Managing the adskflex.opt Options File

TravisNave
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Managing the adskflex.opt Options File

TravisNave
Mentor
Mentor

Issue:  You want to configure different licensing options for different user groups and networked licensed products using your Autodesk Network License Manager.

 

Solution: There is a way to manually configure the Autodesk Network License Manager to use different configurations for each license type, user, group, etc.  You need to create an Options file as instructed in the License Administration Guide.  Your options file should be created in a plain text editor like Notepad and must be named adskflex.opt.  Please ensure that file extensions are enabled so that you do not have a hidden .txt file extension appended to your filename.  Furthermore, the adskflex.opt options file must be saved in the same location as your Autodesk .lic license file.  To activate the options file, you need to reread the license from the Start/Stop/Reread tab of LMTOOLS.  You can then use your debug.log file to verify that the options are working properly.

 

Additional information about the adskflex.opt Options File can be found here:

 

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=7459915&linkID=9240617

 

 

Creating and Implementing the adskflex.opt Options File

 

1.  To create an options file, simply open a plain text editor like Notepad and type the options that you wish to implement.

 

adskflex.JPG

 

2.  Make sure you then save the file as adskflex.opt and in the same location as your Autodesk *.lic file.  You will want to pull down the save type box to all files so that it will not save with a .txt extension.  Make sure file extensions are enabled to determine if a .txt has been appended. If so, simply rename the file as appropriate. 

 

saveas.JPG

 

3.  Open LMTOOLS and go to the Start/Stop/Reread tab and choose ReRead License File.  This will enable the options file that you just saved. 

 

reread.JPG

 

4.  You can verify that the options file is active by viewing the debug.log file.  You can do this from the Config Services tab in LMTOOLS by clicking View Log... or by opening the debug.log file in Notepad from the path specified on the Config Services tab.  You should see log entries for each successful option that you created.  Entries should look similar to the following:

 

16:52:45 (adskflex) Using options file: "C:\Program Files\Autodesk Network License Manager\License\adskflex.opt"
16:52:45 (adskflex) ALL FEATURES: INACTIVITY TIMEOUT set to 900 seconds
16:52:45 (adskflex) Max borrow interval for feature, 64300ACD_F , set to 48 hours
16:52:45 (adskflex) RESERVING 1 64300ACD_F  license for USER_GROUP Admins
16:52:45 (adskflex) MAX 1 USER_GROUP Users for 64300ACD_F
16:52:45 (adskflex) INCLUDE USER_GROUP Admins 64300ACD_F
16:52:45 (adskflex) Report log started (+C:\Program Files\Autodesk Network License Manager\report.rl).

 

You can use the adskflex.opt options file to split licenses into different groups, reserve licenses for power users, or limit the amount and time licenses can be borrowed.  For details on each available option, please see the License Administration Guide in the documentation of your Autodesk Network License Manager or from the Autodesk KB link provided above. 

 

Feature codes for each of your licensed products can be found within the PACKAGE and INCREMENT lines of the .lic license file provided by Autodesk.  A list of Autodesk 2012 feature codes can be found here:

 

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=17288427&linkID=9243099

 

For your convenience I am attaching a ready-made adskflex.opt options file that includes all of the available compatible options for the Autodesk Network License Manager along with commented descriptions and examples. You can use this file as a starting point to create your own customizations.  Please unzip the file and edit with Notepad. 

 

Good Luck!

 



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TravisNave
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I was actually thinking more like this:

 

GROUPCASEINSENSITIVE ON
GROUP Machine_Shop user1 user2 user3
GROUP Manufacturing user4
RESERVE 2 86393INVHSM_F GROUP Machine_Shop
RESERVE 1 86249FDSPRM_2015_0F GROUP Manufacturing

 

If you were just going to call USER user4 in the RESERVE, then you don't need the GROUP Manufacturing at all.  See what I mean?



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Anonymous
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Thank you Travis. I am trying it now.

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Anonymous
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Hi Travis,

 

I am wondering if there is a way to timeout all the licenses but the ones reserved to specific computers.  If not I was wondering if you could explain the implications of having a reserved license retrieved due to idle time and then sent back to the computer, would it "freeze" the work in progress until the license is retrieved.  Any clarifying with this will help.

 

Thanks

 

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TravisNave
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If a license is reserved, it is basically already exempt from timeout. If a
reserved user was idle they would immediately obtain their license upon
activity. You have nothing to worry about. Even without a reserved license,
an idle return will never make the user lose work. It will just prompt for
a save then exit. Hope that helps.


