2008 Licenses on New 2010 License Manager?

[paul.ashley]

We are currently using AutoCAD 2008 but plan on upgrading to 2010 next year. However, we need to run 2010 on several machines for testing and migration of our customization. We run 2008 off that version's license manager.

Given that Autodesk allows subscription customers to use both new and older versions, how do I physically do this? Do I load the 2010 license manager and then load 2008 and 2010 licenses on it?

Note that I myself cannot work on the server but must have IT do the work - and although they installed the current LM a few years ago, they are generally unfamiliar with AutoCAD and have to be given step-by-step instructions.

[TravisNave]

You're on the right track. Essentially, if your 2010 licenses are under Subscription you can also run your 2008 products with the new license file. What you need to do is upgrade the NLM to the 2010 version and get a new license file from Autodesk/Reseller. Once configured, your 2008 applications will still run as expected. But you will also be able to run any installs of 2010. Keep in mind that you will be running the apps from the same license pool, so you cannot exceed your total number of network seats.
For a step-by-step, do this:
1. Get a new license file from Autodesk. 1-800-551-1490.
2. Open your LMTOOLS and stop the service from Start/Stop/Reread
3. Close LMTOOLS and uninstall the NLM
4. Reinstall the new NLM from the 2010 media
5. Open LMTOOLS and go to Config Services tab to use the new license file. Save.
6. Start the service from Start/Stop/Reread

That's really all there is to it. Good luck!

[paul.ashley]

Thanks! That's exactly what I needed to see.

Running the 2010s from the same license pool will be fine since those doing the testing are regular AutoCAD users anyway.

[paul.ashley]

To allow users to keep working during the transition from the 2008 LM to the 2010 LM, is it possible to have users borrow network licenses from the 2008 LM and return them to the 2010 LM?

[brian.cranston]

I think licenses checked out with a 2008 license file can't be checked back into the 2010 license file. Once the borrow time expires they can then grab a new license from the server.

Also when upgrading FlexLM versions, some people shutdown the FlexLM service, copy over the latest versions of ADSKFLEX, LMGRD, LMTOOLS and LMUTIL and then start the service right back up. They usually make a backup of the existing versions in case something goes wrong. It can save quite a bit of time and hassle.

-Brian Cranston

[TravisNave]

Generally, you can set up a new license manager within a short enough period of time that it will not affect users that login. You do not want to borrow licenses then set up a new NLM because they will not be able to return to the upgraded service.
Now, you can usually just copy the four files as described about... however the four files are not extracted on the 2010 media. Therefore it is rather difficult to get the proper files this time around.