Use of licpath.lic file and ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE environment variable on same computer

Issue

When a client machine uses both the licpath.lic file and the environment variable ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE to point to the license server, you want to know which takes precedence.

Solution

When a client machine starts a network version of an Autodesk® software product that uses the FLEXlm® based version of the Autodesk® License Manager (AdLM), it first reads the environment variable ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE to determine where to look for its network license. If the servers specified by ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE are not available, or are out of licenses, the client reads the following subkey in the Windows® registry to determine where to look next:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\FLEXlm License Manager\ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE

If no available licenses are found at the server specified in the registry subkey, or this registry subkey does not exist, the client reads the licpath.lic file located in the root install folder to determine where to find its network license. If no available licenses are found there, the License Finder dialog box is displayed.

Some systems may be configured to use the LM_LICENSE_FILE variable to point client machines to the license server. Autodesk does not recommend using this variable to point to servers for Autodesk products. Improved and more consistent performance will be realized by using the ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE variable.

Note: If the licpath.lic file exists, the MAC address field in the licpath.lic file must be exactly 12 hexadecimal characters. If this is not the case, the License Finder dialog box is displayed each time the AutoCAD® software is started, even if the system variable ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE is correctly implemented.

Examples:

• When ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE, the registry, and licpath.lic are used, the order of precedence is:
  
  1. ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE
  2. registry
  3. licpath.lic
  4. License Finder dialog box is displayed

• When ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE, LM_LICENSE_FILE, the registry, and licpath.lic are used, the order of precedence is:

1. ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE
2. registry
3. LM_LICENSE_FILE
4. licpath.lic
5. License Finder dialog box is displayed

See also

Installing distributed server model
Single server network license manager quick start guide
Network License Finder dialog box is always displayed at startup
FLEXlm License Finder dialog box displayed at startup