How to Move the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager to a New Server
Migrating SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager (SNL) to a new server may sound intimidating at first, especially when the move affects all your SOLIDWORKS users. This guide provides detailed steps to move the SNL to a new server as well as redirect the clients to connect to the new server with minimal downtime.
Overview of the Process
- Configure the NEW server port rules
- Install SolidNetWork License Manager on the NEW server
- Add the NEW server to each client SNL server list
- Add the NEW server to the PDM Administration tool (if using PDM)
- Deactivate/Transfer the licenses from the OLD SNL server
- Activate the license on the NEW SNL server
- Remove the OLD server from each client SNL server list
- Remove the OLD server from the PDM Administration tool (if using PDM)
- Uninstall SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager from the OLD server
Video instructions of this procedure can also be found on our Youtube channel
Server Move Process
Step #1: Configure the New Server Ports
If a firewall is in place on the new server, verify the required ports the SNL uses for communication are added to the inbound and outbound exception rules. The default installation requires TCP ports 25734 and 25735 to communicate between the SNL server and clients.
Follow this link for instructions on adding Windows Firewall Exceptions for SOLIDWORKS Network-Based Products
Step #2: Install SolidNetWork License Manager on the New Server
Using the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager from the Downloads and Updates section of the SOLIDWORKS Customer Portal, click the Server products radio button to expand the category and then check to Install SolidNetWork License Manager (distributed licensing) on this computer.
CRITICAL! >> DO NOT ACTIVATE THE NEW LICENSE MANAGER AT THIS STEP <<
Detailed instructions to install SolidNetWork License Manager
DO NOT FOLLOW THE ACTIVATION STEPS AT THIS TIME!
Step #3: Add the NEW Server to the Client SNL Server List
On each client computer, open the SolidNetWork License Manager Client 20XX application. Click on the Server List tab and then click the Add button to add the port number and server name using format 25734@server name. The default port is 25734.
A warning message will display ‘The license server is not reachable’. This is correct since the license has not yet been activated and the SNL service is not running on the new server. Click Yes on the message to add the server anyway.
The old and new server will now be listed. Repeat the process for all client computers.
Admin option to update registry keys
If your organization has many users with many SNL client computers to update, the following two Windows registry keys can be exported from a computer updated using the instructions in Step #3 and the imported to all other client computers.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINIE\Software\FLEXlm License Manager
and
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\FlexLM License Manager
Step #4: Add the new server to the PDM Administration Tool (if applicable)
If you are not using SOLIDWORKS PDM, skip to Step #5
Open the PDM Administration tool and log into the vault as the admin user. Double-click License to open the Set License dialog. Click on the Server List tab and then click the Add button to add the port number and server name using format 25734@server name
A warning message will display ‘The license server is not reachable’. This is correct since the license has not yet been activated and the SNL service is not running on the new server. Click Yes on the message to add the server anyway.
The OLD and NEW server will now be listed. Click OK to close the dialog.
A warning message displays indicating the SOLIDWORKS PDM License Server has been changed and clients must exit SOLIDWORKS PDM and log in again to use the new license server. Click OK to close the warning.
Note Before Continuing
Once the client computers and SOLIDWORKS PDM administration tool have ALL been updated so they are displaying the old and new server on the Server List tab, you can proceed with the license transfer. This process should only take 5-10 minutes to complete. During the transfer, users currently consuming a network license will continue to work without interruption for approximately 1-hour. After 1-hour, at which time users will receive a warning that the license manager is down and that they have 20-minutes to save their work.
This should provide adequate time to perform the transfer without any interruption, though we recommend performing the process at a time of user inactivity and to have MLC CAD Systems technical support number on hand just in case any unexpected behavior is experienced. Submit a technical support case
After Step #5, any user who attempts to launch SOLIDWORKS will receive a message that a license is not available until Step #6 is completed.
Step #5: Deactivate/Transfer the License from the OLD SERVER
On the OLD server that will no longer be used for SOLIDWORKS licensing, launch the SolidNetWork License Manager Server 20XX application. On the Server Administration tab, click the Modify… button. In the SOLIDWORKS Product Activation dialog, select the option Move your product license(s) to a new/upgraded computer and then click Next. Follow the prompts to complete the transfer. Now the licenses can be activated on the new server.
Step #6: Activate the Licenses on the NEW SERVER
On the NEW server, launch the SolidNetWork License Manager 20XX application. On the Server Administration tab, click the Modify… button. In the SOLIDWORKS Product Activation dialog, select the option Activate/Reactivate your product license(s). Follow the prompts to complete the activation. Detailed instructions can be found on page 4 of the SolidNetwork License Manager Installation Guide
Step #7: Remove the OLD SERVER from each Client SNL Server List
On each client computer, open the SolidNetWork License Manager Client 20XX application. Click on the Server List tab and then select the OLD SERVER name to highlight it in the list. Click the Remove… button and then Yes when prompted to remove the selected item(s). The old server will no longer be listed. Repeat the process for all client computers.
Admin option to update registry keys
If your organization has many users with many SNL client computers to update, the following two Windows registry keys can be exported from a computer updated using the instructions in Step #7 and the imported to all other client computers.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINIE\Software\FLEXlm License Manager
and
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\FlexLM License Manager
Step #8: Remove the OLD SERVER from the PDM Administration License
If you are not using SOLIDWORKS PDM, skip to Step #9
Open the PDM Administration tool and log into the vault as the admin user. Double-click License to open the Set License dialog. Click on the Server List tab and then Click the Remove button followed by clicking Yes when prompted to remove the selected item(s).
The old server will no longer be listed.
Step #9: Uninstall SolidNetWork License Manager Server from the OLD SERVER
Once you are satisfied the above steps have been followed and confirmed client users can connect and access SOLIDWORKS licenses on the NEW SERVER, then you can uninstall the SNL from the OLD SERVER. You may consider waiting a day or two to confirm there is no unexpected behavior with the NEW SERVER before uninstalling SNL from the OLD SERVER.
In Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, locate SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager and chose to Uninstall the application. Follow the prompts to complete the uninstall process.
If you receive any errors or have any questions regarding this process, please submit a support request to MLC CAD Systems using this form or by calling our SOLIDWORKS support line 800-364-1652 x2.