IMAGINiT Technologies Support Blog

UNSUPPORTED - error in the debug log file after updating your network license file.

When you upgrade the license manager or implement a new license file you just may see something like the following error:

10:48:44 (adskflex) UNSUPPORTED: "59200AMECH_PP_2009_0F" (024E CF45 AB41 CD1A ) loginname@machinename-MOBILE  (License server system does not support this feature. (-18,327:10054 ""))

This typically means that they were working in the program when you changed the license (or sometimes just the license manager) and now it's not happy.

The error will continue to log in the debug log until the user exits the program, waits a few seconds then gets back in.

 

Communication Failure Error when trying to install after downloading the Autodesk package

This one catches quite a few people.  When you login to the subscription site, go to the downloads and select the option to "Install now", you may receive the following error.

Communication Failure

Download and installation has been interrupted by a lost connection between the Autodesk website and this computer.  The most likely causes are:

-  The installation package was moved from the installation location, which is not support.

-  The Autodesk download website was closed or manually refreshed before the installer launched.

-  A firewall has blocked the network ports.

Please address these issues if possible, return to the website, and then click again on Install Now, or use another download method:  Download Now or Browser Download.

 

When you use this option it downloads that huge .exe file and extracts the files to c:\autodesk\another_folder_name, then it runs setup for you. If this process is stopped or interrupted you will get that message or if you try to manually run the setup later.

This method does *not* allow you to use the setup later, only during this session.

I believe the best download method is to use the "Download Now". 

• It uses the Download Manager which is far more reliable and can be paused.
• Once you extract the files you can run the setup as many times as you'd like.
• Typically it's faster too!
• You need the original installation location to install service packs (or insert the DVD)

Once you download that huge file you can extract the install files to any location.  

Note: the default is C:\Autodesk\Filename, where Filename is the same name as the large .exe fie you downloaded.

So to get past the Communication Failure error I'd recommend downloading it again using the "Download Now" option, download it and double click that .exe to extract all the files and it will run setup for you..  

Note:  you do have to download and install the Download manager before the installation begins.

 

Do I need to upgrade the Network license manager?

The answer is yes, always upgrade the license manager when implementing new Autodesk Networked products or new license files with old products.  From time to time Autodesk enables new features in the newer license files, which needs the latest license manager to function properly.  These new features can be incompatible with the older license managers. Newer license managers are backwards compatible, meaning the latest license manager will work with older license files, but not the other way around. It may seem to work, but it will break sooner or later.

The FlexLM version is 11.11 for the 2014 programs

• Pre-upgrade steps:
  Ensure you have the media (downloaded media counts) and you can access it from the license manager machine or see the Autodesk downloads:

If you do not have IPV6 installed (or if it's okay to turn it off), then use the IPV4 version after turning off IPV6.
http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL16273699

If you MUST run IPV6 on both the license manager and the clients, then use this one:
http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL10976858

Note:  The IPV6 version may have undesirable limitations.  Check the readme and notes at the download page.

• Obtain a new license file from Autodesk.
  • Call the Autodesk Registration and Activation department at 800-551-1490
  • Login to www.autodesk.com/register and login (you can create  login or use your subscription login)  and retrieve it.
  • Send an email to Autodesk at  authcodes@autodesk.com.  You need to include in teh body of the email the following information.  Company name, serial numbers, server name and server MAC/Ethernet address.
• if necessary, Combine your license files (check your license agreement!).

To upgrade the license manager:

1. Run LMTools and ensure you stop the service. I like to check the box for "force server shutdown" and click Stop a couple of times, then exit LMTools.
2. Uninstall the license manager.
3. Install the 11.11 license manager.
4. Configure and start your service.

Done! Under 5 minutes, if you're really good, and you don't have problems trying to stop that service.

Autodesk has developed a video with the exact steps to assist you in setup and configuration. You can go to: http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS13503006 and click the image to load up the video. The upgrade solution can be found at : http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS66079

So, what version of Autodesk programs go with what versions of Flex License Manager? 

Since the license manager is backward compatible, the newer license manager can grant older licenses. 

 

 

 

 

Installation Help for Autodesk 2014 Products

We’ve written before about how to do a network deployment for your Autodesk programs. While we wrote it awhile back, the content is still valid (though your images may differ slightly).  You will need to upgrade the license manager as well, the 2014 version is 11.11. 

If you just need to install your product on a single computer, use the helpful Autodesk guide for that.

