Description

Thermal Desktop runs inside AutoCAD, and the AutoCAD license included with Thermal Desktop is served by the Autodesk Network License Manager (NLM), not by the Ansys License Manager. Ansys emails the Autodesk license file separately from your Thermal Desktop license. This article sets up the Autodesk NLM on your license server and points AutoCAD to it. The Autodesk NLM can run on the same server as the Ansys License Manager.

Solution

1. On the license server, download the Autodesk Network License Manager for Windows from Autodesk and run the installer. By default it installs to C:\Autodesk\Network License Manager.
2. In C:\Autodesk\Network License Manager, create a folder for the license and a folder named Logs. Save your Autodesk .lic file in the license folder. In Logs, create a text file and change its extension from .txt to .log, for example debug.log. Users and services need write access to this file.
3. Open LMTOOLS Utility from the Start menu, under Autodesk.
4. On the Service/License File tab, select Configuration using Services and check LMTOOLS ignores license file path environment variables.
5. On the Config Services tab, type a new name in Service Name, for example Autodesk License Server. If the Ansys License Manager runs on this server, do not select its existing service in this list. Saving the Autodesk paths over it replaces the Ansys service.
6. Use Browse to fill in the three paths:
   • Path to the lmgrd.exe file: lmgrd.exe in C:\Autodesk\Network License Manager
   • Path to the license file: your Autodesk .lic file
   • Path to the debug log file: the .log file from step 2
7. Check Use Services and Start Server at Power Up, then click Save Service and confirm.
8. On the Start/Stop/Reread tab, confirm your new service is highlighted and click Start Server.
9. On the Server Status tab, click Perform Status Enquiry. In the results, confirm the license server shows UP (MASTER) and the adskflex vendor daemon shows UP.
10. On each client, open AutoCAD and select Use a network license. Choose the single server option and enter the port and the license server's full hostname, for example 2080@licserver01.company.local. The port is on the SERVER line of the Autodesk .lic file and is typically 2080. Click Done.

Note: If AutoCAD cannot reach the server by its short hostname, use the full hostname as shown in step 10, or add the server to the client's hosts file as described in HOW TO - Edit Your Windows Host File.

Note: To switch an AutoCAD installation that already has a license, open the user account menu in the upper right corner of AutoCAD, select Manage License, click Change License Type, and select Use a network license.

Note: If Start Server reports "VD is starting, please check vendor daemon's status in debug log", open Windows Services, right click the Autodesk license service, and select Properties. On the Log On tab select Local System account, then on the General tab click Start. Return to LMTOOLS and run Perform Status Enquiry again.

Note: Installing the Autodesk license file in the Ansys License Manager instead of the Autodesk NLM causes ERROR - A correctly-formatted VENDOR line was not found in the license file.