Switching from Windows Server to Snow Leopard: How to I change FLexnet

[hugh.weisman]

Hi, I'm switching our small (8 seat) office network from Windows SBS 2003 to Mac Snow Leopard OS-X. Is there a special program to install flexnet on the Mac server? Is it on the installation disk, or better yet, available for download? Anything else I need to know?

[anil_choudhary · Accepted solution]

You can download the latest Network license Manager from http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS13737466

Setting up license server on MAC OSX
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Installation-Licensing/Installing-Maya-2011-with-a-Network-license/m-p...

Cheers.

[hugh.weisman]

Much appreciated although is sounds a little complex, but I'll give it a try. Three questions:

1. Once I get the license server to run, will it automatically run if the server is rebooted?

2. Can I use my existing license text file from windows and edit name as instructed or do I need to ask for a new license?

3. If I'm not mistake, there's an environment variable in the each client's root directory that points to the license file location. Will this be automatically updated, or do I need to manually edit. And if so, what is the format?

thanks, Hugh

wish me luck. switching from an all windows enviorment for an architect trying also to be the IT person is not an easy task. We're looking forward to the day when Autodesk releases Autocad Architecture for Windows.

[anil_choudhary]

- The license server should automatically start.

-  You cannot use the existing license from your windows machine, you will need to request a new license for your Mac.   Contact the ABC team and get a license.
http://en.autodesk.ca/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=9719649&id=9830778

- On each client machine there is license file names LICPATH.lic (c:\Program Files\<Productname>\licpath.lic), Edit this file  and  make sure that this file is pointing to the right license server.

[hugh.weisman]

OK. This is a little off topic but it's driving me nuts. Remember that I'm just a stupid Architect and not a cad manager. We've set up our Mac Mini with Snow Leopard Server on our Windows network. RIght now, it's essentially just a file server as the network is managed (somewhat) by our Windows SBS 2003 server. We still have our flexnet license server and all of our drawing files on the windows server. We also have duplicate copies of our drawing files on the Mac for testing purposes. We haven't yet installed the FlexNEt license manager or requested a new license for the MAC.

Our problem is that DWGs take an inordinate time to load from the MAC. A drawing that loads to a client work station in 6-8 seconds from the windows server takes about 50 seconds from the MAC. The drawing initially appears to load at about the same speed and the image appears in the drawing editor but then autocad stalls with a message regenerating  for about 45 seconds until the command prompt appears. The drawings are not large (approx  500kb). Thinking it's the network, I mapped the Mac server as a drive, and it doesn't help. I tried copy a group of files from the MAC to the client workstation, and they appear to copy over in approx the same time as the same group from the server.

I'm assuming it doesn't matter much where the license server is, but maybe it does. I would obviosly appreciate any help or suggestions. We're stull running Autocad Architecture 2008 and 2009 although we have the 2010 and 2011 updates but haven't installed yet to keep our drawing files compatible with our consultants.

Autocad Architecture is loaded and runs from client PCs. We have about 8 on the network. Drawings are stored and saved to the server.

[anil_choudhary]

The Mac and Linux license servers are supported for Autodesk applications that run on those operating systems. AutoCAD is not supported with a license server running on Mac and Linux. I apologize that Initially  assumed that you might be using Maya. Here is the link for System Requirements for the Network License Manager to run  AutoCAD and other Autodesk products that run on windows. http://docs.autodesk.com/ACD/2011/ENU/filesLIC/WS1a9193826455f5ff-3859b43c1209703a838-46e0.htm

[hugh.weisman]

Oh great. Now I find out. I was pretty sure that I had determined that there was a Snow Leopard network license manager available for autocad architecture before we purchased a new Mac server. Guess i was wrong

[hugh.weisman]

1. Any chance that A-Arch can access a license pasted into a license file set up for MAYA on a OSX server?

2. In a month or two. Autocad for MAC will be released. If there's a network version, it will presumably work with a license manager on a MAC OS-X server. Will the new license manger work in a mixed autocad enviorment with both PCs and Macs?