Other things you’ll want or need include the information about your software license agreement (Autodesk has a handy page with all their product licensing information, see www.autodesk.com/eula) and how to find the serial number and product keys.

That’s it. Everything you need for installation in one handy-dandy place. If you find yourself in need of significant help, don't hesitate to contact us or check out our installation toolkit.

 

Installing Product Design Suite 2014 pre-requisites...

Autodesk has published quite a few readmes for this release. I found some VERY interesting information in the Product Design Suite (PDS) readme that I wanted to share with you as it's really good information and can save you HOURS of uninstalling, rebooting, and installing all over again.

Note:  I'm sure this applies to most all of the 2014 release programs.

------------------

Before you begin...

1. Install Microsoft .Net 4.0
2. Install all Windows Updates that are pending on your machine and reboot. You may need to perform a Windows Update multiple times in order to completely update your operating system.
   •  Windows XP: Use the Windows Update utility located in the Control Panel. 
   • Windows 7: Windows Update is located in the Control Panel, and on the sidebar.
3. Reboot the system.

------------------

Next:

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Uninstall all prior Autodesk Beta products:

Before installing Autodesk Product Design Suites please uninstall all prior Autodesk beta products. The recommended way to uninstall the Autodesk Product Design Suite beta is by using the Quick Uninstall Tool for Autodesk Product Design Suite. To launch the tool go to the Start Menu, All Programs, Autodesk, and click the tool.

-------------------------------

Doing these things *before* you install your 2014 release could save you hours of work!  I'll be looking at other readmes, but I'm sure they'll have the same information in them!

 Here's the really cool part, the readme is already online!

http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/Product_Design_Suite_2013_README_RTM.html

 

 

ZOMBIES! Yes Bob, I said Zombies. Watch out!!!

Well, you don't really have to "watch out", but this type of Zombie can give you a frustrating day!

I had a call where the client was unable to properly REEDIT their Xref, it gave the following error:

refedit Select reference: 1645.443800,169.507849,0.000000
Errors found in references to other objects: ** AcDbZombieObject objects cannot be referenced.

I've run into problems with an add-on program and their blocks in the past so I looked there first. The nested Xref has one or more bad blocks in it. I deleted all the blocks, purged all, saved as a different name and repathed it ... REFEDIT worked without errors.

 

How to determine which license manager to install?

This can be frustrating, but it is very important to get the right one installed. There are 4 downloads for each version (release). They are IPV4 32-Bit, IPV4 64-Bit, IPV6 32-bit and IPV6 64-bit for each version of flexlm.

Let me walk you through how I determine which one to install.

First find out if it's IPV4 or IPV6:

1. On the machine that will have the license manager installed bring up a Command Prompt. Click the Windows Start button and in the Search (or Run) field enter CMD and hit enter.
2. In the Command Prompt window enter the PING command followed by the server name.

So if the server name is called ADSKServer then the command line will look like this:


Ping ADSKServer


The reply will tell us if IPV6 is turned on, turned off or Broken!

If the reply shows the standard format of something like 196.168.1.50 (4 groups and they're all numbers) then you want IPV4.

Pinging G-JEFF [192.167.1.65] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.167.1.65: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.167.1.65: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.167.1.65: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.167.1.65: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128


However, if it's more like the following then it's IPV6.
Pinging G-Jeff [fe80::c93d:220a:19a9:d09%10]...32 bytes of data:
Reply from fe80::c93d:220a:19a9:d09%10: time<1ms
Reply from fe80::c93d:220a:19a9:d09%10: time<1ms
Reply from fe80::c93d:220a:19a9:d09%10: time<1ms
Reply from fe80::c93d:220a:19a9:d09%10: time<1ms

If it is Broken, then you'll see something like:
Reply from ::1: : bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from ::1: : bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from ::1: : bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from ::1: : bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Use the Microsoft KB article to fix it. I like the "Prefer IPV4 over IPV6" option.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929852 

There may be some exceptions when in a mixed IPV4/IPV6 environment that you may want to use the IPV4 version, but the above method hasn't let me down yet!

The next thing to find out is if the system is 32-bit or 64-bit.

This one is easy:

1. Do you have both c:\program files and c:\program files(x86) folders? If the c:\program files(x86) folder is on your system its 64-bit, if it's not, then it's 32-bit.
   
   

   
   
   

Now that we know what we have, we can download the correct flexlm.

