Setup on the server
Make sure you are running the latest version of SELECTserver.
All aspects of license checkout are controlled by configuring the SELECTserver\checkout.inf file. By default, the file comes with this line active.
FEATURE="MicroStation" TERM="30" USAGES="5"
To add additional features, copy this line and paste it underneath itself to add a new line to the file. Then edit the feature name (see TechNote 8219 for more information), the term (it can be up to 99 days), and the usages (how many of each license will be made available for checkout). Additional instructions will be found in the checkout.inf file.
Go to the SELECTserver License Manager page on the server by typing the following into your browser's address field: http://servername:3999
When the SELECTserver License Manager page loads, go to the third link down on the left called "Checkout List" and then click "Reload Checkout Access File". This reloads the information you just edited in the checkout.inf file.
On the client
How to setup and checkout a license from within MicroStation
Note: The check out/in feature does not work with MicroStation/J v07.00.01.11. You must have MicroStation/J v07.01.00.62 or greater. You can check what version you have by starting MicroStation and choosing Help > About.
- Make sure your computer is connected to the network and logged in properly.
- Launch MicroStation and open a design file.
- Choose Utilities > License Check Out/In.
- Click the "Browse" button to choose the client license file for the product license you wish to check out located on the client computer.
For MicroStation/J ..\Bentley\Program\Licensing\msj.lic
For MicroStation V8 ..Program Files\Bentley\Program\Licensing\msv8.lic
NOTE: Many products require different client side license files. Example: InRoads v8.3 uses a client side license file called Bentleycivil.lic. If you where checking out a license for InRoads 8.3 you would need to change the checkout utility to point to the bentleycivil.lic license file before checking out the license. This way the temporary license string that gets checked out will be written to the correct client license file. For all other products client license file name's and locations see TechNote 8174.
- Highlight the license you wish to check out under the in the upper "Feature/Product" box and then click the "Check Out" button.
- To checkout additional features, repeat steps 4 and 5.
- Click "close" then exit MicroStation.
- Disconnect your computer from the network.
- Launch MicroStation and or the product you checked out a license for.
- In MicroStation versions prior to the V8 2004 edition, you will receive a message that reads, "This software is running under a temporary checked out license that expires at Midnight on date." A change has been made to the 2004 edition so that this message begins to appear 30 days before expiration. Specifically, on days 28, 21, 14, 7, 3, 2, 1, and 0 until expiration, the message box will appear once per day.
- Click OK.
- You have successfully checked out a license.
How to check in a license
- Make sure your computer is connected to the network and logged in properly.
- Launch MicroStation and open a design file.
- Choose Utilities > License Check Out/In.
- Be sure the checkout utility is pointing to the correct client license file of the product you are about to check in. For all products client license file name's and locations see TechNote 8174.
- Highlight the license(s) you wish to check back in under the lower "Feature/Product" box, then click the "Check In" button.
- Click close then exit MicroStation.
Troubleshooting
Note: Examples in the troubleshooting section refer to MicroStation. Problems and solutions pertain to all Bentley products. If you are using a product other then MicroStation, please substitute in the correct client license file names and paths. For all other products client license file name's and locations see TechNote 8174.
Issue:
I checked out a license but when I disconnect from the network and launch MicroStation I get a message that reads "No response from License server: Unable to query for license."
Solution:
There are two possible solutions to this issue:
-
You might have pointed the License Check Out/In utility on the client to the wrong license file. Launch the applet again and click the browse button. Navigate through the directory structure on your local hard drive to the …bentley\program\licensing directory and choose the msv8.lic file. You should now be able to check out a license. By default, MicroStation V8 uses the Program Files\bentley\program\licensing\msv8.lic file for licensing purposes. If you are still having problems check to see where the MS_USERLICENSE variable is pointing, as indicated under Workspace > Configuration. It must be pointing to a file on the client's local hard drive for the Check Out/In utility to work.
