded and run Setup.exe
2. Select Install Server Components and Install SolidNetWork License Manager then click Next

Install SOLIDWORKS Server Components

3. You will then enter all SOLIDWORKS Network Serial Numbers. Multiple serial numbers can be separated by commas (,)
4. Choose the default installation location C:\Program Files (x86)\SOLIDWORKS Corp\SolidNetWork License Manager , note this is still a 32-bit application. Pick Next

SolidNetWork License Manager Options

5. Select I accept the terms of the SOLIDWORKS License Agreement and click Install Now to begin.

SolidNetWork License Manager Summary

6. When the installation is complete SOLIDWORKS has a few options you can choose for joining the SOLIDWORKS Customer Experience Improvement Program. Select the Yes, I want to join option as this will be very helpful for DS SolidWorks Corp. This is a confidential program and it will not effect your system performance. Read our SOLIDWORKS Customer Experience article to learn more.
7. Then pick Finish and you’ll find the SolidNetWork License Manager under the Start menu.

SOLIDWORKS Installation Complete

6. Launch the SolidNetWork License Manager application through the Start menu (Start > SOLIDWORKS Tools 20XX > SolidNetWork License Manager Server).

NOTE: If SOLIDWORKS is installed on the same machine, the Start menu will show two License Manager shortcuts. One is the Server Administrator version and the other is the Client version. The License Manager Server will have 5 tabs at the top, the first being ‘Server Administration.’ The License Manager Client will only have 4 tabs.

SolidNetWork License Manager Start Menu

7. If this is a new install of the License Manager, a dialog box will indicate that ‘No SolidNetWork license(s) exist, would you like to activate now?’ Select Yes.

New SolidNetWork License

8. The License Server Information dialog allows you to customize which TCP ports for connectivity between client and server. The default port number is 25734. This can be modified if the port is already in use by another application. If firewalls are present, select ‘A firewall is in use on this server’. This will use port 25735 by default. Click Next.

SolidNetWork License Server Information

NOTE: The ports specified above will need to be opened through firewalls on both the server and client machines. Both ports 25734 and 25735 must be opened for incoming and outgoing traffic on your local network. For network connectivity tests, please review our SNL troubleshooting article.

IMPORTANT: When activating your License Manager, avoid using Remote Desktop Applications. The activation may be linked to the computer that was used to access the server, and not the server itself. If the server is then reactivated locally it will fail as the computer ID is different. It’s recommended to always activate on the physical machine. Review our avoiding SNL activation issues article.

9. Select the licenses to activate and the activation method. If the server has an active internet connection, then you can select Automatically over the Internet and pick Next.

Activate SolidNetWork License Product

NOTE:  If the server does NOT have an internet connection, select Manually via email to save a file that can be transferred to another computer with internet access (i.e. via USB key). This file, called ‘SWActivateRequest’, can be emailed to activation@solidworks.com.

You will receive a reply email within a few minutes with a file called ‘SWActivateResponse’. Copy this file back to the server and return to the Manual activation process. Use ‘Open’ the SWActivateResponse file to complete the activation. If you do not receive a response, check your Junk/Spam email folders.

10. After license activation a confirmation screen is displayed reporting that the activation has completed successfully. Select Finish. If you have difficulties activating, contact your SOLIDWORKS Reseller for technical support.

SolidNetWork License Activated

Clients – Installing SOLIDWORKS

The next step is to install SOLIDWORKS on client machines that will connect to the Server where the SolidNetWork License Manager has been installed.

If you specify a SolidNetWork License serial number when installing, SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager identifies that computer as a SolidNetWork license client. SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager prompts you for the SolidNetWork license manager computer name and port number to connect the client to the license manager.

When installing SOLIDWORKS, log in as the Local Administrator on the computer. This will ensure that you have full permissions on the entire machine. The Domain Administrator account may not provide enough permissions on the local machine. Read our related article for more information.

IMPORTANT: In general we recommend that you run the installation from locally downloaded installation files. Installing the program from a network drive can make the process longer.

1. Begin the SOLIDWORKS installation by double-clicking on Setup.exe in the download folder.
2. With the Install on this computer selected pick Next

Types of SOLIDWORKS Installation

Entering your Serial Number

At this point in the installation you will need to enter your serial number[s] for the SOLIDWORKS products you have purchased. At this stage you can install any of the 3D Design, Visualization, Simulation, CAM, Technical Communication, and Electrical Design licenses you have purchased:

3. The next step is to enter your SOLIDWORKS Serial number[s] for the purchased product[s], you don’t have to install all products at once, you can modify the installation later if required

NOTE: You can populate the serial numbers automatically using the Log In button, but that process requires creating a SOLIDWORKS Admin Portal account. It is much easier just to enter the serial numbers into the boxes as you should have received the number already from your local reseller.

SOLIDWORKS Install Serial Numbers

4. Select Next to continue and SOLIDWORKS will connect to the online installation server and determine which products you have purchased based on the entered serial number.

NOTE: If an existing version of SOLIDWORKS is found on your machine the installation manager will give you the choice of upgrading your existing version or installing a new separate instance.

