SolidNetWork License (SNL) Manager Troubleshooting

When you are SolidNetWork License (SNL) Manager Troubleshooting there are a few steps that you have to take in order to investigate the problem. In this post I have outlined the steps in the recommended order, starting with the Server and then the Client:

Server side

You have to make sure that your version of SNL Manager on the server is the same as the latest version of SOLIDWORKS you have installed on your client machines. So if SOLIDWORKS 2012, 2014, and 2015 is installed on the client machines, then you have to install SNL Manager 2015 on your server.

Is there a Firewall on your server?

If you have firewall on your server you need to check ‘A firewall is in use on this server’ option in the SNL Manager is checked off. To do that you need to follow these steps:

1. Start SolidNetWork License Manager (Start > Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SolidNetWork License Manager > SolidNetWork License Manager).
2. On the Server Administration tab, under License Server, click Stop. (Click Yes when prompted for confirmation and OK to complete stopping the license server.)
3. Under License Information, click Modify.
4. Under Server Type, select the server arrangement for your network (Single or Triad) and then click Next.
5. Under Server Information: Select “A firewall is in use on this server“

Then you will need to add the exceptions rules to your firewall (on your server and client machines) to let the server and client machines be able to communicate with each other. You also need to add the lmgrd.exe and sw_d.exe programs to the firewall exception list to prevent firewall from interfering with these programs. They are stored in the SNL Manager installation folder.

Below are the steps to open the required ports in the firewall, for the most popular operating systems:

Microsoft Windows Server 2008:

1. Select Start > Control Panel > Security and System  > Windows Firewall
2. In the left pane, select “Advance settings” link
3. Select the “Inbound Rules” and right-click to choose “New Rule”
4. Select “Port” and click on the “Next” button
5. Make sure “TCP” is selected, type in port 25734 for the “Specific local port” field and click on the “Next” button
6. Select “Allow the connection” (which should be the default selection) and click on the “Next” button
7. Select the desired Profile to apply the exception (select all the profiles if unsure)
8. Enter a name for the rule and click on the “Finish” button
9. Repeat Steps 3 through 8 for Ports 25735.

Microsoft Windows 7:

1. Launch the Control Panel
2. Select System and Security
3. Click on the Windows Firewall link
4. Click on the Advanced Settings link in the right pane
5. Click on the Inbound Rules and select New Rule
6. Select Port and click on Next
7. Type in the port 25734, 25735 in the Specified remote port field, choose TCP, and then Next
8. Click on the Allow the Connection option and select the desired profiles
9. Click next and type in the name for the rule.
10. Next reactivate your license as explained in this blog post

Has the SNL Manager started & are licenses available?

Before moving to the client machines make sure that the SNL Manager is started, and check the “License Usage” tab to make sure there are available licenses. After all if the SNL Manager can’t see the licenses there is nothing available to distribute to the client machines.

Client Side

On the client side click Start > Programs > SOLIDWORKS [year] > SOLIDWORKS Tools > SolidNetwork License Administrator.

Are licenses available?

Check the “License Usage” tab there to see if SOLIDWORKS acknowledges the fact there are free licenses.

If there are no free licenses first go to Server List tab and make sure that the name of the server and port number is entered right. The format should be 25734@server_name

If the name and port number is right check the TCP/IP connectivity between the client and server. There are two tests that must be run to verify this.

• First, open a command prompt by going to Start>All Programs>Accessories>Command Prompt and perform the following:
  • Type “ping <server_name>” without quotes (example: ping Machine24). The IP address can be substituted for the server name if necessary.
  • A message must be received informing that the ping is successful (Read the ping statistics; Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0%)).
• Next test you need to perform is the Telnet test. To perform a Telnet Test, the Telnet Client needs to be turned on. Learn how to perform a Telnet test.

Both of these tests must pass. If either one or both fail, then there is no sufficient TCP/IP connectivity between the client and the server for the SolidNetWork License Environment to function correctly.

Is the registry key correct?

If both of the tests pass and you are still having problems checking out the license from the server, the next step is to review the license manager registry key to make sure the server name is entered correctly:

1. From the Windows Start menu, select Run and type regedit:
2. In the Registry Editor find these keys:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\FLEXlm License Manager
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\FLEXlm License Manager
3. Double-click on the string SW_D_LICENSE_FILE and make sure the server name is right. Otherwise, overwrite the server name (25734@server_name).

Still having problems?

At this point if you still have a problem obtaining a license you will need to contact your SOLIDWORKS VAR Support for help.

The post SolidNetWork License (SNL) Manager Troubleshooting appeared first on SOLIDWORKS Tech Tips, Videos & Tutorials from Javelin.