Travis Nave Send TravisNave a Private Message                                             Need help in your post? Mention me with @TravisNave



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Anonymous
Not applicable

Awesome that clarifies things, thanks for your help

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Anonymous
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I have a couple of users that has been able to borrow a license that I would like them to not have access to.  I thought I had the Options file built correctly to only allow a GROUP to access these licenses.  It's obviously not working but I'm unsure as to why.

 

Below is my partial license file.....and the options file.

 

What am I missing?

 

Thanks

 

 

"LICENSE.LIC File"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SERVER "Server Name" "MAC Address"
USE_SERVER
VENDOR adskflex port=2080
PACKAGE 85788BDSADV_F adskflex 1.000 COMPONENTS="86245BDSADV_2015_0F \
 86073BDSADV_2014_0F 85948BDSADV_2013_0F 85788BDSADV_2012_0F \
 85778RSAPRO_2012_0F 85882INFMDR_2012_0F 85730ACD_2012_0F" \
 OPTIONS=SUITE SUPERSEDE ISSUED=02-Jul-2014 SIGN="130B 0F78 \
 C943 4997 6B00 BD47 A549 3AC7 BA2C F613 51C3 4A0E F821 D5A5 \
 349F 1346 66AD 05A6 4A1B 4BF7 DF02 07AB 2336 57D5 66C6 3D2A \
 5634 596D 454C 72E6" SIGN2="0540 A603 9962 1B86 18E0 4DDA 3A15 \
 C7B3 7D9F 1716 7FBD BCCA D37B 89AC A0E7 0180 5844 837C 2789 \
 4E33 E9E0 D4EC 1513 8456 1542 4757 B310 6051 E52F 812E"
INCREMENT 85788BDSADV_F adskflex 1.000 permanent 1 \
 VENDOR_STRING=commercial:permanent SUPERSEDE DUP_GROUP=UH \
 SUITE_DUP_GROUP=UHV ISSUED=02-Jul-2014 BORROW=4320 \
 SN=395-12425706 SIGN="1B7C ADDC 9FFA 2E84 9F4D 4455 9EFE 7D8F \
 E853 50A3 553C 8CE3 D934 71DF 56F2 0F36 CA05 47AA 3DE4 186D \
 1047 B371 5664 2E21 ADA0 1B9B 3A59 8BD3 2861 A88C" SIGN2="11DB \
 6DCC C504 C4AB 8269 57B5 9AC9 32D0 6F2A 6CFC 150A 49DA CE12 \
 BE67 7728 1183 34F4 D36C 9FD5 C355 9269 FB84 3D9A EFBC 6A62 \
 D718 0F4F 9AC3 C310 9B76"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

"ADSKFLEX.OPT File"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIMEOUTALL 900

REPORTLOG +"C:\Program Files\Autodesk Network License Manager\report.rl"

GROUPCASEINSENSITIVE ON

# Defines groups of usernames.
GROUP BIMmers mjensen jwills cschuenemann mstohl kgahagan

INCLUDE 85788BDSADV_F GROUP BIMmers
INCLUDE 85730ACD_2012_0F GROUP BIMmers
INCLUDE 86073BDSADV_2014_0F GROUP BIMmers
INCLUDE 85788BDSADV_2012_0F GROUP BIMmers
INCLUDE 85778RSAPRO_2012_0F GROUP BIMmers
INCLUDE 85882INFMDR_2012_0F GROUP BIMmers

# Limits maximum duration in 24-hour increments for borrowing licenses.
MAX_BORROW_HOURS 85730ACD_2012_0F 72

RESERVE 1 85788BDSADV_F GROUP BIMmers
RESERVE 1 86245BDSADV_2015_0F GROUP BIMmers
RESERVE 1 86073BDSADV_2014_0F GROUP BIMmers
RESERVE 1 85948BDSADV_2013_0F GROUP BIMmers
RESERVE 1 85788BDSADV_2012_0F GROUP BIMmers
RESERVE 1 85778RSAPRO_2012_0F GROUP BIMmers
RESERVE 1 85882INFMDR_2012_0F GROUP BIMmers
RESERVE 1 85730ACD_2012_0F GROUP BIMmers
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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TravisNave
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Do you have a debug.log portion that shows them checking out a license?

Also does your debug.log validate that the options file is being used?


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Anonymous
Not applicable

Attached is a copy of our log file. The user that has been able to check out that license is “msipiorski@C1281”. Not sure what you’re looking for so you may need to search for his name.

Matt doesn’t have the Building Design Suite installed……..he’s getting the license through a normal AutoCAD license request.

 

I forced a reread of the license file earlier this morning to validate the options file. Towards the bottom of the attached log file, I’ve separated that reread information by adding blank lines above and below to make it easier to locate.