Optional: Change Products to Install

In this next step you can choose which products to install and more often than not you will keep the selection as the default as the license manager will have determined the products you are entitled to install based on your serial number:

5. Use the default options for the installation unless there is a specific application you don’t want to install
6. Select Change next to Products to view the applications that are going to be installed along with their file size, you should see all the products you have purchased listed, contact your VAR if you think you are missing any purchases (only English is installed, but other languages can be selected under Products)
7. Select Back to Summary to go back

SOLIDWORKS Client Install Summary

Optional: Download Options

In the download options you can specify details for completing the download operation, such as the location of the downloaded files, how to download the files, and whether to install the downloaded files.

6. Select Change next to the Download Options
   • Download and install will download any additional missing files required to install
   • Download only will obtain the full installation file set that can be shared
   • Install only is used if you already have the full installation file set, which is the case in this example
7. Select Back to Summary when you’ve reviewed or finished modifying the options

SOLIDWORKS Client Download Options

Optional: Installation Location

You can modify where SOLIDWORKS will be installed.

8. Select Change next to Installation Location
9. Enter a new location if required. By default, it will install to C:\Program Files\SOLIDWORKS Corp
10. Select Back to Summary when you’ve reviewed or finished modifying the options

SOLIDWORKS Install Location

Optional: Toolbox/Hole Wizard Options

You can modify where the Toolbox/Hole Wizard library database will be installed:

NOTE: The SOLIDWORKS Hole Wizard is included with all versions of SOLIDWORKS, and SOLIDWORKS Toolbox is included with the Professional and Premium versions.

9. Select Change next to Toolbox/Hole Wizard Options
10. Enter a new location if required. By default, it will install to C:\SOLIDWORKS Data
11. Select Back to Summary when you’ve reviewed or finished modifying the options

SOLIDWORKS Toolbox Install Options

NOTE: If you wanted to install multiple versions of SOLIDWORKS on your machine that is possible, our article  How to Install Multiple SOLIDWORKS Versions on your system provides the details along with some FAQs

12. With all the options selected ensure the check box I accept the terms of the SOLIDWORKS License Agreement is checked and then pick Install Now to begin

SOLIDWORKS Client Install Summary

13. You’ll be asked to point to the server running the SolidNetWork License Manager. Enter the port@servername. The default port was 25734 so it would be 25734@yourservername. Select OK

SOLIDWORKS Client Server Port

The SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager will now install SOLIDWORKS on the machine:

SOLIDWORKS Installing

14. When the installation is complete SOLIDWORKS has a few options you can choose for joining the SOLIDWORKS Customer Experience Improvement Program. Select the Yes, I want to join option as this will be very helpful for DS SolidWorks Corp. This is a confidential program and it will not effect your system performance. Read our SOLIDWORKS Customer Experience article to learn more.
15. Then pick Finish and you’ll find the SOLIDWORKS application icons on your desktop and under the Start menu.

SOLIDWORKS Installation Complete

Need help with your SOLIDWORKS Installation?

Javelin provides installation and upgrade services for SOLIDWORKS software. Visit our SOLIDWORKS services page to learn more.

The post How to Install SOLIDWORKS Network License appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

Here is an overview of the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License (SNL) Manager Server application that is used to manage SOLIDWORKS network licenses.

After installing the SolidNetWork License Manager on your server machine you will then be able to manage the service.

Activating the License Manager Server

To start the SolidNetWork License Manager Server select Start > SOLIDWORKS Tools 20XX > SolidNetWork License Manager Server

SolidNetWork License Manager Start Menu

The SolidNetWork License Server will now start on your machine:

SolidNetWork License Server Administration

Server Administration

The Server Administration tab provides the ability to Start and Stop the service. After installation and activation, the service is automatically started. Client machines ping the server every 30 minutes. If the service is stopped, users have 30 minutes until a message will be given that no licenses are available and will be forced to save their work and close the session of SOLIDWORKS.

• View Log will provide a text file with logs of the license usage. A 3rd party FlexLM license usage monitor application would be required to process the logs into a report format.
• Modify allows you to Reactivate or Deactivate the license, as well as see currently activated products.

License Usage

The License Usage tab provides information on the number of free and used licenses. A list of users will be provided to determine who is using a specific license. The ‘Product’ dropdown provides information for each license.

NOTE: A SOLIDWORKS Standard license is required for all Professional or Premium licenses. For example, if you have 2 Standard, 2 Professional, and 2 Premium licenses, you will see a total of 6 Standard licenses. All users initially obtain a Standard license until a Pro or Premium add-in is selected.

SolidNetWork License Usage

Other Tabs

The remaining three tabs (Server List, License Borrowing, License Order) are typically used on client machines.

Related Information

Here is a summary of upgrading, moving the server, and modifying serial numbers:

Upgrading SolidNetWork License Manager Server

The License Manager can be directly upgraded from a previous release. Use the newer Installation Manager to perform the installation using Server Products > Upgrade SolidNetWork License Manager.

You can upgrade the License Manager to a new version without requiring users to close SOLIDWORKS if you have the installation files ready. Client machines check the status of the License Manager service every 30 minutes, but the upgrade and reactivation can complete in less time. If the service is not restarted within this timeframe, users will be prompted to save their work and close SOLIDWORKS.

NOTE: The SolidNetwork License Manager must be the same major release (year) or newer than all SOLIDWORKS clients. The minor release (service pack) doesn’t apply. The License Manager can provide licenses for prior releases.

IMPORTANT: Once the new version is installed, it must be reactivated to obtain the new licenses, read our SNL upgrade article to learn more.

