On-premises (FLEXnet) Licensing Help

What are you doing?

• I am a new customer ready to activate my new license
• I am updating to the latest version of Tekla Structures
• I am moving my license to a new machine
• Replacing licenses
• Borrowing Help
• Frequently Asked Questions

I am a new customer ready to activate my new license

This guide provides you with information on installing the FLEXnet licensing system and starting Tekla Structures with the licensing system.

FLEXnet is an activation-based licensing system provided by a company called Flexera Software, Inc. In an activation-based licensing system you need to:

1. Provide the list here to your local IT if you have one
2. Install and set up a license server on a computer.
3. Activate your licenses.
4. Point each client computer with Tekla Structures to the license server.

1. Installing the Tekla License Server

The Tekla Structures license server installation package contains the license server files, the applications for license management, and the user guides. To install the license server, download and run the installation application available on our download page Tekla Downloads. 
 

Image If you are using other licensing services (i.e. AutoCAD, MathCAD, Solidworks, etc..), you need to stop them before you install the Tekla Structures license server. When you have completed installing the Tekla Structures license server, you can restart the other licensing services

2. Saving the entitlement certificate

You have been sent a Tekla Structures entitlement certificate in an e-mail from no-reply_tekla-licenses@Trimble.com. The entitlement certificate states the configurations, quantities, and activation IDs of your Tekla Structures licenses. As a preliminary action for transferring license rights from Trimble to your license server, you need to save the entitlement certificate. Then you can open the entitlement certificate with Tekla Structures License Administration Tool and activate your licenses.

To save the entitlement certificate:

1.Open your e-mail application.
2.Open the entitlement certificate e-mail.
3.Save the attached EntitlementCertificate.html file in the ..\Tekla\License\Server folder.
 

Image If you use a web-based e-mail service, open the e-mail service in Internet Explorer to save the entitlement certificate. Other web browsers may convert the EntitlementCertificate.html file into an unusable format.

3. Starting Tekla License Administration Tool

You need to activate the licenses on the license server to be able to use them. When you activate the licenses, the license rights are transferred from the activation server at Trimble to the license server at your company or, in the case of a single user, to your computer. Tekla Structures License Administration Tool is the application used for activating licenses.

To run Tekla License Administration Tool, click Start > Tekla Licensing > Tekla License Administration Tool.

The Tekla License Administration Tool dialog box opens.
 

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4. Activating licenses

To activate licenses:

1. If you did not save the entitlement certificate in the ..\Tekla\License\Server folder, you need to open the entitlement certificate manually. To do so, click File > Open and select EntitlementCertificate.html. Click Open. The license information appears in the Entitled Licenses area.

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2. Select the number of licenses for activation from the Activate list. You can also type the number.

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3. Click the Activate button. Your license server contacts the activation server at Trimble.

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The licenses will then process and activate

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When done you should receive an activated message like shown below. 

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The activated licenses are displayed in the Activated Licenses area.

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Image You do not need to activate all the licenses at once. You can activate some of the licenses now and part of the licenses later on some other computer, for example. Different configurations and different versions need to be selected for activation separately.

5. Notifying the license server about activated licenses

The license server must be notified about activated licenses. To notify the license server:

1. With administrator rights, click Start > Tekla Licensing > LMTOOLS. The LMTOOLS dialog box opens. If more than one service is installed, make sure "Tekla Licensing Service" is selected.

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2. Go to the Start/Stop/Reread tab.
3. Click ReRead License File.

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The license server reads the license information.


You have now completed the installation of the Tekla license server.

6. Allow Tekla Structures through Firewall

If you have installed the license server on a server, you are going to need other machines to be able to have access to certain applications on the server so that Tekla Structures can access the license. Make sure that Tekla Structures can see the applications on the server that will distribute the license. To do this we need to add a few exceptions to the Windows Firewall.

1. Start by going to Start > type Control panel > then hit enter, and go to System and Security.

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2. Next click ”Allow a program through Windows Firewall”.

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3. Next click ”Allow another program”. If you cannot click this button then you will need to click Change Settings at the top first and then click Allow another program.

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4. In the next dialog box click Browse.

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5. Go to C:\Tekla\License\Server. You will have to do this one at a time, but the two files you need to open are tekla.exe and lmgrd.exe.

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6. Finally, once you have both of the files added, ensure that you select all the checkboxes for public, private, and domain, if available. This will ensure that those applications are allowed fully through your firewall.

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7. Starting Tekla Structures with FLEXnet Licensing

If you installed Tekla Structures and the license server on the same computer, the system automatically uses the license server on the computer when you start Tekla Structures.

If you installed Tekla Structures and the license server on separate computers, the system asks you to define the license server that you want to use when you start Tekla Structures for the first time.
 