1. Go to www.autodesk.com/autocad-support
2. On the left sidebar menu click Data & Downloads
3. On the left sidebar menu click Updates & Service packs
4. Select the appropriate IPV4 or IPV6 selection under the highest version of AutoCAD (today it's 2014).

   Note: It is better to have a newer version of the license manager than an older version. Even if all you're going to run is 2011 or 2012, still get the 2014 license manager.

Ensure you stop the service and uninstall the existing one first if you're upgrading the license manager, it'll save you from some possible headaches.

2014 cascading sequence... it's HERE!!

 

Many have problems understanding the cascading sequence.  These documents from Autodesk really have helped me in the past.  Even to the point where I've been able to tell them that the program is cascading incorrectly or that the document needs to be corrected.

Here are the Cascading Sequence technical solutions from Autodesk.

2014:  http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS21379174

2013:  http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS18708338

2012:  http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS16981643

2011:  http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS14885918

2010:  http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS1106828

 

I wish I could fit even one of these into the blog, but they are too long and won't fit.  So, click the link and print it to a pdf and then you'll have it as long as you need it.  Some Autodesk solutions become obsolete and disappear or become very difficult to find.

 

It's OUT! Windows 8? AutoCAD 2014? Can I run AutoCAD 2014 on Windows 8?

The new programs are starting to ship!  You can get your trial version (which should be available soon http://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-autocad/free-trial )  and even view system requirements.  IS WINDOWS 8 ON THE LIST for AutoCAD 2014?

You can check that out online (or see below).

http://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-autocad/system-requirements

The Autodesk website has a new look and feel too. Check it out, it's not a lot different to navigate but it certainly has different graphics (hopefully faster right???).

To find the system requirements for another program, go to www.autodesk.com and find the program under Products. Then, once you select the program you want there will be a link to the System Requirements on the left sidebar menu.

AutoCAD 2014 System Requirements:

For 32-bit AutoCAD 2014

•Windows® 8 Standard, Enterprise, or Professional edition, Windows® 7 Enterprise, Ultimate, Professional, or Home Premium edition (compare Windows versions), or Windows XP® Professional or Home edition (SP3 or later) operating system

•For Windows 8 and Windows 7: Intel® Pentium® 4 or AMD Athlon™ dual-core processor, 3.0 GHz or higher with SSE2 technology

•For Windows XP: Pentium 4 or Athlon dual-core processor, 1.6 GHz or higher with SSE2 technology

•2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended)

•6 GB free disk space for installation

•1,024 x 768 display resolution with true color (1,600 x 1,050 recommended)

•Microsoft® Internet Explorer® 7 or later web browser

•Install from download or DVD For 64-bit AutoCAD 2014

•Windows 8 Standard, Enterprise, or Professional edition, Windows 7 Enterprise, Ultimate, Professional, or Home Premium edition (compare Windows versions), or Windows XP Professional (SP2 or later)

•Athlon 64 with SSE2 technology, AMD Opteron™ processor with SSE2 technology, Intel® Xeon® processor with Intel EM64T support and SSE2 technology, or Pentium 4 with Intel EM64T support and SSE2 technology

•2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended)

•6 GB free space for installation

•1,024 x 768 display resolution with true color (1,600 x 1,050 recommended)

•Internet Explorer 7 or later

•Install from download or DVD Additional requirements for large datasets, point clouds, and 3D modeling (all configurations)

•Pentium 4 or Athlon processor, 3 GHz or greater, or Intel or AMD dual-core processor, 2 GHz or greater

•4 GB RAM or more

•6 GB hard disk space available in addition to free space required for installation

•1,280 x 1,024 true color video display adapter 128 MB or greater, Pixel Shader 3.0 or greater, Microsoft® Direct3D®-capable workstation-class graphics card

 

The 2014 flex license manager has arrived!

Autodesk has posted the updated flex license manager, it's 11.11 for the 2014 release.  Remember, the license manager is backward compatible so it will grant licenses for older programs.  You will (sooner or later) encounter licensing problems if you continue to use the older license managers with newer license files (including 2014).  So, get your updated license manager now.

 

If you're in a strict IPV6 environment then you'll want to download/install the IPV6 version.

IPV6:  http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL10976858

 

If you're running in a mixed IPV4/IPV6 environment, then download & install the IPV4 version.

IPV4: http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=DL16273699

 

 For more information on why you should upgrade the license manager see:

http://blogs.rand.com/support/2012/01/i-just-received-2011-do-i-need-to-upgrade-the-license-manager-for-network-licensing.html