Installing distributed server model

Issue

You are setting up the network license manager for Autodesk software, and you need to know how to install the distributed server model.

Description

In the distributed server model, available licenses are divided (distributed) among more than one license server. The client computers are then pointed to the license server using the environment variable ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE. When the environment variable is set, the client computer automatically attempts to obtain a license from the second license server when the first license server has no more licenses available or if the first server is unavailable. In order for a client computer to be able to request a license from more than one server, you must set the environment variable.

Note: If the licpath.lic file and the ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE environment variable are both used, the environment variable takes priority.

The following process is used to implement distributed license servers:

1. Install and authorize the license servers in the same manner as for a single license server.
   For information about installing and authorizing a single license server, see the related solution, TS1070000.
   
   Note: Each server must be individually authorized.
   
2. Set the ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE environment variable (the procedure varies depending on the operating system).

Note: If you selected the Distributed Servers option in the Autodesk Deployment wizard when creating the deployment, then this variable was set automatically on client computers during installation.

To set the environment variable

Use the procedure described for your operating system to set the environment variable:

For Windows Vista: 

1. Right-click Computer and click Properties, or, in the Control Panel select System and Maintenance > System
2. Click Advanced system settings and select the Advanced tab.
3. Click Environment Variables.
4. In the Environment Variables dialog box, under System Variables, click New.
5. In the New System Variable dialog box, enter ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE in the Variable Name field.
6. In the Variable Value field, enter an at sign (@) followed by the host name of each license server to which you want to point the client. Separate each server name with a semicolon (;). For example:
   
   @server1;@server2;@server3
7. Click OK in each dialog box to close all open dialog boxes.

For Windows® XP Professional

1. In Control Panel, double-click Performance and Maintenance.
2. Click System.
3. On the Advanced tab, click Environment Variables.
4. Under System Variables, click New.
5. Enter the new environment variable name, ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE.
6. In the Variable Value field, enter an at sign (@) followed by the host name of each license server to which you want to point the client. Use a semicolon (;) to separate each server name. For example:
   
   @server1;@server2;@server3
7. Click OK to close each dialog box.

For Windows 2000:

1. Right-click My Computer. Click Properties, or double-click System in Control Panel.
2. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Advanced tab.
3. Click Environment Variables.
4. In the Environment Variables dialog box, under System Variables, click New.
5. In the New System Variable dialog box, enter ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE in the Variable Name field.
6. In the Variable Value field, enter an at sign (@) followed by the host name of each license server to which you want to point the client. Separate each server name with a semicolon (;). For example:
   
   @server1;@server2;@server3
7. Click OK in each dialog box to close all open dialog boxes.