MATLAB: How to install the Network License Manager

I have a network license and I would like to know how to install the license manager software and the MathWorks license file on my license server.

Best Answer

To Install the Network License Manager, you must first activate and obtain the license file then install the license manager software using the MathWorks Installer or manually install using the license manager binaries.
The following instructions are for:
  • Activating the network license and obtaining the license file
  • Installing the license manager with the MathWorks Installer for R2020a and newer
  • Installing the license manager with the MathWorks Installer for R2019b and older
  • Manually installing the license manager using the binaries
  • Installing MATLAB on client machines
  • Controlling access to your MATLAB license
Activate the network license and obtain the license file (Required)
To install the network license manager, the license server must first be activated on the MathWorks website to obtain the license file. For R2019b or earlier, you will also require the File Installation Key.
To generate a license file and the File Installation Key:
  1. Open the license in the License Center
  2. Click the "Install and Activate" tab
  3. Click "Activate to Retrieve License File" (If you see "Activated Servers" instead, skip ahead.)
  4. Enter the release, operating system, host ID and activation label (What is my host ID?)
  5. Click "Download license file" or "Email license file"
  6. Copy the File Installation Key (For R2019b and earlier)
If you see a screen called "Activated Servers" when you click the "Install and Activate" tab then your server is already active. For information on updating you License Manager, please refer to the following article:
How do I update the Network License Manager?
Once you obtain the license file, and the file installation key for R2019b and earlier, you may proceed to the following instructions for installing the license manager using the MathWorks Installer or installing the license manager manually using the license manager binaries, 
(R2020a and later) Installing the license manager with the MathWorks installer
The license manager installer is part of the MATLAB installer. The MathWorks Installer can be downloaded here. Once you have the installer:
  1. Start the MATLAB installer.
  2. Click 'Advanced Options' at the top right.
  3. Select 'I want to install Network License Manager'
  4. Accept the terms of the Software License Agreement.
  5. When prompted for a license file, browse to the "license.lic" file that you downloaded from the MathWorks License Center.
  6. Select the destination folder
  7. To start the license manager to start at boot time, select "Configure the license manager as a service" (Windows only.)
  8. Click "Begin Install."
  9. Start the license manager  
(R2019b and earlier) Installing the license manager with the MathWorks installer
As with the newer MathWorks Installer, the license manager is part of the Installer. The MathWorks Installer can be downloaded here. Once you have the installer:
  1. Start the MATLAB installer.
  2. Select "Use a File Installation Key"
  3. Accept the terms of the MATLAB Software License Agreement.
  4. Enter your File Installation Key.
  5. Confirm the installation path
  6. Select the "License Manager" from the list of products to install.
  7. Uncheck other products unless you also want to install the MATLAB client software on this machine. Use the checkbox at the top of the list to select or deselect all products.
  8. When prompted for a license file, browse to the "license.lic" file that you downloaded from the MathWorks License Center.
  9. To start the license manager to start at boot time, select "Configure the license manager as a service" (Windows only.)
  10. Click "Install."
  11. Start the license manager  
Manually installing the license manager using the binaries
If you are serving multiple vendors from your FlexLM server, or you simply prefer to do things manually, the license manager can be updated without using the MATLAB installer. This is only recommended for experienced license administrators.
The license manager binaries can be downloaded here:License Manager Download
The license manager consists of four binaries:
  • lmgrd, the core license manager binary
  • mlm, the MATLAB vendor daemon
  • lmutil, a suite of tools for administering the license manager
  • lmtools.exe, a graphical frontend for the license manager. (Windows only.)
To install the license manager manually:
  1. Extract the downloaded folder and place the folder in the desired destination
  2. Place the license.lic into the /etc folder.
  3. Edit the license.lic to include the SERVER and DAEMON lines then rename it to license.dat
  4. Create a text file to use as the debug log (lmlog.txt)
  5. Start the license manager  
For information on adding the SERVER and DAEMON lines, please refer to the following article:
Why do I receive License Manager Error -13?
NOTE: When installing the license manager manually on Windows, the network license manager service will not be configured in lmtools.exe automatically.  You will need to configure the service manually .
Installing MATLAB on client machines
You will need a copy of the license.dat file to install MATLAB or other MathWorks products on client machines. This file is inside the license manager installation folder:
  1. Open the folder where the license manager is installed.
  2. Open the folder "etc."
  3. Create a copy of the file "license.dat." Do not remove the file from this directory.
For more information on installing MATLAB and other MathWorks products on client machines, please see the following article:
How do I install a MATLAB client for a network license?
Controlling access to your MATLAB license
If you have a Network Named User license, or you would like to restrict access to products on your license, you will need to use an options file.
To create an options file, please see the instructions in the following article:
Is there a way to administer FLEXnet based licenses? How do I create an Options file?
Contact us with any errors
If you receive any errors while updating the License Manager, please visit our support page or contact us with the license.dat, debug log (lmlog), and options file (if you have one) attached.
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