1. Open the SolidNetWork License Manager Server on the hosted server.
2. On the ‘Server Administration’ tab click ‘Modify’
3. In the following dialogue window, select ‘Activate/Reactivate your product license(s)’
4. Click ‘Next’ and then follow the rest of the on-screen instructions to complete the reactivation procedure

Moving the SolidNetWork License Manager to another Server

A SOLIDWORKS network serial number can only be activated on one server at a time. Therefore, the license must be deactivated from the old server before activating the new server.

For detailed instructions on moving the License Manager to a new server, please review our moving SNL article.

Modifying Serial Numbers in the SolidNetWork License Manager Server

To change a serial number in the SolidNetWork License Manager:

1. Go into the Windows Control Panel > Programs and Features
2. Right-click on ‘SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager’ and Change
3. Choose to ‘Modify’ the install
4. Add/change serial numbers (separated by commas)
5. Reactivate the License Manager

The post Using the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager Server appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

When you install a SOLIDWORKS Network license a SolidNetWork License Manager Client application is also installed allowing users to view available network licenses, change the server location, borrow licenses, or change the license check out order.

Activating the Client Manager

To activate the SolidNetWork License Manager on a Client go to Start > SOLIDWORKS Tools 20XX > SolidNetWork License Manager Client

SolidNetWork License Manager Client

The Client application will now start with the License Usage tab:

SolidNetWork Client License Usage

License Usage Tab

The License Usage tab provides information on the number of free and used licenses. A list of users will be provided to determine who is using a specific license.

The ‘Product’ dropdown provides information for each license such as SOLIDWORKS Standard or SOLIDWORKS Visualize Standard.

NOTE: A SOLIDWORKS Standard license is required before using a Professional or Premium license. For example, if you have 2 Standard, 2 Professional, and 2 Premium licenses, you will see a total of 6 Standard licenses. All users initially obtain a Standard license until a Pro or Premium add-in is selected.

Server List Tab

The Server List tab lists all servers that the client is searching on the network for SOLIDWORKS licenses. You can add/remove servers from the list. If the SolidNetWork License Manager is moved to a new server, each Client’s License Manager must have the Server List updated with the new server name.

SolidNetWork Client Server List

IMPORTANT: Log in as the Local Administrator on the machine if the server needs changing

License Borrowing Tab

The License Borrowing tab allows a user to temporarily lock a license to the local computer so SOLIDWORKS can be used when not connected to the network. For more information about the borrowing functionality, please refer to our SOLIDWORKS License Borrowing article.

SolidNetWork Client License Borrowing

The list of products that have an available license will be shown in the list.  Select the one required and specify the last day you will need the license.  Licenses are limited to a 30-day maximum borrow period.  This maximum period can be shortened using an Options file.

SOLIDWORKS will be available for use through to 11:59pm on the day specified.  At midnight of the following day, the license will expire on the client laptop and the license will be freed up on the server.  The license will need to be borrowed again after 30 days.

Once you have selected a product and the Borrow until date, then click Borrow.  This will move the license under the Borrowed Product Licenses window.  A Standard License will automatically be borrowed with any higher level license.

License Order Tab

The License Order tab allows you to modify which level of license to obtain when enabling additional add-ins. This is common in scenarios with multiple Simulation licenses. Read our related article to learn more.

SolidNetWork Client License Order

The post Using the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager Client appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

A SOLIDWORKS Network License requires a network connection between the server and client machines.  The server runs the SolidNetWork License Manager service and client machines must verify a connection and available licenses from the server before SOLIDWORKS will open.  Communication errors are commonly found on first setting up a network license or if there are changes to the network.

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork Connection Errors

Here are a few possible error messages that may be seen on a client machine when trying to open SOLIDWORKS:

• Cannot connect to license server

Cannot connect to license server

• Server node is down or not responding

Server node is down or not responding

• Could not get information from this server

Could not get information from this server

Server

The SolidNetWork License Manager needs to be installed, activated and started on the server.  The major version needs to be the same or newer than SOLIDWORKS running on the client machines.  It is backwards compatible so you should always upgrade the License Manager before SOLIDWORKS.  For example you can use a 2019 License Manager while running SOLIDWORKS 2018.

After any upgrade to the License Manager, you must reactivate to obtain the latest license version.

Service Started

Verify that the SolidNetWork License Manager service is running.  Open the License Manager and click ‘Start’ if applicable.  You can also check Windows Services to verify the service has been started and set to Automatic startup.

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager Start

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager Service

Firewall Settings

The most common source of communication errors are due to firewalls blocking the required ports.  If you do have firewalls setup on your network, you will need to select the option that ‘A firewall is in use on this server‘ while activating.

IMPORTANT: Contact your IT department to ensure proper Firewall settings are applied

This switches the License Manager to use a static vendor daemon port in order to specify the specific port in the firewall.  By default the License Manager uses TCP ports 25734 and 25735.  These can be changed if required.

To access these options again, you can go through the same reactivation process.

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager Ports

Communication on ports 25734 and 25735 must be allowable through the firewall for Inbound and Outbound communication.  For the default Windows firewall, the follow process can be taken.

