Working with Inventor offline - no internet

[robert.hartACVBC]

I use Inventor Pro 2018 for some automated processes on a VMware server and I can't allow the server to connect to the internet. This is currently working fine with 2018 and it doesn't need an internet connection but the latest versions have to register and validate the license, via the internet.

So the latest versions of Inventor and AutoCAD won't work (2021+) as it's impossible to run the software offline and AutoDesk have told me they have also stopped selling offline licenses since Feb 2022.

If there's others out there using AutoDesk products in any kind automated/unattended fashion, how do you license the latest versions without opening up your network to the www?

I also checked with AutoDesk where exactly the internet connection needs to connect, thinking perhaps we could allow a limited connection only to listed addresses, but the answer from AutoDesk was that third-parties are used (i.e a internet domain which is not under the direct control of AutoDesk) for the subscription/registration/licensing validation and among other specific URLs we need to allow access to the whole of AWS!. I can't allow that because of the security risk.

Any suggestions appreciated

[tobias]

I don't if this works but what about using the transfer license utility ?

Install INV on an internet machine, get the license and transfer it to the VM machine.

[mdavis22569 · Accepted solution]

What type of License do you have?

If it's standalone, you can use it offline for up to 30 days.

You want to make sure all of the updates and ADSSO / Licensing Services are all updated and installed. 

I don't see why you can't make exceptions for these:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/What-U...

All licensing software like this has some type of verification.   

[robert.hartACVBC]

Thanks for both your answers.

It looks like AutoDesk has updated that article recently and the URLs I was most concerned about have been removed.

We might be OK making an exception for those.

I agree AutoDesk is not unlike other software and it has to verify license usage and protect it's own interest, but dumping risks on customers to serve those interests?

Several other software including other CAD applications, the vendor provided us (no charge) with alternatives to online licensing and so far AutoDesk is the only one we have which can't.

[mdavis22569]

More and more are working away from Network licensing / flex services etc ... 

I use Adobe .. never an issue so far with having to have it check it on start up.