Installing FlexLM on Ubuntu Server 16

This guide will detail how to install FlexLM security on Ubuntu Server 16.04. Installation on the desktop version is also possible (version 17.10 is personally verified).
As servers will act as specially designed for Linux (Autodesk), and existing only for Windows (Nanosoft / CSoft).

Read more about licensing below .

Install Autodesk NLM

Ubuntu in the list of supported OS is not, but it is fixable.
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0) Install the OS for you.

1) Download the current NLM from Autodesk .

At the time of writing, this is 11.13.1.2

wget http://download.autodesk.com/us/support/files/network_license_manager/11_13_1_2_v2/Linux/nlm11.13.1.2_ipv4_ipv6_linux64.tar.gz 

2) Unzip the archive.

 tar -xvzf nlm11.13.1.2_ipv4_ipv6_linux64.tar.gz 

The output is an rpm package.

3) Install the necessary packages for work.

 sudo apt-get install alien lsb -y 

4) Convert the package to deb.

 sudo alien nlm11.13.1.2_ipv4_ipv6_linux64.rpm 

The output is adlmflexnetserver_12.0.36-1_amd64.deb .

5) Install the resulting package.

 sudo dpkg -i adlmflexnetserver_12.0.36-1_amd64.deb 

Installation takes place in / opt / flexnetserver

6) Place your license for Autodesk products on the server. How to get a license read below .

7) Create a folder for the logs and set the necessary rights.

 sudo mkdir /var/log/flex sudo chmod 777 /var/log/flex 

8) Test the license operation.

 cd /opt/flexnetserver ./lmgrd -c /opt/flexnetserver/adskflex.lic -l /var/log/flex/flex.log ./lmutil lmstat -a 

The path to your license may differ.
If the server performs correctly, then go to the next item. If not, then read the log and proceed to debug.

9) To start the license server in automatic mode, you need to register it in rc.local . It is desirable to run on behalf of an unprivileged user and through nohup . This utility allows the process to work even when the user exits.

 sudo nano /etc/rc.local 

and specify the line before exit 0
su user -c 'nohup / opt / flexnetserver / lmgrd -c /opt/flexnetserver/adskflex.lic -l /var/log/flex/flex.log'

10) Reboot the server and check the operation (point 8).

Everything is quite simple when there is a native server. And what if the vendor ignores Linux?

Install Nanosoft NLM

Or any other Windows NLM server. It works of course through Wine.

0) Install the OS for you.

1) Install wine. I recommend to put according to the instructions from the official site .

 wget -nc https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/Release.key sudo apt-key add Release.key sudo apt-add-repository https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/ sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install --install-recommends winehq-stable -y 

2) Configure wine. This is done strictly on behalf of the user.

 winecfg 

Warn warnings, ignore them.

3) Install Nanosoft NLM on any Windows machine and transfer the folder with the executive files to the target server. Installation can be done without a license file. In accordance with the structure, you need to transfer files to /home/user/.wine/drive_c/Program Files (x86) / Nanosoft / Nanosoft License Server / . Instead of user specify the name of your user.

Strictly speaking, this path is optional. It is enough for it to be inside drive_c or another mounted disk (see instructions).

Also transfer the license file.

4) Test server operation.

 wine "C:\Program Files (x86)\Nanosoft\Nanosoft License Server\lmgrd.exe" -z -c "___" 

If the terminal freezes on the NANOSOFT using TCP-port * command (lmgrd) , then the server is operational. Break the execution as usual using Ctrl + C.
Errors are possible if you have already installed some kind of software. For example, in the case of MC, you need to fix the rights to the .local / share folder.

I also advise you to enable logging. You can do this by simply adding the appropriate argument.

 wine "C:\Program Files (x86)\Nanosoft\Nanosoft License Server\lmgrd.exe" -z -c "___" -l +"__-" 

In this case, monitor the working state by log (the file is created automatically).

Other arguments can be found in the administration guide [p.103].

5) For lmutil.exe to work correctly, list the vendor and the path to the license file.

 wine "C:\Program Files (x86)\Nanosoft\Nanosoft License Server\lmutil.exe" lmpath -add nanocad "___" 

6) To start the license server in automatic mode, you need to register it in rc.local .

 sudo nano /etc/rc.local 

and specify the line before exit 0
su user -c 'nohup wine "C: \ Program Files (x86) \ Nanosoft \ Nanosoft License Server \ lmgrd.exe" -z -c "path_to_to_ your_Licency" -l + "path_to__log-file"'

7) Reboot the machine and check the server operation.

 wine "C:\Program Files (x86)\Nanosoft\Nanosoft License Server\lmutil.exe" lmstat -a 

More about licensing

Licensing of FlexLM can be of 2 types: linked to a MAC address or to a USB key. The second in the era of mass implementation of hypervisors, in my opinion, less flexible in terms of infrastructure. After all, it is much easier to raise the selected VM with the necessary MAC, than to suffer with key forwarding. In the case of Ubuntu Server to get a license online will not work. You will have to raise another VM from another OS with the same MAC.
By the way, on Ubuntu 17.10 to get a license via the Internet is possible :).

Change the type of licensing

If you have already purchased software with key protection, like mine, for example, then do not worry! Usually the vendor allows for the exchange of licensing type.
In most cases, contacting the TP is sufficient.

For example, Nanosoft requires a scan of a letter signed / stamped with a request for re-issuance using MAC, besides you should specify S / N and login. After obtaining a new license, you must destroy the old one.

And of course, FlexLM licenses can be monitored by Zabbiks!