1. Go to Windows Control Panel > Windows Firewall
2. Select Advanced settings in the left panel
3. Select Inbound Rules in the left pane and choose New Rule
4. Choose Port and specify TCP ports 25734 and 25735
5. This needs to be set to Allow the connection
6. Choose the appropriate profiles from Domain, Private, Public
   NOTE: Allowing access through the Public profile is not recommended. Verify your network settings to determine required access.  Opening a port within the Public profile is at your own risk and should be reviewed and approved by your IT.
7. Give a descriptive name for the rule such as “SolidNetWork License Manager Ports” and Finish
8. Select Outbound Rules in the left pane and choose New Rule
9. Follow the same steps 4-7 to allow outbound connection for ports 25734 and 25735

Windows Firewall Rules

Though not typically required with the default Windows Firewall, you may need to apply a rule to allow connection for programs lmgrd.exe and sw_d.exe.  By default these programs are located under C:\Program Files (x86)\SolidWorks SolidNetWork License Manager.

Client

With the default Windows firewall settings the client machine should be able to accept connectivity through both ports 25734 and 25735, as it is seen as a response to outbound communication from the server.

NOTE: If communication is still failing through these ports (see Telnet Test below), contact your IT department as changes may have been introduced to the firewall settings preventing inbound/outbound communication on the client.

Server Location

Verify the SolidNetWork License Manager Client application is pointing to the correct server.  This application is found under Start > SOLIDWORKS Tools > SolidNetWork License Manager Client.  On the Server List tab, add the appropriate port and server name.  Ensure only one server is listed unless you have multiple servers hosting separate licenses.

NOTE: When you add a new server name to the list, click OK and go back into the License Manager to verify the new server name is still listed.  If it doesn’t stick, you may need to run the License Manager Client application as an administrator.  Right-click on the application in the Start menu on click Run as Administrator

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager Client

You can also test entering the server IP address instead of the server name to see if there is an issue with name resolution.

If you still receive errors on opening SOLIDWORKS, there are several tests you can perform to verify the connection is valid.

Ping Test

The Ping test verifies that you have access to the server over the network.  This will also give you an indication of the speed of connection from the response time (latency).  If the test fails, you will need to check your network connection on both machines.

1. Open the Windows Command Prompt (click Start and type CMD)
2. Type in ping server_name (where “server_name” is the name of your server or the IP address)
3. It should give a response that 4 packets were sent and 4 were received with 0% loss to verify you have a connection

Windows Ping Test

The speed in milliseconds will be given to determine the latency.  This should be a low as possible.  If it shows more than 100ms, this indicates a very slow connection and may fail to obtain a license due to a default timeout.  Have your IT troubleshoot the slow performance of the network.

Telnet Test

The Telnet test allows you to verify that ports 25734 and 25735 have been opened properly.  Follow the steps outlined in our article How To Perform a Telnet Test

Connectivity Tool

Although typically used to troubleshoot SOLIDWORKS PDM connections, the Connectivity Test Tool can be used to test for the SNL Server connection only.  To find out where the tool can be downloaded, read our blog article SOLIDWORKS PDM Connectivity Test Tool

SOLIDWORKS Connectivity Test Tool

The post SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager Troubleshooting (SNL) appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

When managing network licenses of SOLIDWORKS software, you may want to ensure that a license is returned to the pool after a user has been idle for a certain amount of time.

By default, for most SOLIDWORKS software the license will be returned once a user has been idle for 2 hours, and this time can be adjusted using the SolidNetWork License Manager Options File.

For DraftSight Enterprise, the license is not set to timeout by default AND it cannot be controlled by the TIMEOUT command in the Options File like other SOLIDWORKS software can!

This is because DraftSight Enterprise can work with two different licensing set ups, the SolidNetWork License Manager (SNL) or the Dassault Systems Licensing Server (DSLS).  For this reason, the controls for the license timeout are actually located in the Options of the DraftSight Enterprise , instead of being controlled through the licensing server.

To enable and set the timeout for DraftSight Enterprise go to Options and select the System Options screen.  Expand the General group, then expand Licensing.  Check the box “Return license if idle for more than xx minutes” and set the desired number of minutes.

DraftSight Enterprise License Timeout Option

Interested in DraftSight Enterprise?

DraftSight Enterprise is for organizations with many users or multiple sites that need an advanced 2D CAD drafting solution with powerful, productivity boosting features and API to help bring their designs to life quickly and easily. Learn more about DraftSight Enterprise »

The post Controlling the License Timeout in DraftSight Enterprise appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

Ensuring that idle licenses are returned to the license pool after a defined amount of time is typically an essential aspect of network license management. For most SOLIDWORKS software, this timeout period is defined in the Options file of the SolidNetWork License Manager, however for DraftSight Enterprise, the timeout period is defined locally on each client.

This timeout can be manually set on each client system through the DraftSight System Options, however there is also a way to control the settings through a central Administrative Profile.

Step 1: Create the administrative profile.xml file

The administrative profile.xml file should be placed in a shared folder on the network that will be accessible to all users. This administrative profile.xml will be read by DraftSight after the locally activated profile.xml file located on the user’s systems is loaded. Any settings specified in the administrative profile.xml file will overwrite any settings in the local profile, including the timeout setting.

The xml file can be created using any text editor and should contain the text bellow:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<settings>
<group name="preferences_license">
<setting value="true" name="licensetimeoutenabled" type="bool"/>
<setting value="30" name="licensetimeouttimeinminutes" type="int"/>
</group>
</settings>

The “30” value can be replaced with however many minutes the license should be idle before being returned to the license manager pool.

