SolidNetWork License Administrator Server Migration

The foremost item to note about this migration is that the license software itself syncs with the SOLIDWORKS Activation Server and directly checks the license out from the system. The process requires a transfer of the license off the old server back to the SOLIDWORKS Activation Server before the new server will be able to be activated with the SOLIDWORKS Activation Server and allowed to administer licenses to client machines. With this in mind, all that is needed is an installation disc (or downloaded data set) and the SOLIDWORKS floating network serial number.

Server Migration

The following are the detailed instructions on how to migrate a license server from an old server (labeled gray) to a new server (labeled bold).

STEP1 (new server)

The license server supports multiple license clients. It distributes licenses to clients on the network.

To install a license server:

1. Insert SOLIDWORKS Disk into the license server drive (or use a downloaded data set).
2. Select the ‘Server Products’ option, select ‘Install SolidNetWork License Manager’, and click Next.
3. Follow the on-screen directions to install the ‘SolidNetWork License Administrator’.

STEP2 (old server)

Transfer the server license off of the server prior to removing the 20XX software from the system.

1. In Windows, click ‘Start,’ ‘All Programs,’ ‘SOLIDWORKS Tools 20XX,’ ‘SolidNetWork License Manager Server 20XX.’
2. In the ‘Server Administration’ tab select the ‘Modify’ button.
3. In the ‘SolidNetWork License Activation Wizard’ dialog box select ‘Move product licenses to a new/upgraded computer’
4. Go ahead and transfer the license through the internet.
5. Once this transfer wizard is complete your network will be down and you may proceed with activation of the new server.

STEP3 (new server)

Start the newly install utility once and have it activate the license.

1. In Windows, click ‘Start’, ‘All Programs’, ‘SolidWorks Tools 20XX’, ‘SolidNetWork License Manager Server 20XX.’ 
2. The first time the utility starts there will be no license present and the utility will offer to activate the license key. 
3. In the ‘SolidNetWork License Activation Wizard’ dialog box select your options. 
   1. If your company uses a firewall, select “A firewall is in use on this server.” 
   2. Use the Port Number and Vendor Daemon Port Number default values, or type the port numbers that your company uses. 
4. Go ahead and activate the server through the internet. 
5. Once this activation wizard is finished you will have a functioning license system.

Please note that the port number is a TCP/IP port number in the 1024 – 60000 range, used exclusively by this process. The default, 25734, is normally suitable and is unlikely to be the same as any other FLEXnet or FLEXlm server process currently on the license server.

Client Migration via .REG File (for 5+ client machines)

After completing the migration of the server license software to the new server machine, the client machines must now be instructed to point to the new server in order to obtain SOLIDWORKS licenses. For a large number of machines changing the server pointer individually per machine can be time consuming. With convenience in mind, a registry (.REG) file is linked in this PDF that can be modified and then used to repoint client machines to the server. It can be edited directly with the Windows Notepad where the “SERVERNAME” entry will be replaced with the name of the new server.

For example, on a server named “Central_Server” the line reading:

“SW_D_LICENSE_FILE”=”25734@SERVERNAME“

Would instead read:

“SW_D_LICENSE_FILE”=”25734@Central_Server“

The file could then be executed on client machines, replacing the old registry entry and pointing them to the
new server machine for licenses in a single step.

REG FILE LINK: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Client Migration via SolidNetWork License Manager (for <5 client machines)

This same process can be done on each client machine through the client-side ‘SolidNetWork License Manager’ found in the SOLIDWORKS program group of the Windows Start menu. In this location you can remove the old server pointer and enter a new server pointer in a one step process. This process does, however, require Windows User Account Control on to be set to “Never Notify” in order to succeed.

STEP1 (on each client)

1. In Windows, click ‘Start’, ‘All Programs’, ‘SOLIDWORKS 20XX’, ‘SOLIDWORKS Tools’, ‘SolidNetWork License Manager.’
2. On the ‘Server List’ tab, remove the old server address and add the address for the new server
3. Click ‘OK’

Related Articles

SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Administrator (SNL) Temporary License Setup

GoEngineer Launches Customer Portal: Manage Assets, Maintain Users, and More

Best Workstations for SOLIDWORKS: Hardware Configurations

What's New SOLIDWORKS 2022: Graphics and User Experience

What's New SOLIDWORKS 2022: Routing, Structure Systems, Parts & Features