Skip to content

Creo License Server Setup

This sets up a floating Creo license that worker nodes can use. A machine or VM with direct access can use a node-locked Creo license instead. However if you need to access the VM through RDP a floating license is required.

Prerequisites

  • General Setup has been completed.
  • The IP of this machine is saved as: <license-server.ip>

Get License File

Get the Host ID and License File.

  • Open an admin powershell to <repo-root>.
  • Get the Host ID / mac address for this machine: 
    pdm run setup-win mac-address
  • Save the result as <creo-license.host-id>.
  • Get the Creo floating license for <creo-license.host-id>.
  • Place the license file at <creo-license.file>, somewhere on this machine.

Install Dependencies

Install utilities like wget and rsync.

  • Open an admin powershell to <repo-root>.
  • Install necessary dependencies: 
    pdm run setup-win install.license-deps
  • Close this powershell instance and open a new one for future steps.

Install Flexnet Server

Flexnet server is one of the options for hosting the license server and has been reasonably easy to use.

  • Open an admin powershell to <repo-root>.

  • Download and run the installer: 

    pdm run setup-win license-server.flexnet

  • Wait for installer to download and hit enter when prompted.

  • Follow GUI installer's prompts until done, including providing <creo-license.file> when asked.

Open Required Ports

Open the relevant ports up so instances of Creo on the worker nodes can connect.

If you only intend to use Creo locally, on the same machine as the license server, then you don't need to open any ports up.

Option 1: Open only port 7788.

The instructions for this are too configuration specific for us to provide.

Option 2: Disable license server firewalls entirely.

We can't provide general instructions for this step but if you're using Windows Server 2019 you can use one of our scripts.

Do not do this on public or untrusted machines

  • Disable the Windows Server 2019 firewall: 
    pdm run setup-win disable-firewall

Note: This might work with other versions of Windows but that hasn't been tested.

Configure and Start Server

Configure the server with a new admin password and start it.

  • Open the web interface:

    • Start Menu -> PTC -> Flexnet Admin Web Interface

  • Open the administration page:

    • Default User: admin
    • Default Pass: admin

  • Change the password:

    • Old Pass: admin
    • New Pass: <creo-license.flexnet-password>

  • Start the server:

    • Start Menu -> PTC -> Start FLEXNet Admin Service

The server should now automatically start on boot.

Preserve Settings

Keep track of connection information

  • Save the IP of this server as: <license-server.ip>
  • Save the server's port (usually 7788) as: <license-server.port>