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Set Up a License Server on Windows

  • Updated

As the account manager, how can I set up a License server on a Windows Computer for sharing a Floating SnapGene license?

These instructions are for floating licenses only, NOT for standard licenses.

NOTE: We no longer offer new shared licenses for purchase. These instructions are provided for existing customers.

The latest SnapGene License Server software incorporates Flexera 11.19.0 which requires Windows 10, or Windows Server 2016, or later.

Contact SnapGene Support

Contact  our support team via this direct link -  Contact SnapGene Support - and provide details of your shared (floating) license key. We will then provide a download link for the latest version of the Flexnet license server, and also provide a vendor daemon license file for use with the license server.

Install Microsoft “Microsoft Visual C++ "

IMPORTANT: The license server requires Microsoft Visual C++ libraries to function correctly.

Download and install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package.

Install the Microsoft Visual C++ packages on the computer that will host the license server.

Download the License Server Installer

Download the license server installer using the link provided by SnapGene support.

Once downloaded, double-click on FLEXnet_GSL_win.exe to run the Installer.

Specify a directory to install the License Server, then click Next.

Click Install in the next window.

Note: The location you select to install to must have sufficient permissions to allow the server to write to the directory.  If you plan to install in a location other than the default location then install into a new folder that has full read/modify/write and execute permissions set for all license server administrators.

Start the License Server

In the start menu, click Programs → FLEXnet GSL → Start Server.

Access the Server

To access the server, open a browser window, then type localhost:8090.

Sign In to the Server

Click the Administration link at the top right of the window.

To sign in, type the default User Name: admin and Password: admin, then click Submit.

Change the Password

To change the password, type the old and new passwords, then click Save.

Import the SnapGene Vendor Daemon License

Contact the SnapGene support team (support @snapgene.com) if you have not received a "vendor daemon license" file.

To import the SnapGene Vendor Daemon license, click the Vendor Daemon Configuration button.

Then click the Import License button.

Click Choose File, browse to the .lic file sent to you by the SnapGene team, then click Import License.

Note: If you received a new license file (e.g., for additional licenses), instead check the box for Overwrite License File on License Server, then click Import License.

Configuration of the license server is complete. Click OK.

Review Shared License Usage

To review the current SnapGene license usage, click the Dashboard link, then click Concurrent. The number of licenses in use (and available) will be shown in the In Use column.  

Open Required Ports

The SnapGene license server uses two TCP ports for communications with SnapGene clients and with the SnapGene license server. If the computer running the license server restricts access to ports the you will need to open specific ports on the server computer Firewall.

License Server Configuration Ports

By default the Flexnet Server will use TCP ports in the range of 27000 - 27009 for client-server communications. We recommend you open all ports in this range on your server firewall.

If you require use of a specific port (for example, if other software already uses a port in the range  27000 - 27009), then this can be configured via the Flexnet Publisher Dashboard. To do this, on the Dashboard click Admin then select Server Configuration.

Scroll down to section License Server Configuration, subsection License Server Manager Port, select the option Use this Port and specify the port number you wish to use.

Vendor Daemon Port

The vendor daemon port is used for communication with SnapGene services. By default a random port number is selected when the server is started. Sites with Firewalls will need to specify a single static port.

The vendor daemon port then this can be configured via the Flexnet Publisher Dashboard. To do this, on the Dashboard click Admin then select Vendor Daemon Configuration and click  Administer.

At option Vendor Daemon Port: check the option to Use this port and specify the port number you wish to use.

You should then open the corresponding port on your Firewall.

Restart the Server When Necessary

For the licenses to be accessible, the administrator computer running this server must remain on. If the administrator computer is turned off and then back on, the server must be restarted. For this purpose, in the Start menu, click Programs → FLEXnet GSL → Start Server.

Configure the License Server as a Service

You can avoid the need to restart the server by configuring it as a Service. To allow the license server to run as a service, you must have Administrator privileges. This service will run under the LocalSystem account. This account is required to run this utility as a service.

Configure the License Server as a Service via the Command Line

To configure the license server as a Service, Run the Command Prompt as admin and run the following three commands. Make sure to replace the path highlighted in red with the full path to the lmadmin.exe file in your license server installation.

Once configured as a Service your license server will automatically start upon startup or restart of the license server computer.

sc create SnapGene ^
   Displayname="Snapgene GSL" ^
   binPath="C:\Licenses\FLEXnet GSL\SnapGene\lmadmin.exe -adminOnly no -allowRemoteStopServer yes -allowLicenseReclaim yes" ^
  start=auto
sc description SnapGene "SnapGene License Manager"
Click to copy 
sc start SnapGene
Click to copy

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