Description

When enabled, the Idle Timeout feature will automatically check-in the licenses used by Ansys clients that are open by the user, but not actively being used by the user, so that these licenses can be made available to other users.  When the original user returns to using the application, it will immediately attempt to checkout a new license.  The lowest idle timeout period that can be set is 75min.  By default, this feature is not enabled, and open applications keep licenses checked out indefinitely, so long as they remain connected to the license server.

Compatible Applications

Currently, only the following Ansys products participate in using the idle timeout feature:

• Mechanical
• Fluent
• CFX
• Electronics
• Ensight

What is considered Idle and Active?

Solution

These instructions and more info can be found in section 4.5.1 (pg. 42) of the Ansys License Management Guide.

1. You must obtain an updated license file containing the Ansys Idle Timeout license increment. This feature will not work without it.  To get this license, contact your SimuTech account manager.
2. Idle timeout is enabled and set via the options file. If the options file does not exist, you will need to create the options file.  
3. After creating the options file, add either of the following settings to the file and then restart the License Server:
   
   # TIMEOUTALL Example (Time in seconds that all products will time out in)
   TIMEOUTALL 3600
   
   # FEATURE TIMEOUT Example (time in seconds for just the ansys Mechanical feature to timeout)
   TIMEOUT ansys 3600
    
4. In this example, any participating application will return its license after approximately:
   
   [client heartbeat period] + [the defined Idle timeout] = Effective Idle Timeout Period
   [900 sec]  +  [3600 sec]  =  4500 seconds or 75min
   
   
   Note: The minimum value for the idle timeout is 3600 seconds (1 hour).  Additionally, the heartbeat value is hard coded and cannot be modified.
    
5. After a client application has been inactive for the idle time duration, other users will be able to use that license. When the idle application becomes active again, it will attempt to check out the necessary license(s) immediately.