 

Thanks

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TravisNave
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On the reread, I see the options file getting put into place.  Before that, I do not.  I do see the user msipiorski with an AutoCAD license before the reread, but not after.  Perhaps we need to revisit this after a full business day to see if the user is getting denied.



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Anonymous
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Does stop/start of the server in the LMTOOLS re-read the options file?.....or does it have to be done by re-reading the license file?

 

What about stopping and restarting the service from windows services?

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TravisNave
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Stop/Start or Reread should all force the options file to go into effect.
Keep an eye on it today and see if you still have issues.


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Anonymous
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Hi Mjensen

 

At the risk of sounding silly, I'd suggest also trying:

INCLUDE_BORROW 85788BDSADV_F GROUP BIMmers

 

This should also prevent users from outside that group from borrowing licenses

(which is what you had reported initially)

 

Best Regards,

Ori Kaplan

OpenLM License Management

 

jagostinho74
Collaborator
Collaborator

Great post, thank you.

 

Can ReRead be performed during working hours? Our is there some caution needed when to do it?

 

Thanks.

J

Assistant BIM/CAD Manager

Manchester, UK


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TravisNave
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You can do it anytime. It won't affect users. In fact, you can usually
full on stop and start the server without the clients even knowing it
happened.


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Anonymous
Not applicable

I'm using your template which i've put in the same directory as the license file but it dosesn't seem to read it.

here's the log

 

10:12:20 (lmgrd) Rereading license file... Requested from cbooth@lic4
10:12:20 (adskflex) Rereading license file...
10:12:20 (lmgrd) Done rereading
10:12:20 (lmgrd) ...Finished rereading
10:12:20 (adskflex) Warning: 85537MAYAMMR1_F expires 14-feb-2016
10:12:20 (adskflex) Warning: 85860TRTLPB_F expires 14-feb-2016
10:12:20 (adskflex) Warning: 85527MAYA_F expires 14-feb-2016
10:12:20 (adskflex) Warning: 86437MAYA_2016_0F expires 14-feb-2016
10:12:20 (adskflex) Warning: 86213MAYA_2015_0F expires 14-feb-2016
10:12:20 (adskflex) Warning: 86058MAYA_2014_0F expires 14-feb-2016
10:12:20 (adskflex) Warning: 85857MAYA_2013_0F expires 14-feb-2016
10:12:20 (adskflex) Warning: 86437TRTLPB_2016_0F expires 14-feb-2016
10:12:20 (adskflex) Warning: 86214TRTLPB_2015_0F expires 14-feb-2016
10:12:20 (adskflex) Warning: 86095TRTLPB_2014_0F expires 14-feb-2016
10:12:20 (adskflex) Warning: 86043TRTLPB_2013_0F expires 14-feb-2016
10:12:20 (adskflex) Warning: 86437MAYAMMR1_2016_0F expires 14-feb-2016
10:12:20 (adskflex) Warning: 86213MAYAMMR1_2015_0F expires 14-feb-2016
10:12:20 (adskflex) Warning: 86058MAYAMMR1_2014_0F expires 14-feb-2016
10:12:21 (adskflex) Warning: 85857MAYAMMR1_2013_0F expires 14-feb-2016
10:12:21 (adskflex) Server started on Lic4 for:    
10:12:21 (adskflex) 85537MAYAMMR1_F (consisting of:        86437MAYAMMR1_2016_0F
10:12:21 (adskflex) 86213MAYAMMR1_2015_0F 86058MAYAMMR1_2014_0F 85857MAYAMMR1_2013_0F)
10:12:21 (adskflex) 85860TRTLPB_F (consisting of:        86437TRTLPB_2016_0F
10:12:21 (adskflex) 86214TRTLPB_2015_0F 86095TRTLPB_2014_0F 86043TRTLPB_2013_0F)
10:12:21 (adskflex) 85527MAYA_F (consisting of:        86437MAYA_2016_0F
10:12:21 (adskflex) 86213MAYA_2015_0F 86058MAYA_2014_0F 85857MAYA_2013_0F)
10:12:21 (adskflex) Updating feature 85537MAYAMMR1_F
10:12:21 (adskflex) Updating feature 85860TRTLPB_F
10:12:21 (adskflex) Updating feature 85527MAYA_F
10:12:21 (adskflex) Updating feature 86437MAYA_2016_0F
10:12:21 (adskflex) Updating feature 86213MAYA_2015_0F
10:12:21 (adskflex) Updating feature 86058MAYA_2014_0F
10:12:21 (adskflex) Updating feature 85857MAYA_2013_0F
10:12:21 (adskflex) Updating feature 86437TRTLPB_2016_0F
10:12:21 (adskflex) Updating feature 86214TRTLPB_2015_0F
10:12:21 (adskflex) Updating feature 86095TRTLPB_2014_0F
10:12:21 (adskflex) Updating feature 86043TRTLPB_2013_0F
10:12:21 (adskflex) Updating feature 86437MAYAMMR1_2016_0F
10:12:21 (adskflex) Updating feature 86213MAYAMMR1_2015_0F
10:12:21 (adskflex) Updating feature 86058MAYAMMR1_2014_0F
10:12:21 (adskflex) Updating feature 85857MAYAMMR1_2013_0F
10:12:21 (adskflex) Rereading options file...
10:12:21 (adskflex) (@adskflex-SLOG@) ===============================================
10:12:21 (adskflex) (@adskflex-SLOG@) === Reread Info ===
10:12:21 (adskflex) (@adskflex-SLOG@) Reread time: Wed Feb 10 2016 10:12:21 GMT Standard Time
10:12:21 (adskflex) (@adskflex-SLOG@) Number of rereads since vendor daemon startup: 10
10:12:21 (adskflex) (@adskflex-SLOG@) Reread mechanism: Manual
10:12:21 (adskflex) (@adskflex-SLOG@) Is TS accessed: No
10:12:21 (adskflex) (@adskflex-SLOG@) TS accessed for feature load: -NA-
10:12:21 (adskflex) (@adskflex-SLOG@) Daemon select timeout (in seconds): 1
10:12:21 (adskflex) (@adskflex-SLOG@) Options file used: None
10:12:21 (adskflex) (@adskflex-SLOG@) License file(s) used:  C:\Program Files\Autodesk Network License Manager\MAYA_2015_0_F.LIC
10:12:21 (adskflex) (@adskflex-SLOG@) ===============================================
10:12:21 (adskflex) ...Finished rereading

