Troubleshooting FlexLM Errors
This information applies to software such as Matlab and Comsol Multiphysics where access is controlled through a FlexLM license server. The research licenses for both of these require that you purchase an annual license to use the software. If you are having difficulty using them, check the following:
- Visit the Scientific Computing Webstore and click on List Licenses (or scroll down) to check that there is a license for your userid.
- Download the latest license file from the Scientific Computing Webstore and install it on your machine.
- Your username on your machine must match your UW userid used on the webstore. On Windows, check by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL to get to the task manager and click on Users. (If you use the Welcome Screen, you are probably not seeing your actual user name when you log in.) If these do not match you will get FlexLM Error -39 and not be able to use the software. Follow these instructions to rename your user id.
- What time is it? The License Server restarts at 11:15am, 1:15pm and 3:15pm daily, and at these times there is a short window of time (about 1-2 minutes) when you cannot get a license. Try again in 5 minutes.
- When was your license purchased? Purchases take effect at the next restart of the license server.
- You must have internet access to get a license, and with wireless or NAA connections on campus, you must have "premium" internet access. Run MinUWet.
FlexLM Error -15
This error indicates that there is a network problem. When using an on-campus wireless or NAA connection, this is almost always resolved by running MinUWet to get "premium" network access.
- There are sometimes conflicts with non-Microsoft firewalls.
- You may have to add Matlab or Comsol to an exceptions list for your firewall.
- You can try disabling any 3rd party firewalls to troubleshoot, but make sure that you are running a firewall on a normal basis.
- We have seen problems when running both the Trend Micro firewall and the Microsoft firewall, they seem to interfere with each other. You should normally run only one firewall at a time.
- Try a different type of internet connection, wired, wireless, or a different location.
- Make sure that your network settings are correct
- Run WinIPcfg and check your IP Address, DNS servers, etc.
- Run a command prompt "cmd" and type "ping <license server>" to make sure you have basic internet connectivity to the license server.
FlexLM Error -39
This error indicates that your user name does not appear on the include list on the server.
- Visit the Scientific Computing Webstore and click List Licenses (or scroll down) to check that there is a license for your userid.
- Your username on your machine must match your UW userid used on the webstore. On Windows, check by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL to get to the task manager and click on Users. (If you use the Welcome Screen, you are probably not seeing your actual user name when you log in.) If these do not match you will get FlexLM Error -39 and not be able to use the software. Follow these instructions to rename your user id.
- If you just purchased your license, you will need to wait for the next restart of the license server (11:15am, 1:15pm, 3:15pm for Matlab)
Last updated June 27, 2007 by William Lewis, IST.
