MATLAB: How to install an Individual MATLAB and a MATLAB Parallel Server worker on the same machine

MATLAB Parallel Server

I would like to install an Individual MATLAB and a MATLAB Parallel Server license on the same machine. Is this possible, and it so, how?

Best Answer

You can install an Individual MATLAB and a MATLAB Parallel Server license on the same machine. For R2008a and above this process is done simply by performing two installations and activating the licenses accordingly.
You can also install a network copy of MATLAB and MATLAB Parallel Server on the same node, using the same set of files. To install a network copy of MATLAB and MATLAB Parallel Server license on the same node, run the installation once using the MATLAB Parallel Server installation key and license. Once this is complete, rename the network.lic under licenses to mdcs.lic, and save a copy of the network.lic from another MATLAB client under licenses
For versions prior to R2008a, this will work out of the box for Windows and Mac machines. For Linux machines, this will work provided the network license manager for MATLAB Parallel Server is setup correctly. See the information below for the instructions for versions prior to R2008a.
Windows/ Mac installations:
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1) Install MATLAB and any toolboxes for your Individual license according to our instructions in the Installation Guide.
2) Once this installation is complete, move the 'license.dat' file out of the $MATLABROOT\bin\win32 (Windows) or the $MATLAB/etc (Mac) directory to a convenient place (such as the desktop).
NOTE: $MATLABROOT refers to your root MATLAB directory.
3) Start the installation for the MATLAB Parallel Server license (you will need a copy of the 'license.dat' file from the license server for this Concurrent installation).
4) Choose the same installation directory you used for the Individual license install.
5) When prompted you can choose to skip any products that were already installed
6) After the installation is complete, rename the new $MATLABROOT\bin\win32\license.dat (Windows) or $MATLABROOT/etc/license.dat (Mac) file to 'license.lic'.
7) Move the original 'license.dat' file which you moved in Step 2 back to the $MATLABROOT\bin\win32 (Windows) or $MATLABROOT/etc (Mac) directory.
You should now be able to use your Individual MATLAB and MATLAB Parallel Server on the same machine.
Unix/Linux instructions:
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Network License Manager installations:
If this installation will serve as the license manager for MATLAB Parallel Server, you will need to have the license for the individual license locked to the same hostid as the license for MATLAB Parallel Server. Once these licenses have the same hostid, combine the INCREMENT lines from both licenses into one license.dat. Once combined, follow the standard installation for MATLAB Parallel Server from the installation guide here:
https://www.mathworks.com/help/releases/R2018a/install/ug/install-license-manager-using-a-file-installation-key.html
Once the installation is complete, you will need to configure the options file for the Individual license. Refer the to the installation guide for more information about configuring the options file here:
https://www.mathworks.com/help/releases/R2018a/install/license/set-up-named-user-licensing.html
Client installations:
If this machine will act as a client for the MATLAB Parallel Server, follow the instructions below:
1) Install MATLAB and any toolboxes for your Individual license according to our instructions in the Installation Guide.
2) Once this installation is complete, move the 'license.dat' file out of the $MATLABROOT/etc directory to a convenient place (such as the desktop).
NOTE: $MATLABROOT refers to your root MATLAB directory.
3) Start the installation for the MATLAB Parallel Server license (you will need a copy of the 'license.dat' file from the license server for this Concurrent installation).
4) Choose the same installation directory you used for the Individual license install.
5) When prompted you can choose to skip any products that were already installed
6) After the installation is complete, rename the new $MATLABROOT/etc/license.dat file to 'license.lic'.
7) Move the original 'license.dat' file which you moved in Step 2 back to the $MATLABROOT/etc directory.
You should now be able to use your Individual MATLAB and MATLAB Parallel Server on the same machine.
NOTE: Starting in R2019a the following name changes occurred:
  • MATLAB Distributed Computing Server was renamed to MATLAB Parallel Server
  • mdce_def was renamed to mjs_def
  • mdce binary was renamed to mjs
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