Installing a license server on Windows

The FlexNet vendor package with the binaries that are needed can be downloaded from the FlexNet Vendor Packages download page.

Download the Windows 64 (FlexNet v11.19.5.0) zip-file for OpendTect Pro & dGB Plugins for OpendTect 6.4 and newer.
Create a directory on the server that is to be used as license server for OpendTect. E.g. create the directory C:\Program Files\FlexLM Licensing Server\OpendTect.
Unzip the zip-file in the directory that has been created in previous step.
The zip-file has the following files:
dgbld.exe : The dGB vendor daemon
lmgrd.exe : The FlexNet license manager daemon
lmtools.exe : The FlexNet LMTOOLS utility
lmutil.exe : The FlexNet license management utilities
Ideally the log file should be written into the directory containing the lmgrd executable. Starting from FlexNet v11.17.2 this is possible on a path containing a space. If an older FlexNet version is used as license server then we advise to write the log file into folder C:\ProgramData\FLEXlm\lmgrd. Create this folder if it does not yet exist.
The next thing that is needed is the server license file. This license file will be provided by the dGB support via support@dgbes.com.
Best is to place the license file in the same directory as lmgrd.exe.
The license file needs to be edited. Hence, open the license file with a text editor like Notepad or Vim.
In the top of the license file there is the SERVER line. The SERVER line format is:
SERVER host hostid [port]
For example:
SERVER myserver 123456abcdef 27005

Note that if no port is specified then the FlexNet server will listen on the first available TCP port in the range of 27000-27009. A valid port number is any unused port number in the range of 1024 to 65535. Ports below 1024 are privileged port numbers.

Below the SERVER line is the VENDOR line. This line tells the FlexNet license manager daemon (lmgrd) where to find the dGB vendor daemon (dgbld).
The VENDOR line format is:
VENDOR dgbld full_path_to/dgbld [PORT=port]
For example
VENDOR dgbld "C:\Program Files\FlexLM Licensing Server\OpendTect\dgbld.exe" port=43454

It is important that you replace on the VENDOR line fullpath_to/dgbld with the path to the dgbld.exe file. In this example we will change it into: "C:\Program Files\FlexLM Licensing Server\OpendTect\dgbld.exe" . In case there are spaces in the path then the path should be within double-quotes.

Note that if port is not specified then the vendor daemon will listen on an ephemeral random port at run time. A valid port number is any unused port number in the range of 1024 to 65535. Ports below 1024 are privileged port numbers.

Save the license file.
Double-click the lmtools.exe file. This opens the LMTOOLS utility.

Figure: contents of the FlexLM Licensing Server\OpendTect directory
On Service/License File tab toggle on Configuration using Services and LMTOOLS ignores license file path environment variables.

Figure: LMTOOLS utility: Service/License File tab
Click the Config Services tab.
1. At Service Name drop down create a new service name that will manage your OpendTect Pro & dGB plugins licenses. The default service name is Flexlm Service 1. Best is to change this into a name like OpendTect-PRO License Manager.
2. At Path to the lmgrd.exe file browse to the directory that contains the lmgrd.exe file. Select lmgrd.exe and then click button Open.
3. At Path to the license file browse to the directory that contains the license file. Select the license file and then click button Open.
4. At Path to the debug log file put in the directory in which you want to write the dgbld_debug.log file. Ideally C:\Program Files\FlexLM Licensing Server\OpendTect\dgbld_debug.log or C:\ProgramData\FLEXlm\lmgrd\dgbld_debug.log.
5. Toggle on Use Services and then toggle on Start Server at Power Up. This will make sure that the license server will start automatically at power up or reboot.
  
  Figure: LMTOOLS utility: Config Services tab
6. Click button Save Service and Yes in the confirmation window.
  
  Figure: Save the service
7. LMTOOLS will show a warning window if the preferred path <SystemDrive>\ProgramData to store service data is not set. You get this when dgbld_debug.log is not configured in the ProgramData folder. You can ignore this when there are enough permissions to read from and write to the dgbld_debug.log file.
  
  Figure: Warning about Windows preferred path for service data
Ensure that the proper firewall exceptions are in place. There should be two exceptions (inbound application exceptions) for:
1. lmgrd.exe (TCP, for the port specified in the license file, e.g. 27005 )
2. dgbld.exe (TCP, for the port specified in the license file, e.g. 43454)

Starting a license server

Start LMTOOLS by double-clicking the lmtools.exe file.
Click the Start/Stop/Reread tab.
Make sure that the correct license server is selected in the list. Then click button Start Server.

Figure: Starting dGB License Server
It is possible that the Windows firewall or your virus scanner blocks dgbld.exe . If this is the case then you would want to add dgbld.exe to the list of Trusted Programs and/or Firewall Rules. After making this change click button Start Server again.
If the license server start is successful LMTOOLS will show the message: Server Start Successful.
Please refer to the debug.log file in case of issues.

This is an indication that the dgbld vendor daemon is not able to start:
(lmgrd) License server manager (lmgrd) startup failed: (lmgrd) CreateProcess error code: 0x5 File= C:\Program Files\FlexLM Licensing Server\OpendTect\dgbld.exe License server manager (lmgrd) startup failed: (lmgrd) CreateProcess error code: 0x5 File= dgbld.exe

Client installation

Please see the installing floating licenses chapter for more information on how to instruct the client on how to borrow the license from the server.