Problem

This article reviews various troubleshooting techniques, both client-side and server-side, for common issues related to users who cannot obtain a license or communicate with the SolidNetWork License Manager Server (SNL). Oftentimes, there are issues that can disrupt or prevent the connection between the server machine and client workstations.

Solution 1: Adding the server to the SolidNetwork License Manager Client

The first thing to check on a Client Machine is whether or not the SNL server hosting the licenses has been added to the Server List tab of the SolidNetWork License Manager Client. This article goes over how to add the Server Address to the SNL Client: "Cannot find license file" Error When Launching a Network Client Install of SOLIDWORKS – Hawk Ridge Systems

Solution 2: Internet Connection Ping Test

If there are any network issues that are stopping client machines from communicating with the server, or the server computer is down, the following error will appear: "Could not obtain a license for SOLIDWORKS...".

To verify if there is a connection between the two computers, you can run a CMD ping test. This test can be done on either the server computer or the client's computer.

1. Browse to All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt.
2. Type “ping <ServerName>” or “Ping <server IP address>”, if you are on the client's computer. If you are on the server computer, type “ping <ClientName>” or “Ping <Client computer IP address>”, then hit Enter. 
3. If the communication was successful, there will be a message about packets sent and received

4. If the communication fails, there will be a message about the ping not being able to find the host

5. If the test fails, verify that the server computer and client computer are connected to the same network

Solution 3: Checking Firewall Ports & Opening Ports

If the client machine can communicate with the server but the same server node error appears, the next thing to check would be the Windows and Anti-Virus Firewalls active on the Server and the client computer.

SOLIDWORKS uses ports 25734 and 25735 for the SNL server to communicate with a client's machine. If either of these ports is blocked on the server computer's firewall, users cannot obtain a license despite having a connection to the server.

This test is recommended to be done first on the server computer, then on the clients, following the steps below:

1. Open the Windows Control Panel > System Security > Windows Firewall

2. Click the link to "Turn Windows Firewall on or off" and toggle all settings to off

3. Open any Anti-Virus programs that you have on the computer and verify if they have their own Firewalls that need to be disabled as well

4. On the client machine, open the SolidNetWork License Manager Client and click the License Usage tab. If licenses appear, continue to step 5; if not, disable the Windows and Anti-Virus Firewalls on the Client computer and check the License Usage tab again. If the licenses still do not appear after disabling the Firewalls on both computers, then the Firewall is not the cause of the problem, and both firewalls can be re-enabled, and you can continue to the next troubleshooting test in the next section.

5. On the Server computer, navigate back to the Windows Firewall screen and click the link to "Advanced Settings." For the Anti-Virus Firewall, you will need to navigate to that software's firewall exception settings.

6. Add a new Inbound rule for the TCP ports 25734 and 25735. Once the new rule is saved, then re-enable the firewalls and verify that you can still see licenses on the License Usage tab on the client's computer. This will, in most cases, cure the issue. 

7. Repeat steps 5 & 6 for a new outbound rule on the Client computer if the licenses still do not appear 

Solution 4: Checking Firewall Ports using Telnet

If taking down the firewall cannot be done, there is a way to check if a port is being blocked using the Telnet communication test. This test uses the command prompt to check if one computer can communicate with another using a specified firewall port.

1. Press the Windows Start button
2. Open Control Panel > Programs and Features
3. Select Turn Windows Features on or off and enable Telnet Client.
4. Browse to All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt.
5. Type “telnet <ServerName> 25734” or “telnet <Server IP address> 25734”.
6. Press Enter.

If the command prompt returns any errors, then this can also indicate that the firewall ports are blocking the user's communication to the server. Please refer to the steps outlined in the above section "Checking Firewall Ports & Open Ports" to open the ports.

Other Common Issues

For other common Network License-related issues, review these articles:

SOLIDWORKS Activation Wizard Initialization Issue: 72 – Hawk Ridge Systems

This Version of SOLIDWORKS is Newer than your License Version Error – Hawk Ridge Systems

Empty Response Received from the Activation Server Error When Activating SOLIDWORKS – Hawk Ridge Systems

For further instructions on PDM and SOLIDWORKS Electrical firewall troubleshooting, please see the articles below:

Firewall Ports for PDM – Hawk Ridge Systems

Network Communication Ports in SOLIDWORKS Electrical – Hawk Ridge Systems

For additional support, existing customers can submit a ticket or new customers can contact Hawk Ridge Systems.