Network OS Recommendations

Discussion in 'AutoCAD' started by Andrew Roberts, Apr 12, 2004.

  1. Currently we are running Novell SB 5 as our server OS. We are going to be
    upgrading our server and server software here in the next couple of months.
    We will most likely be switching to network license management of AutoCAD
    licenses within the next 12-18 months and will need to be able to manage
    more than 11 licenses. From what I have gathered, Novell is not supported
    with FLEXlm.

    First, can someone verify this?

    Secondly, any recommendations for the upgrade Network OS that would function
    well with FLEXlm.

    Thanks,
    Andrew Roberts
     
    Andrew Roberts, Apr 12, 2004
    #1
  2. Andrew Roberts

    rich keitz Guest

    Can't comment on FLEXlm, but I can on OS. I have several WinDoze servers -
    NT4, 2K & 2003, however my primary CAD & Print server is Novell 6.0.

    I would stick with Novell. You can run FLEXlm on an NT workstation or from
    an accounting server, etc.

    Rich
     
    rich keitz, Apr 12, 2004
    #2
  3. My understanding was that the network license management software needed to
    be run on a "server" designated machine. And that the software for license
    management with the latest version and/or for AutoCAD2005 is not supported
    on Novell. Now I'll admit that I don't know everything about IT items, but
    unfortunately I know enough to be the in-house guy for the easy-medium
    problems.

    The workstations that we have in house are mostly WinXP Pro with a few Win98
    Beta. Could we set up a workstation to be an "extra" server (with no
    production on it) to run the license manager?
     
    Andrew Roberts, Apr 12, 2004
    #3
  4. Andrew Roberts

    rich Guest

    You can do that, and it doesn't have to be much of a machine as long as
    it's reliable. In my experience you do not have to use a server OS on a
    Flexlm machine, win2k pro or xp pro will do just fine. We just took an
    old workstation that was being taken out of circulation to use as our
    license server. It's been chugging along just fine for 3 years.
     
    rich, Apr 12, 2004
    #4
  5. Andrew Roberts

    Mike Donahue Guest

    Running flex on NT Workstation/XP Pro will limit connections to 10, the TCP
    connection limit.
    That said, MS's Small Business Server provides a lot of value for a
    relatively low price.


    Mike
     
    Mike Donahue, Apr 12, 2004
    #5
  6. That being said, which I am concerned about, it would be wise to move to the
    MS SB network OS. I guess a follow-up question would be is FLEXlm the only
    license management software available for AutoCAD?

    Thanks for the info!

    Andrew Roberts
     
    Andrew Roberts, Apr 12, 2004
    #6
  7. Andrew Roberts

    rich keitz Guest

    Are you sure? I thought the limit of 10 connection is on 2K and XP (and
    above when they arrive.) NT4 and older should work. I used to run a 45
    node Win 3.11 peer-to-peer network. Damn Admiral wouldn't cough up the
    money for a real network, but hey whatever works....

    Use a computer too old to run CAD for FLEWlm and buy a $5 copy of NT4 from
    eBay. (For that matter buy a NT4 Server from eBay. Who cares, it's just
    going to sit there and serve up licenses.

    Here's a "new" $20 NT4 Server (5 CALS):

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41886&item=3671534296&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

    Here's a " new" $5 NT4 Workstation:

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41886&item=3671160443&rd=1

    You don't need to worry about CALS if all you're running on the NT4 Server
    is FLEXlm. And if you're using a NT4 Workstation then CALS are a mute
    point.


    Regards,
    Rich
     
    rich keitz, Apr 12, 2004
    #7
  8. Hi Mike,

    FLEXlm runs fine on any Windows OS (server or workstation), there is no
    limits to 10 connection for FLEXlm on server nor workstation, if you check
    dictation on this same news group "Limit to 10 users" you will find out that
    people running 100 licenses on a workstation at the same time and they never
    had any problems.

    Hope it helps.

    Efim
     
    Efim Tetelman \(Autodesk, Inc\), Apr 12, 2004
    #8
  9. Andrew Roberts

    Mike Donahue Guest

    Interesting. Saw that. By default, Windows should refuse any connection
    requests over the count of 10. The flexlm heartbeat must not be active
    enough to conflict with that setting. I would feel uncomfortable running
    100 stations, myself though.
    Maybe this has morphed into something hard-coded in 2000 into a EULA item in
    XP?
    Here's the relevant MS articles.
    XP: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314882"
    2000: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;122920

    Mike
     
    Mike Donahue, Apr 12, 2004
    #9
  10. So this means that the Novell OS software could potentially still be used
    when we go to upgrade. Then in order to use the network licensing software,
    set up a work station to handle this duty ... would this workstation need
    any OS upgrades, or will WinXP Pro be sufficient?
     
    Andrew Roberts, Apr 12, 2004
    #10
  11. Win XP Pro, or Win 2000 will be fine.

    Regards,
    Efim
     
    Efim Tetelman \(Autodesk, Inc\), Apr 12, 2004
    #11
  12. Andrew Roberts

    rich Guest

    I'm pretty sure* that flex doesn't keep a connection open for any
    measurable amount of time. My understanding is that it quickly checks
    out a license and then sends the occasional heartbeat. The liklyhood of
    hitting 10 open connections at the same time is extremely low. Even
    hitting 2 or 3 would be unlikely if the process is as quick as I
    understand it.

    *disclamer: I can't back up any of these claims with anything but
    personal experience.
     
    rich, Apr 12, 2004
    #12
  13. Andrew Roberts

    patrick_aps Guest

    Alltough the buying of these NT4 licenses may sound cheap, if you have no expericece in setting them up, you could waste a lot of time in downgrading the OS of the computer from XP to NT4. Having lots of different OS is not a way of standarizing and bringing down IT costs.
    My advise: The old CAD station on XP. Be sure to have some spare parts of it (power supply, hard disk). Keep it always on. You even can use it to connect a printer/plotter to it and share it. Of build a DVD-+R drive into it to make disks of whole projects for archiving or so.
    Perhaps make even a Ghost image of it on a 2nd disk that you keep out of the computer. As long as you don't change the network card, the TCP/IIP adress (this machine should have a fixed adress) or the computer name, the disk can be replaced.
    As all your workstations will have a Novell Client, i guess the 10-connetion limit will not be present. This has, in my meaning only to do in a 100% pear-to-pear network.

    Just try it and keep it simple.
     
    patrick_aps, Apr 13, 2004
    #13
  14. Andrew Roberts

    rich keitz Guest

    I agree with most of your suggestion. However, there's nothing wrong with
    using a NT4 (workstation or server) for a FLEXlm server.

    XP = hacker target (lots of administration time)
    NT4 = under the radar now (low adminstration time)

    Rich

    expericece in setting them up, you could waste a lot of time in downgrading
    the OS of the computer from XP to NT4. Having lots of different OS is not a
    way of standarizing and bringing down IT costs.
    it (power supply, hard disk). Keep it always on. You even can use it to
    connect a printer/plotter to it and share it. Of build a DVD-+R drive into
    it to make disks of whole projects for archiving or so.
    the computer. As long as you don't change the network card, the TCP/IIP
    adress (this machine should have a fixed adress) or the computer name, the
    disk can be replaced.
    10-connetion limit will not be present. This has, in my meaning only to do
    in a 100% pear-to-pear network.
     
    rich keitz, Apr 13, 2004
    #14
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