Borrowing a license remotely via VPN

[WJH1970]

I have a user that is offsite and connecting to our network via vpn connection.  He has been unable to return/borrow a CAD license, and I'm told by our IT security group that folder level access is not permitted via vpn. Of course, my license file is located a couple of folders deep on my CAD server.

To get out of this jam, I was considering temporarily moving my license file to a location that can be seen by the vpn in order for my user to obtain the license he needs, then putting it back so that the rest of my folks don't have problems.

Other than that, I was wondering if any one had any thoughts on how to resolve this.  Just to note, I have several dozen users scattered across 6 locations (hours apart), so making a permanent move with the license file is not my optimal choice.

Thanks,

[DouglasLauritsen]

Direct access to the license file is not necessary with network licensed Autodesk products. The license client in the application and the license server communicate as services. The inability to connect from the client to the server over a WAN or VPN is because of a communication problem. Most likely it is network latency that is preventing the services from establishing communication.

Start by setting FLEXLM_TIMEOUT as a Windows Environment Variable. You will find instructions for this in this Technical Solution:

Error: A valid license could not be obtained by the network license manager

Also make sure that the TCP/IP ports 2080 and 27000 through 27009 are open. These ports and other things known to block the license services are covered in this solution:

Error when network version of software is started: Error [1.5.-12]

You may also find useful information in this solution:

Use AutoCAD across WAN

A borrowed license is bound to the user profile used to borrow it. Make sure this user profile is used when returning the license.

[WJH1970]

Thank you for the resonse.  I found out that this user has some special permissions to the network via vpm due to his cirucumstance, so that ruled out folder level access concerns, which if nothing else, eliminated a variable.

I had bumped the flex timeout  value a while back to address connectivity issues with one of our locations.  This user is getting very quick response when trying to return his license saying that the server cannot be accessed/located.  IT tells me the connection he's on should be very quick, so we are looking at the port and firewall settings.

I feel we are close to resolution, and once we do get it, I'll follow up here with the solution.

[WJH1970]

I got a hold of the error report and ran an inquiry on the error number, 1.5-1.24, and found the following post from Autodesk:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?linkID=9240617&id=10305068&siteID=123112

It looks like we just need to let nature run its course here, and all will return to nomal.  I hate it when I dive into issues like this thinking it's something major only to find out it's probably no big deal.

Hope this helps someone else out at some point.

Bill