Document 450

Message: Cannot connect to license server

Version: 4.x & 5.x - Scientific WorkPlace, Scientific Word, & Scientific Notebook

Problem

When you start SWP, SW, or SNB you get this message:

Cannot connect to license server

You may also see

error -97 or error -96

You then can only use the program in viewer mode.

Explanation

FLEXlm is our licensing software. This error occurs when another program on your computer is also licensed using FLEXlm. (Such programs include IDL, MATLAB, and Maple.) The FLEXlm manager points either to the license for the other program or to the license server itself.

Solution

In Windows, pointers to licenses can be stored in Environment Variables. The default environment variable for FLEXlm is LM_LICENSE_FILE. An environment variable may also be set for each individual program that uses FLEXlm. The problem can be solved by modifying the default environment variable or by creating new environment variables for each program. Some customers find that one of the solutions below works for them when the other doesn't. If you try one solution and it fails, then try the other.

Solution A: Point to a list of license files instead of just one

If you modify the environment variable to point to a list of license files or license server locations, each application will query the list until it finds an appropriate and valid license.

  1. Using Windows XP, start the System applet from the Control Panel.

  2. In the System Properties dialog, select the Advanced tab and then choose the Environment Variables button.

    Lists of user variables and system variables display. The LM_LICENSE_FILE environment variable can be in either list, depending on your system configuration.

  3. Select the LM_LICENSE_FILE environment variable and then choose the Edit button.

    The dialog that appears shows the variable name and variable value. An example value might be:
    1700@flexserver

  4. Update the variable value.

    1. Place the insertion point at the beginning of the Variable value entry.

    2. Enter the path to the SWP license file and then enter a semicolon and a space.

      For example, if you have installed Scientific WorkPlace in the directory c:\swp55, the complete path to the SWP license file is c:\swp55\Licenses\license.lic

    The previous license pointer will remain. The completed entry should look something like this:

    c:\swp55\Licenses\license.lic; 1700@flexserver
    A space after each semicolon in the variable value is required.

  5. Choose OK to accept the entry and close the dialogs.

Solution B: Create an Environment Variables entry for each license file

  1. When using Windows XP, start the System applet from the Control Panel.

  2. In the System Properties dialog, select the Advanced tab and then choose the Environment Variables button.

    The system displays lists of user and system variables. The LM_LICENSE_FILE environment variable can be in either list, depending on your system configuration.

  3. Select the LM_LICENSE_FILE environment variable and then choose the Edit button.

  4. In the Variable name area, change the name of the LM_LICENSE_FILE environment variable to a name specific to the product you are using.

    Known variable names are:
    MAPLELMG_LICENSE_FILE for Maple (Maplesoft)
    MLM_LICENSE_FILE for MATLAB (The MathWorks, Inc.)
    ATECHLM_LICENSE_FILE for GAUSS (Aptech Systems, Inc.)
    IDL_LMGRD_LICENSE_FILE for IDL (RSI)
    ENGSWD_LICENSE_FILE for iSight (Engineous Software)
    If more than one license point is included in the environment variable, you must create new environment variables for each additional program that uses FLEXlm.

  5. Choose OK to accept the entry and close the dialogs.

You should now be able to start the program and have it find the license in its default location. However, you may still need to add a new environment variable:

  1. Using Windows XP, start the System applet from the Control Panel.

  2. In the System Properties dialog, select the Advanced tab and then choose the Environment Variables button.

  3. In the System Variables area of Environment Variables, choose New.

  4. In the Variable name area, enter MACKICHN_LICENSE_FILE
    MACKICHN is the MacKichan Software vendor daemon.

  5. In the Variable value area, enter the path to your MacKichan license file, such as C:\swp55\Licenses\license.lic

  6. Choose OK to accept the entry and close the dialogs.

See also

Last Revised 12/04/2009

This document was created with Scientific WorkPlace.