DraftSight Administrative Profile

Step 2: Create the profile_overrides.xml file

The profile_overrides.xml file is stored on the local client machine and is used to point the DraftSight installation to read the administrative profile.xml file that is located on the network.

The xml file can be created using any text editor and should contain the text below:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<profileoverrides>
<version build="*">
<setting type="QString" value="\\JAVELIN466\Draftsight Administrative Profile\administrative_profile.xml"
/>
</profileoverrides>

Replace the path value with the location to the administrative_profile.xml file.

Once the file is created, it should be placed in the folder C:\ProgramData\Dassault Systemes\DraftSight on each user’s system.

Administrative Profile Location

The post Controlling DraftSight License Timeout Using an Administrative Profile appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

When there is a new release of SOLIDWORKS PDM, it is wise to first test the upgrade so that you can identify and address any problems, before updating your production vault.

SOLIDWORKS PDM uses the SolidNetWork License Manager (SNL) and this needs to first be updated to the same version of SOLIDWORKS PDM that is to be installed. The License Manager is backwards compatible, so a separate installation of the license Manager is not required. It is wise to update the License Manager after hours, to be sure there is no impact on production if issues are encountered. The License Manager is installed from the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager.

Updating License Manager

Create a SOLIDWORKS PDM Test Environment

Once the License Manager is updated, the new version of SOLIDWORKS PDM can be installed. You will require a different system to install the new version of SOLIDWORKS PDM. This can be a different server, a PC used for testing, or a virtual machine. If you are going to be using a virtual machine, please ensure that the virtual environment you are using is supported. The same SQL installation you use for your production vault can be used for your test vault, so SQL does not need to be installed on your test environment.

Using a PDM Sandbox Vault

Once SOLIDWORKS PDM has been installed on your test system, you can now import the contents of your production vault into your sandbox vault. The steps to do this can be found in my blog article SOLIDWORKS PDM – Sandbox Vault.  This process will copy your vault settings, but not the archive or database.

Setting up an Independent Test Environment.

While testing only your vault settings is useful, having a duplicate of your PDM environment is often the best way of testing a new release. This will require at minimum a new database on the same instance of SQL. In general, the process consists of backing up and restoring the database to the vault. Once this is done, part or all of the archive is copied into the new vault. This process is explained in the PDM Installation guide as well as a previous article of mine.

If you wish to avoid using the same SQL instance, you can install a separate instance on a separate physical server or on a Virtual Machine (VM). For PDM licensing, you can still use the same SOLIDWORKS License Manager. To avoid licensing issues with Microsoft SQL, SQL Server Developer Edition can be used. SQL Server Developer Editions is a “full-featured free edition, licensed for use as a development and test database in a non-production environment.” Another tool that I find useful for testing is Windows Sandbox. This tool allows me to quickly create a VM without requiring any licensing. Be aware that once you close down the application, the VM is permanently removed.

Learn More

Javelin provides PDM training in-class or live online. Check out the training courses available.

The post Setting Up a SOLIDWORKS PDM Test Environment for a New Major Release appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

A SOLIDWORKS Network License requires a network connection between the server and client machines.  The server runs the SolidNetWork License Manager service and client machines must verify a connection and available licenses from the server before SOLIDWORKS will open.  Communication errors are commonly found on first setting up a network license or if there are changes to the network.

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork Connection Errors

Here are a few possible error messages that may be seen on a client machine when trying to open SOLIDWORKS:

• Cannot connect to license server

Cannot connect to license server

• Server node is down or not responding

Server node is down or not responding

• Could not get information from this server

Could not get information from this server

Server

The SolidNetWork License Manager needs to be installed, activated and started on the server.  The major version needs to be the same or newer than SOLIDWORKS running on the client machines.  It is backwards compatible so you should always upgrade the License Manager before SOLIDWORKS.  For example you can use a 2019 License Manager while running SOLIDWORKS 2018.

After any upgrade to the License Manager, you must reactivate to obtain the latest license version.

Service Started

Verify that the SolidNetWork License Manager service is running.  Open the License Manager and click ‘Start’ if applicable.  You can also check Windows Services to verify the service has been started and set to Automatic startup.

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager Start

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager Service

Firewall Settings

The most common source of communication errors are due to firewalls blocking the required ports.  If you do have firewalls setup on your network, you will need to select the option that ‘A firewall is in use on this server‘ while activating.

IMPORTANT: Contact your IT department to ensure proper Firewall settings are applied

This switches the License Manager to use a static vendor daemon port in order to specify the specific port in the firewall.  By default the License Manager uses TCP ports 25734 and 25735.  These can be changed if required.

To access these options again, you can go through the same reactivation process.

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager Ports

Communication on ports 25734 and 25735 must be allowable through the firewall for Inbound and Outbound communication.  For the default Windows firewall, the follow process can be taken.

1. Go to Windows Control Panel > Windows Firewall
2. Select Advanced settings in the left panel
3. Select Inbound Rules in the left pane and choose New Rule
4. Choose Port and specify TCP ports 25734 and 25735
5. This needs to be set to Allow the connection
6. Choose the appropriate profiles from Domain, Private, Public
   NOTE: Allowing access through the Public profile is not recommended. Verify your network settings to determine required access.  Opening a port within the Public profile is at your own risk and should be reviewed and approved by your IT.
7. Give a descriptive name for the rule such as “SolidNetWork License Manager Ports” and Finish
8. Select Outbound Rules in the left pane and choose New Rule
9. Follow the same steps 4-7 to allow outbound connection for ports 25734 and 25735

Windows Firewall Rules

Though not typically required with the default Windows Firewall, you may need to apply a rule to allow connection for programs lmgrd.exe and sw_d.exe.  By default these programs are located under C:\Program Files (x86)\SolidWorks SolidNetWork License Manager.

