Step #1 - Setup Static IP and Domain Name

1. Obtain a public static IP address from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) where your license serveris located.
   1. Residential ISP's do not generally issue static IP's by default and you will need 
2. Obtain a public domain name from a provider listed above. 
   1. For this article, we will use the example domain "mycustomdomain.com"
3. Create a public DNS hostname that points to your public static IP address.
   1. From your domain providers DNS management console, add an A record using the following values"
      1. Host = name of your choice (example: license)
      2. Points To = your public static IP address
      3. TTL = 10min - 1hr is normal (this value is not critical)
   2. Your public DNS hostname is now "license.mycustomdomain.com"

Step #2 - Modify Windows Host File

1. These steps must be performed on the license server
2. Search for Notepad in your start menu > right click and select Run as Administrator
3. File > Open > Paste this path into the file name field   "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts" > Open
4. Add the following line to the file and save the file.   
   1. "127.0.0.1       license.mycustomdomain.com"
   2. 

Step #3 - Configure Ansys License Manager

1. Install the Ansys License Manager software if you have not already done so.
2. Modify the license file host name and vendor port:
   1. First, Stop the Ansys License Manager‍ 
   2. Open the installed license file in notepad.  The path is:

      1.  "C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\Shared Files\Licensing\license_files\ansyslmd.lic"

   3. Set at a static ansyslmd vendor port of 1056 by adding the term PORT=1056 to the second line as seen in the picture below. 
      1. 
   4. Replace the existing hostname/computer name in the license file to license.mycustomdomain.com as seen in the picture above.
   5. Start‍ your license manager

      Warning

      If you are using LM version 2021R1 or later, after making this change, you must not start the license manager from the License Management Center webpage.  You must now start it from the services.msc console window.  If the license server is ever started from the License Management Center webpage, it will revert the manually specified hostname back to the actual host name of the computer and your configuration will not work.

Step #4 - Configure Your Ansys Cloud Server (BYOL Setup Only)

If you are setting up Ansys Cloud Bring Your Own License (BYOL), your cloud environment will act like any other Ansys client in regard to pulling licenses and must be able to communicate with your private license server.  Therefore, you must allow the public static IP(s) of your Ansys Cloud Server(s) through your network firewall.  This public IP address of your Ansys cloud address is referred to as the Ansys Proxy Address.

Obtain Ansys Proxy Address:

1. To obtain your Ansys Proxy Address(s) you will need to setup and activate a region.  
2. Visit https://cloud.ansys.com/companyAdmin/licenseSettings
3. Select License Server Connection> expand Region> Expand License Server Connection Settings>Activate>Fill in the settings as follows:
   1. 
4. Once activated, the Ansys Proxy Address will be listed. Take note of this address as it will be used when creating your firewall rules.

Step #5 - Firewall Configuration

1. Ensure you're Ansys license server is using a static IP address.
2. On your network firewall, open and forward traffic destined for your public facing static IP address on ports 1055, 1056 and 2325 to the internal static IP address of your Ansys License Server.  
   1. Limit the scope of this traffic to only the public IP addresses of the Ansys client computers that will be accessing your license server.  (This will be or include the Ansys Proxy Address if setting up BYOL).

   2. Warning

      If you do not do this limit the scope as instructed in this last step, any computer on the public internet can access your Ansys license server which is a severe security risk.

Step #7 - Complete BYOL Setup (BYOL Setup Only)

If setting up BYOL, there are still several remaining steps you need to follow in order to complete this process.  Those steps can be found here: https://ansyshelp.ansys.com/account/secured?returnurl=/Views/Secured/Cloud/v000/en/ans_cloud_compute/verify_conn.html

Step #6 - Test Connectivity

Once you've complete the above steps, it's now time to test to see if everything works. 

1. Standard Ansys Client - launch and run your Ansys software to insure it can pull a license.  
2. BYOL Test -  submit a very small job to the cloud.  Follow the instructions found here:
   1. https://ansyshelp.ansys.com/account/secured?returnurl=/Views/Secured/Cloud/v000/en/ans_cloud_compute/verify_conn.html

If something isn't working properly, either review the steps/settings above for accuracy and or utilize the following guide to troubleshoot communication. Testing Network Port Communication in the following article is a good place to start:

    HOW TO - Verify the Ansys Client Can Communicate With the License Server‍