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To define the license server:

1. Type the hostname of the license server, preceded by the @ symbol, in the Server address field as defined in your tekla.lic file (see Step 2).
2. There are a few variations of how this can be entered:

"27007@server_host_name.mycompany.com" - Give the TCP/IP port before the @ symbol.

"27007@server_host_name1;27007@server_host_name2" - To define several license servers, separate with semicolons (;).

"27007@ipaddress" - To define license server using the IP address.

3. If you want to check which licenses are available on the license server, click Check licenses.

4. Click OK to start Tekla Structures.

Image You can redefine the license server you want to use by clicking File > Settings > Change license server in Tekla Structures. The change comes into effect the next time you start Tekla Structures.

FAQs | Back To Top

I am updating to the latest version of Tekla Structures

This guide will walk you through updating your Tekla Structures license to the latest version of Tekla Structures.

1. Deactivating licenses

In order to activate a new version license you will need to deactivate the older version licenses first:

1. Locate in the email the Activation ID of the licenses that you need to deactivate, and then find the corresponding Activation ID in the Activated Licenses area.
2. Open the Tekla License Administration Tool from Start > Tekla Licensing > Tekla License Administration Tool.
3. Check the Deactivate box of licenses that needs deactivating.

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3. Click the Deactivate button. Your license server contacts the deactivation server at Trimble. 
4. The deactivation is now complete if no errors are received. If errors are received, please contact your local support. 

The deactivated licenses are no longer displayed in the Activated Licenses area.
 

2. Saving the entitlement certificate

You have been sent a Tekla Structures entitlement certificate in an e-mail from no-reply_tekla-licenses@Trimble.com. The entitlement certificate states the configurations, quantities, and activation IDs of your Tekla Structures licenses. As a preliminary action for transferring license rights from Trimble to your license server, you need to save the entitlement certificate. Then you can open the entitlement certificate with Tekla License Administration Tool and activate your licenses.

To save the entitlement certificate:

1.Open your e-mail application.
2.Open the entitlement certificate e-mail.
3.Save the attached EntitlementCertificate.html file in the ..\Tekla\License\Server folder.
 

Image If you use a web-based e-mail service, open the e-mail service in Internet Explorer to save the entitlement certificate. Other web browsers may convert the EntitlementCertificate.html file into an unusable format.

3. Activating licenses

To activate licenses:

1. If you did not save the entitlement certificate in the ..\Tekla\License\Server folder, you need to open the entitlement certificate manually. To do so, click File > Open and select EntitlementCertificate.html. Click Open. The license information appears in the Entitled Licenses area.

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2. Select the number of licenses for activation from the Activate list box. You can also type the number.

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3. Click the Activate button. Your license server contacts the activation server at Trimble.

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The licenses will then process and activate

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When done you should receive an activated message like shown below.

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The activated licenses are displayed in the Activated Licenses area.

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Image You do not need to activate all the licenses at once. You can activate some of the licenses now and part of the licenses later on some other computer, for example. Different configurations and different versions need to be selected for activation separately.

4. Notifying the license server about activated licenses

The license server must be notified about the activated licenses. To notify the license server:

1. With administrator rights, click Start > Tekla Licensing > LMTOOLS. The LMTOOLS dialog box opens. If more than one service is installed, make sure "Tekla Licensing Service" is selected.

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2. Go to the Start/Stop/Reread tab.
3. Click ReRead License File.

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The license server reads the license information.

You have now completed the upgrade of your new Tekla license.
 

FAQs | Back To Top

I am moving my license to a new machine

This guide will help you move your Tekla Structures license to a new machine. The process consists of deactivating the existing license off the old machine and then activating it on the new machine. 

1. Deactivating licenses

In order to move your license you first need to deactivate the one on the old computer first:

1. Open the Tekla License Administration Tool on the old machine from Start > Tekla Licensing > Tekla License Administration Tool.
2. Check the Deactivate box of licenses.

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3. Click the Deactivate button. Your license server contacts the deactivation server at Trimble. 
4. The deactivation is now complete if no errors are received. If errors are received please contact your local helpdesk. 

The deactivated licenses are no longer displayed in the Activated Licenses area.

2. Saving the entitlement certificate

When moving computers you do not need to save any files from your old computer as long as you have the e-mail where the license was sent initially. The e-mail would have been sent from the e-mail address no-reply.licenses@tekla.com, If you have the license entitlement HTML file on the old computer you can save it to the new computer from your e-mail as well. 
 

3. Installing the Tekla license server

The Tekla Structures license server installation package contains the license server files, the applications for license management, and the user guides. To install the license server, download and run the installation application available on Tekla Downloads.