Client

With the default Windows firewall settings the client machine should be able to accept connectivity through both ports 25734 and 25735, as it is seen as a response to outbound communication from the server.

NOTE: If communication is still failing through these ports (see Telnet Test below), contact your IT department as changes may have been introduced to the firewall settings preventing inbound/outbound communication on the client.

Server Location

Verify the SolidNetWork License Manager Client application is pointing to the correct server.  This application is found under Start > SOLIDWORKS Tools > SolidNetWork License Manager Client.  On the Server List tab, add the appropriate port and server name.  Ensure only one server is listed unless you have multiple servers hosting separate licenses.

NOTE: When you add a new server name to the list, click OK and go back into the License Manager to verify the new server name is still listed.  If it doesn’t stick, you may need to run the License Manager Client application as an administrator.  Right-click on the application in the Start menu on click Run as Administrator

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager Client

You can also test entering the server IP address instead of the server name to see if there is an issue with name resolution.

If you still receive errors on opening SOLIDWORKS, there are several tests you can perform to verify the connection is valid.

Ping Test

The Ping test verifies that you have access to the server over the network.  This will also give you an indication of the speed of connection from the response time (latency).  If the test fails, you will need to check your network connection on both machines.

1. Open the Windows Command Prompt (click Start and type CMD)
2. Type in ping server_name (where “server_name” is the name of your server or the IP address)
3. It should give a response that 4 packets were sent and 4 were received with 0% loss to verify you have a connection

Windows Ping Test

The speed in milliseconds will be given to determine the latency.  This should be a low as possible.  If it shows more than 100ms, this indicates a very slow connection and may fail to obtain a license due to a default timeout.  Have your IT troubleshoot the slow performance of the network.

Telnet Test

The Telnet test allows you to verify that ports 25734 and 25735 have been opened properly.  This can be performed two ways.

PowerShell

1. 1. Click Start > type powershell and open the app
   2. Type tnc yourservername -port 25734 (where ‘yourservername’ is the name of your server hosting the License Manager)
   3. TcpTestSucceeded will show True if communication is successful.  If it states False, have your IT assist in troubleshooting the firewall port settings.

Command Prompt

Review our article How To Perform a Telnet Test

Connectivity Tool

Although typically used to troubleshoot SOLIDWORKS PDM connections, the Connectivity Test Tool can be used to test for the SNL Server connection only.  To find out where the tool can be downloaded, read our blog article SOLIDWORKS PDM Connectivity Test Tool

SOLIDWORKS Connectivity Test Tool

The post SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager Troubleshooting (SNL) appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

You’ve just set up the SolidNetWork License (SNL) manager and you see the licenses available on the server, but the client machine fails to obtain the license when opening the product. You see an error message “SOLIDWORKS cannot connect to license server” that looks like the one below or a similar variation.

SOLIDWORKS Cannot Connect

Why SOLIDWORKS cannot connect to license server

If you’ve confirmed that the SNL manager is the same version year on both the server and client machines, then the problem may be coming from the Windows firewall.

The SNL manager communicates across ports 25734 and 25735 to ensure that SOLIDWORKS products can obtain a license. Sometimes your Windows firewall may be blocking communication across these ports, so the solution is as easy as adding an inbound and outbound port exception.

Most of the time, setting up port exceptions from the server machine will be enough, however, there are times when the steps may need to be done on the client side as well. It is never a bad idea to set up these port exceptions, but to test whether the firewall may be the issue before setting up the exceptions you can try disabling your firewall to see if that makes a difference.

If the problem is resolved when disabling the firewall then setting up the port exceptions should resolve the issue, turn the firewall back on and set up the port exceptions. If the problem persists with the firewall disabled then the communication may be blocked by something outside of the firewall.

Users can follow the steps below to set up an inbound and outbound port exception to unblock the SNL manager from the Windows firewall.

Setting up port exceptions for the SNL

1. On the server machine, select Start menu and search for Windows Defender Firewall.

   Windows defender firewall

2. In the left pane, select the “Advance settings” link.

Windows Defender Firewall Advanced Settings

3. Select “Inbound Rules” and choose “New Rule.”

   Inbound rules

4. Select “Port” and click the “Next” button.

   New Inbound rule wizard

5. Make sure “TCP” is selected. Then, type “25734, 25735” (without quotation marks) for the “Specific local ports” field and click the “Next” button.

   Specific local ports

6. Select “Allow the connection” and then click the “Next” button.

   Action step: allow the connection

7. Select the desired profile to apply the exception. (Select all the profiles if unsure.)

   Choose profile to apply

8. Enter a name for the rule and click on the “Finish” button.

   Final new inbound rule step – name and finish

9. Repeat steps 3-8 for Outbound Rules as well

Additional ports to consider adding for other products can be found here:

• SQL Server – Port 1433 TCP
• SQL Server – Port 1434 TCP and UDP
• PDM Archive Sever – Port 3030 TCP and UDP
• PDM Web2 Server – Port 80 TCP
• PDM Web2 Server – Port 443 TCP
• Electrical Collaborative Server – Port 26666-26672 TCP

NOTE: multiple ports can be entered in step 5 if you have additional ports to unblock (e.g., “25734,25735, 1433, 1434, 3030”).

