FlexNet licensing error -15: Cannot connect to license server system

Unable to connect to the license server. Check that ARMLMD_LICENSE_FILE is set correctly, and the license server is available.

 

This error indicates that the hostname or IP address specified in the license path is valid, however the tools were unable to open a connection to the FlexNet license server on the specified port. It usually means that the FlexNet license management daemons are not running on the server and the client cannot connect to them.

Possible reasons include:

  • The FlexNet license server software (lmgrd) has not been started.
    Run "lmutil lmstat -a" on the server to check that the server software is running. For more information on starting a license server, see the section "Starting the license server" in the Arm License Management Guide.
  • On the client, you have specified the wrong host or port in the ARMLMD_LICENSE_FILE environment variable.
    Check the port listed in the server's lmutil output and confirm that it matches the setting on the client. It is also possible that the license file on the server contains an invalid port number. The default port number used by Arm is 8224. See the Arm License Management Guide for more information about port numbers.
  • You may have accidentally edited your license file
    If this is the case, then replace your license file with the original file you received from the Arm Licensing portal and repeat the installation of your floating license. Instructions can be found in the floating license installation FAQ.
  • The client has not been correctly configured to obtain the license from the server.
    The client must have the ARMLMD_LICENSE_FILE environment variable set and pointing at the correct server or a local copy of the license including the server's details. For more information, see the floating license installation FAQ.

If you are still seeing the same error message after checking for the above problems and your license server is definitely operational, there are a number of other issues that can occur:

  • The license server name is too long.
    There is a character limit on host names imposed by the FlexNet licensing software. If the license server's hostname is longer than the limit, you should alias it to something shorter in the hosts file on the client or alternatively use the IP address directly. For recent Arm tools, the hostname length limit is 64 characters.
  • The license server and clients are on different subnets.
    To solve this problem, first try modifying the value of the ARMLMD_LICENSE_FILE environment variable on the client to use the license server's fully qualified domain name (for example, "port@myserver.mycompany.com" instead of just "port@myserver"). If this fails to allow the client to access the server, try using the license server's IP address instead of the fully qualified domain name in the above environment variable.
    If you are still unable to connect to the server and get the same error condition, you may need to modify the "hosts" file on your client so that it maps the fully qualified domain name of the server to its IP address. It is strongly recommended that you consult with your company's IT department first before modifying this file. Add an entry of the form:
    123.456.789.012    myserver.mycompany.com 
    On Linux, the hosts file is /etc/hosts. On Windows, the hosts file is C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts. You may need administrator privileges to edit these files.
  • A firewall is blocking the connection.
    It is possible that something is blocking communication, typically a firewall. A firewall can block requests from the client despite the server being operational. To work around this, you must first define the ports to be used by both the lmgrd and armlmd license server daemons, and then reconfigure your firewall to allow accesses to these ports.
    Modify the top of your license server file to include port numbers for both the SERVER and VENDOR lines:
    SERVER myserver <myserver_hostid> 8224
    VENDOR armlmd port=<portnumber>
    The lmgrd port number for Arm licenses is, by default, 8224, but you can change this to another valid number if you wish.

    Please note that Arm does not support the use of WAN-based license.