- The msv8.lic file attributes might be set to read-only or there are restrictive permissions set on the msv8.lic file or licensing directory. When you check out a license, the check out utility prefixes the msv8.lic file with a temporary license. When you check the license back in it removes the temporary license. If the msv8.lic file has a read-only attribute or restrictive permissions, the check out utility can not write to the file.
Issue:
How do I check in an expired license?
Solution:
The first time that MicroStation is launched after the checked out license expires, the user will see a message like this.
If the user is connected to the network, clicking the OK button here will cause the temporary license string in the local license file to be deleted and the client will then query the server for a license in the normal manner. The "Cancel" button will cause the local license file to be left alone and MicroStation will exit. There is no grace period for checked out licenses.
Issue:
My hard drive crashed and I had to replace it. I had a license checked out on the old hard drive. How do I recover the license from SELECTserver License Manager?
Solution:
You will need to wait for the license to expire and be reclaimed by the SELECTserver License Manger.
Issue:
I do not have a License Check Out/In menu option listed in my Utilities menu.
Solution:
- Check to make sure you are running MicroStation/J v07.01.00.62 or greater. If you are not, License Check Out/In will not work. Upgrade to MicroStation v07.01.00.62 or greater. You can check what version you have by starting MicroStation and choosing Help > About.
- It is possible you loaded a customized menu that overwrote or did not include the License Check Out/In utility.
- Launch MicroStation/J and open a design file.
- Choose Workspace > Customize.
- Choose the Menu Bar tab.
- On the "Available Menus From" section, double-click on Utilities and select "License Check Out/In."
- On the "Menus" section, select "Utilities."
- Click the Copy button.
- Click the Save button.
- Go to the Utilities Menu and verify that the "License Check Out/In" menu option is now available.
- Close the Customize box.
Issue:
I checked my msv8.lic file and a license line is prefixed to it. The license appears to be checked out correctly but when I disconnect from the network and start MicroStation I receive the message, "No response from license server: Unable to query for license." Also, when I go back to the checkout/in utility there is no license listed to check in.
Solution:
The checkout utility will not work during the grace period after your SELECTserver license.lic expires. As a SELECT member you have 60 days to replace your license after it expires. The expiration date is the same date as your SELECT subscription expiration. Network licenses will continue to work for 60 days after the expiration date. You can still attempt to checkout a license using the checkout/in utility and it will appear to work but the license that was prefixed to your msv8.lic file is not valid. To restore checkout functionality, contact the Bentley Administratiion Center that serves your region to get a new SELECTserver license with a new expiration date.
Issue:
I have a License Check out/in menu option under the Utilities menu but it is grayed out.
Solution:
This has been traced to a problem in the shortcut used to start MicroStation. The Start In field will sometimes truncate the path which confuses License Manager. Make sure the path in the Start In field is the full path and not truncated. For example:
-
- Truncated path: C:\bentley\program\micros~1
Correct path: C:\bentley\program\microstation
This option will also be grayed out if a node locked license is in use.
Issue:
When trying to checkout a license I get a message that says "No license usage's where found to match your request".
Solution:
- Close MicroStation and open up windows explorer. Navigate to the ..bentley\program\licensing directory or to the directory where the product license is located on the client. Remove all lines in the file except the SERVER="your server name" line. Save and close the file. Launch MicroStation again and try to checkout a license.
- Your SelectServer license does not contain a license or there are no available licenses to checkout for the particular product you are trying to checkout. Launch Internet Explorer and view the SELECTServer Administrative usage list and license list page to see if there are any available licenses.
- Your SelectServer\checkout.inf file on the server does not reflect the correct feature for the product you are trying to checkout. See TechNote 8219 for instructions on obtaining the correct feature statements for the checkout.inf file.
- The product license or the SelectServer license has expired or will be expiring with in the next 90 days. Launch Internet Explorer and view the SelectServer Administrative license list page. If your SelectServer license will soon expire there will be a message in big bold red letters indicating the expiration. You can also check the expiration of each individual product license my clicking the links with the product names on the license list page.