If you’re an active client on subscription and you’re still having trouble connecting to the license manager, reach out to our support team for additional help!

The post How to fix “SOLIDWORKS cannot connect to license server” error appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

If you have an existing SOLIDWORKS Network License and you purchase additional network licenses of SOLIDWORKS, or other network licenses of SOLIDWORKS products, such as Simulation, PDM, Inspection, Visualize, MBD, Composer … etc, then those new SOLIDWORKS licenses will simply be added to your existing SOLIDWORKS serial number (unless you have specifically requested that they not be).

Activate new SOLIDWORKS Licenses

Once SOLIDWORKS has processed the order and you have heard back that new licenses are ready to use, you will need to re-activate SolidNetWork License Manager so that users can make use of the new licenses. Starting with SolidNetwork License Manager 2021 the process for reactivation was made simpler by the addition of a dedicated button for reactivation. We have included the steps for both versions here.

Reactivating the SolidNetWork License Manager – 2021 and newer

STEP 1:  On the license server, launch the SolidNetWork License Manager Server and click Reactivate

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager

STEP 2: Make sure that serial number selected is “All” and click “Reactivate.”  Once this step is completed continue on at “Modify License”

Reactivate Licenses

Reactivating the SolidNetWork License Manager – 2020 and prior

STEP 1:  On the license server, launch the SolidNetWork License Manager Server and click Modify.

Modify License

STEP 2:  Select the option to “Activate/Reactivate your product license(s)” and click “Next>”.

Activate/Reactivate your product license(s)

STEP 3:  Don’t make any changes on the “Server Information” screen.

Server Information

STEP 4:  On the “Activate Your SOLIDWORKS Product” screen, either click “Select All” so that all serial numbers are highlighted, or hold down “Ctrl” and select each serial number that has had additional licenses added to it. Click Next to activate automatically over the internet, or if you do not have an internet connection on the server, you can activate manually.

Activate Your SOLIDWORKS Product

Once the activation is completed, the new additional licenses should be listed under the “Currently activated products” screen.

Currently activated SOLIDWORKS products

NOTE: If you notice that some licenses are missing, contact your SOLIDWORKS Value Added Reseller.

Upon completion of reactivating the SolidNetWork License Manager, if you are looking to update the SOLIDWORKS components to include new add-ins or features, see the How to change your SOLIDWORKS Installation article.

The post Just purchased NEW SOLIDWORKS Licenses? Don’t forget to Reactivate your License Manager appeared first on The Javelin Blog.

The SolidNetwork License Manager is based on FLEXlm technology to host all Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS network licenses (SNL). License access can be controlled by setting up a SolidNetwork License Manager Options file.  There are many option keywords available with FLEXlm.

For more detailed information, review the FlexNet Publisher Administration Guide found on the server where the SolidNetwork License Manager has been installed. By default, this PDF document (fnp_LicAdmin.pdf) will be located under C:\Program Files (x86)\SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager 20xx\Docs\flexuser. A list of Options keywords is found under section #13 in the guide.

Getting Started

1. By default, there is no Options file created. Open the SolidNetwork License Manager and click ‘Modify’ on the Server Administration tab.
   
2. Choose the option to ‘Activate/Reactivate your product license(s)’.
   
3. Enable the checkbox for ‘Options File’ and click ‘Edit’. This will prompt you to create a file called sw_d.opt in the default folder C:\Program Files (x86)\SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager 20xx\licenses. The file will be opened in Notepad automatically for editing.
   
4. After setting up all options, save and close the file and continue with the reactivation.
5. To verify the Options file is being applied, click ‘View Logs’ and search the logs for ‘Using Options’.

Changing An Existing Options File

1. You can return to the Activate/Reactivate screen, choose Edit to open the Options file, and make changes. Save and close the file. The reactivation steps can be continued or canceled. Either way, the SolidNetwork License Manager service will be restarted and the options file read.
2. If manually modifying the sw_d.opt file with Notepad outside of the License Manager, the file will need to be reread in the License Manager to refresh the information.  On the Server Administration tab, click ‘Reread’. This allows you to modify the Options file without restarting the service and resetting the logs.

