How To Install The SolidNetWork License Manager (SNL) Server

A SolidNetWork installation allows a company to install more seats of SOLIDWORKS than the number of licenses they have. The licenses are metered out by a server computer to make sure that only the number of licenses purchased is running at any given time.

The license manager software must reside on a server that all CAD users have access to over a network connection, and must be the same year, or newer, than the licenses it distributes.

This is not a troubleshooting guide. If you have any technical issues with SOLIDWORKS, please contact Hawk Ridge Systems technical support.

This document is only to be distributed and used by Hawk Ridge Systems customers. Any other use is prohibited.

Before Installation

Basic Install

Activating Your Server

Email Activation

Before Installation

Hawk Ridge Systems recommends taking a moment before installing SOLIDWORKS to verify that you are ready to install by going through the points in the Before Installing SOLIDWORKS Products article.

Basic Install

The SolidNetWork License Manager is installed from the SOLIDWORKS installation downloads page; it uses the same installation manager as other SOLIDWORKS products. You will need to download the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to install the SOLIDWORKS License Manager Server.

Download the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager by navigating to the SOLIDWORKS download page, log in with your 3DExperience ID, and choose the SOLIDWORKS year version that you would like to install.

If you are unable to access the downloads after logging in with your 3DExperience ID, please see the guide here: How to Access SOLIDWORKS Subscription Service Benefits and create a 3DEXPERIENCE ID? – Hawk Ridge Systems.

1. From the downloaded file set, run the setup.exe file as administrator to launch the installation manager. You may receive a warning claiming that “a Windows reboot is pending from a previous installation.” Select “OK” in this dialogue to proceed.
2. The Welcome page of the installation manager, select the Install server components radio button, then select the Install SolidNetWork License Manager checkbox, then press Next.
3. The Summary page will appear and show your installation location and download options. Pressing the Change button on these fields will allow you to edit the information.
4. Check the box to accept the license agreement, then press the Install (or Download and Install) button to begin the installation.
5. When the installation completes, press the Finish button.
6. Now that the SolidNetWork License Manager is now loaded on your server, you will need to activate your licenses on the server.

Activating Your Server

If you do not have internet access, see the e-mail activation section of this document.

1. Go to Start > All Programs > SOLIDWORKS 20XX > SOLIDWORKS Tools, SolidNetWork License Manager Server 20XX
2. You will be asked if you would like to activate your licenses. Press the Yes button to continue.
3. The SNL Server Information page will ask for the server computer name and port number. We suggest using the default ports unless it is currently in use.
   
   Please note that most servers have firewalls that will block the ports needed for networking. Turn on the option, “A firewall is in use on this server” to lock these ports for use. This is also recommended for a computer without a firewall to lock the software to these two ports only.
   Once the server name and port number have been entered, click the Next button to continue.
4. Click ’Add’ on the activation window to input your company’s network serial numbers; each additional entry should be on a new line.
5. Select ’Automatically over the internet (recommended)’ and enter your E-mail.
6. Click the ’Next’ button to activate your licenses. A confirmation window indicating the status of the activation will be displayed.
   
   
   The SOLIDWORKS License Manager Server is now properly registered and activated. You can now load and run the SOLIDWORKS client machines that have access to this server.

E-mail Activation

1. Go to Start, All Programs, SOLIDWORKS 20XX, SOLIDWORKS Tools, SolidNetWork License Manager Server.
2. You will be asked if you would like to activate your licenses. Press the Yes button to continue.
3. The SNL Server Information page will ask for your computer name and port numbers. We suggest using the default ports unless it is currently in use. Most servers will have firewalls that will block the ports needed for networking; check on the A firewall is in use on this server to lock these ports for use. Note: This is recommended for a computer without a firewall as well to lock the software to these two ports only.
   
4. Click the Next button to continue.
5. Click Add, and place in your serial numbers. If you have multiple serial numbers, start a new line for each entry (Shown in previous section).
6. Choose to activate Manually via email
   
7. Click the Next button to continue.
8. On the next page, press the Save button to create an activation request file.
   Warning! Once you have saved this file, do not exit out of the activation window until you have completed the process and read in the response e-mail from SOLIDWORKS, or you will not be able to run SolidNetWork License Manager.
9. Browse to a location on your computer to store this .TXT file and press the Save button. Copy this text file onto a disk or removable storage device and move it to a machine with internet access.
10. Send this file as an attachment to an e-mail and send it to activation@solidworks.com.
11. SOLIDWORKS will send a return e-mail with a different text file attached. Save this text file to a disk or removable storage space and move it to the machine awaiting activation.
12. In the activation wizard, press the Open button on the e-mail activation page.
13. Browse to the response file and press the Open button.
14. The next page will show you that your activation is complete.
15. Press the Finish button to complete.

SOLIDWORKS is now properly registered and activated. You can now load and run the SOLIDWORKS client machines that have access to this server.

For further assistance, please contact our support team at support@hawkridgesys.com, or 877-266-4469 (US) or 866-587-6803 (Canada).