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Anonymous
Not applicable

Copying from Flexera's spec:

 

To create an options file:

1. Use the appropriate options listed in Options File Syntax to create the options file for a vendor daemon using

any text editor.

2. Locate the options file anywhere; however, it is recommended that the options file be placed in the same

directory as the license file.

3. Add the path to the options file in the license file as the fourth field on the VENDOR line for the application’s

vendor daemon. For example:

VENDOR sampled /etc/sampled \

[options=]/sample_app/sampled/licenses/sampled.opt

enables the sampled vendor daemon to look at the specified options file.

 

 

So - I would check:

1. Did you name it adskflex.opt (not adskflex.opt.txt) ?

2. Did you put it here: C:\Program Files\Autodesk Network License Manager\   ?

3. Do you have another options file path stated in your license file's VENDOR line ?

4. Try to Stop + Start your license server (at your discretion) rather than rereading.

For some odd reason I find that sometimes 'Reread' does not take effect, while stop+start does. 

 

All the best 

Ori Kaplan

OpenLM License Management 

 

 

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Anonymous
Not applicable

I got it working by stopping and restarting the service rather than just 'rereading' it.

 

is there a log or way for me to see when it taking a license back becuase of inactivity (which is the feature i'm using)

i'd like to see how effective it's being.

 

 

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Anonymous
Not applicable

Hi Chris.

Glad to know I could help. I never really understood this quirk.

 

I assume you're using TIMEOUT or TIMEOUTALL to retrieve idle Autodesk licenses.

I think the respective debug log entry you're looking for is 'INACTIVE', as in this example:

13:40:23 (adskflex) IN: "64400AMECH_PP_F" USER@WORKSTATION  (INACTIVE)

 

Please note that the minimal idle time value is set by the vendor, so you could only increase it.

Vendors usually set this value in the range of hours, rendering this capability redundant altogether.

 

Now I admit I am not impartial, but the company I work for has solved this - so I feel free to promote this as an answer.

We monitor idle Autodesk processes, and actively save and close idle sessions with more reasonable, configurable thresholds.

We also integrate this with Options file maintenance, to complement your previous question.

 

Please feel free to contact our people offline.

 

All the best,

Ori Kaplan

OpenLM License Management

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TravisNave
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@Anonymous,

 

Thanks for providing assistance for other users on this thread. 

 

Keep in mind, however, that I use this thread as a knowledge base to help many other users.  Please extend professional courtesy and do not commercialize this thread for your own personal gain.  There is a forum for classifieds provided here

 

Thanks again.



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Anonymous
Not applicable

Hi Travis.

Thank you for your remark.

I apologise if this seemed like commercializing, although I tried to be as sensitive and correct as possible.

I will be more cautious in the future.

Ori.