Common Keywords

• GROUPCASEINSENSITIVE ON
  • Useful to avoid mistakes with capitalization for user names in a group. For more information, refer to the following article:
    SOLIDWORKS SolidNetwork License Manager Case Insensitive Option
• GROUP
  • Set up a group with a list of user names.  It is easier to reference groups with other keywords.
  • E.g. ‘GROUP Designers jim sue bob jane’ will create a group named ‘Designers’ with 4 users
• HOST_GROUP
  • Rather than user names, control a list of machine names
  • E.g. ‘HOST_GROUP Drafters machine1 machine2’ will create a host group named ‘Drafters’ with 2 computer names
• INTERNET
  • Access can be controlled with IP addresses rather than user/machine with the use of INTERNET  <IP_Address>. The * wildcard can be used to include a range of IP addresses.
  • E.g. ‘EXCLUDE solidworks INTERNET 123.123.123.*’ would exclude the product of any system ranging from 123.123.123.0 to 123.123.123.255.
• RESERVE
  • Gives the option to reserve a specified number of licenses for different products
  • E.g. ‘RESERVE 2 solidworks GROUP Designers’ will keep at least 2 licenses available for the users in group ‘Designers’
  • For more information refer to the following article:
    Reserve Licenses on SolidNetWork License Manager for Users or Groups
    Reserving SOLIDWORKS PDM Licenses Overview and Steps
• INCLUDE or EXCLUDE
  • Gives the ability to prevent the usage of a product. INCLUDE would allow only the listed users/computers to use the product. EXCLUDE would prevent access for specific users/computers.
  • E.g. ‘INCLUDE cae_cwpro GROUP SimulationUsers’ would only allow access to Simulation Professional licenses for users in the SimulationUsers group. All other users will not have access.
• TIMEOUT
  • By default, the timeout period of an inactive computer is 2 hours. This can be changed anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours. The values are specified in seconds.
  • E.g. ‘TIMEOUTALL 3600’ has all products returned to the server after one hour of computer inactivity.
  • For more information, refer to the following article:
    SolidNetwork License Manager Options File to Control Timeout Period
• BORROW_LOWWATER, EXCLUDE_BORROW, INCLUDE_BORROW
  • To reduce the chance of users borrowing too many licenses to use off-network or restrict borrow access.
  • E.g. ‘BORROW_LOWWATER solidworks 2’ would prevent borrowing if there are 2 or fewer available licenses of SOLIDWORKS
  • For more information, refer to the following articles:
    How to use SOLIDWORKS Network Licenses Away from the Office
    Borrow SOLIDWORKS Network Licenses
• MAX_BORROW_HOURS
  • The default max borrow time is 30 days. This can be reduced, but not extended past 30 days. The values are specified in hours.
  • E.g. ‘MAX_BORROW_HOURS 360’ would reduce the max borrow time to 15 days.

Example Options File

The following Options File would control the following:

• User name can be Jim or jim, SUE or sue, etc
• A group of users with Jim, Sue, Bob and Jane will always have access to at least two licenses of SOLIDWORKS between them
• A group of computers with names machine1 and machine2 will have two licenses of DraftSight always available
• Only Bob and Jane will have access to Simulation Professional licenses
• If there are 2 or fewer available licenses of SOLIDWORKS, borrow will be prevented
• The maximum borrow time is 15 days
• All products will timeout after 1 hour of computer inactivity (if not borrowed)

List of Product Feature Names

• SOLIDWORKS Standard: solidworks
• SOLIDWORKS Office (legacy): swoffice
• SOLIDWORKS Professional: swofficepro
• SOLIDWORKS Premium: swofficepremium
• SOLIDWORKS Premium with Simulation Premium: swofficepremium_cwadvpro
• SOLIDWORKS Premium with Simulation Professional: swofficepremium_cwpro
• SOLIDWORKS eDrawings Professional: edrw

• SOLIDWORKS Simulation Standard: cae_cwstd
• SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional: cae_cwpro
• SOLIDWORKS Simulation Premium: cae_cwadvpro
• SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation: cae_cosmosfloworkspe
• SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation HVAC Module: cae_cosmosflowork_hvac
• SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation Electronic Cooling: cae_cosmosflowork_elec
• SOLIDWORKS Sustainability: swsustainability
• SOLIDWORKS Plastics Standard: plastics_pro
• SOLIDWORKS Plastics Professional: plastics_premium
• SOLIDWORKS Plastics Premium: plastics_advanced
• SOLIDWORKS Motion: cae_cosmosmotion

• SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional CAD Editor & Web: swepdm_cadeditorandweb
• SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional Contributor & Web: swepdm_contributorandweb
• SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional Processor License: swepdm_processor
• SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional Viewer: swepdm_viewer
• SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard CAD Editor: swpdmstd_cadeditor
• SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard Contributor: swpdmstd_contributor
• SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard Viewer: swpdmstd_viewer

• SOLIDWORKS Manage Professional Contributor: swmanagepro_contributor
• SOLIDWORKS Manage Professional Editor: swmanagepro_editor
• SOLIDWORKS Manage Professional Processor License: swmanagepro_processor
• SOLIDWORKS Manage Professional Viewer: swmanagepro_viewer

• SOLIDWORKS Electrical Schematic Professional: elec2d
• SOLIDWORKS Electrical 3D: elec3d
• SOLIDWORKS Electrical Professional: elecpro

• SOLIDWORKS Composer: swcomposer
• SOLIDWORKS Composer Check: swcomposer_check
• SOLIDWORKS Composer Player Pro: swcomposer_playerpro
• SOLIDWORKS Composer Sync: swcomposer_sync
• SOLIDWORKS Composer Enterprise Sync: swcomposer_syncenterprise

• SOLIDWORKS Inspection Standard: swinspection_std
• SOLIDWORKS Inspection Professional: swinspection_pro
• SOLIDWORKS MBD Standard: swmbd_std

• SOLIDWORKS Visualize Standard: visustd
• SOLIDWORKS Visualize Professional: visupro
• SOLIDWORKS Visualize Boost: visuboost

• SOLIDWORKS CAM Standard: camstd
• SOLIDWORKS CAM Professional: campro

• DraftSight Enterprise: draftsightpremium

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