Image If you are using other licensing services (i.e. AutoCAD, MathCAD, Solidworks, etc..), you need to stop them before you install the Tekla Structures license server. When you have completed installing the Tekla Structures license server, you can restart the other licensing services

4. Activating licenses

To activate licenses you will need to open the License Administration Tool by going to Start > Tekla Licensing:

1. If you did not save the entitlement certificate in the ..\Tekla\License\Server folder, you need to open the entitlement certificate manually. To do so, click File > Open and select EntitlementCertificate.html. Click Open. The license information appears in the Entitled Licenses area.

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2. Select the number of licenses for activation from the Activate list box. You can also type the number.

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3. Click the Activate button. Your license server contacts the activation server at Trimble.

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The licenses will then process and activate

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When done you should receive an activated message like shown below

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The activated licenses are displayed in the Activated Licenses area.

Image

Image You do not need to activate all the licenses at once. You can activate some of the licenses now and part of the licenses later on some other computer, for example. Different configurations and different versions need to be selected for activation separately.

5. Notifying the license server about activated licenses

The license server must be notified about activated licenses. To notify the license server:

1. With administrator rights, click Start > Tekla Licensing > LMTOOLS. The LMTOOLS dialog box opens. If more than one service is installed, make sure "Tekla Licensing Service" is selected.

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2. Go to the Start/Stop/Reread tab.
3. Click ReRead License File.

Image

The license server reads the license information.
You have now completed the installation of the Tekla license server.

6. Allow Tekla Structures through Firewall

If you have installed the license server on a server, you are going to need other machines to be able to have access to certain applications on the server so that Tekla Structures can access the license. Make sure Tekla Structures can see the applications on the server that will distribute the license. To do this we need to add a few exceptions to the Windows Firewall.

1. Start by going to Start > type Control panel > then hit enter, and go to System and Security.

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2. Next click  ”Allow a program through Windows Firewall”.

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3. Next click Allow another program. If you cannot click this button then you will need to click Change Settings at the top first, and then click Allow another program.

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4. In the next dialog box, click Browse.

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5. Now go to C:\Tekla\License\Server. You will have to do this one at a time, but the two files you need to open are tekla.exe and lmgrd.exe.

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6. Finally, once you have both of the files added, ensure that you select all the checkboxes for public, private, and domain, if available. This will ensure that those applications are allowed fully through your firewall.

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7. Starting Tekla Structures after you have fully moved the license

If you installed Tekla Structures and the license server on the same computer, the system automatically uses the license server on the computer when you start Tekla Structures.

If you installed Tekla Structures and the license server on separate computers, the system asks you to define the license server that you want to use when you start Tekla Structures for the first time.
 

Image

To define the license server:

1. Type the hostname of the license server, preceded by the @ symbol, in the Server address field as defined in your tekla.lic file (see Step 2).
2. There are a few variations of how this can be entered:

"27007@server_host_name.mycompany.com" - Define the TCP/IP port before the @ symbol.

"27007@server_host_name1;27007@server_host_name2" - To define several license servers, separate with semicolons (;).

"27007@ipaddress" - To define license server using the IP address.

3. If you want to check which licenses are available on the license server, click Check licenses.

4. Click OK to start Tekla Structures.

Image You can redefine the license server you want to use by clicking File > Settings > Change license server in Tekla Structures. The change comes into effect the next time you start Tekla Structures.

FAQs | Back To Top

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: My license is for version 2019. Can I still use older versions?
Answer: Yes, your FLEXnet license is backward compatible with version 12. However, license server compatibility can be an issue. Please see here.

Question: My license is for version 20. Can I still use older versions?
Answer: Yes, your FLEXnet license is backward compatible with version 12.

Question: I am using version 13, but my FLEXnet license isn't working. What am I doing wrong?
Answer: Versions 12.0, 12.1, 13.0, and 13.1 require you to install the latest service.
You also need to add the following variable to your user.bat (12.0, 12.1, or 13.0) or user.ini (13.1) file: set XS_LICENSE_SERVER_HOST=port@host

Question: My activation fails with an error 50041. What now?
Answer: This is caused by a firewall or antivirus software blocking the activation. Make sure any firewall or antivirus you have allows "lmgrd.exe", and "tekla.exe". You should also allow direct communication to internet port 80, or to the target "http://193.64.145.74:80/flexnet/services/ActivationService?wsdl". Also, see the IT Checklist here 

Question: Can I make changes to the hardware or operating system on the computer running the license service?
Answer: Yes. Before you make any changes you need to deactivate the activated licenses on the server computer. When you have made the changes on the computer, activate the licenses.

Question: Do I need to have a Local Area Network (LAN) in my office?
Answer: If you have installed and set up the license server and Tekla Structures on separate computers, all these computers need to be in the same LAN.
If you do not have a LAN in your office, you can activate licenses separately on each computer.

Question: Does my license server need to be connected to the Internet constantly?
Answer: An Internet connection is needed whenever you activate or deactivate licenses, but not necessarily constantly.