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Follow the instructions below to install, transfer, configure, and activate a CAMWorks, CAMWorks Solids, CAMWorks ShopFloor, and/or a NESTINGWorks floating network license. All licenses are generated by the developer, HCL Technologies. The “CAMWorks License Activation Guide” contains a more detailed list of instructions, which can be found by browsing and downloaded from the CAMWorks Customer Area (login required).

Note: Everything in this guide is meant to occur on the computer that will be hosting the CAMWorks license. If you are moving the license to a new computer, follow this guide on the NEW computer.

This setup procedure has 6 steps: (1) Install the ‘CAMWorks License Manager’ on the host (server), (2) Generate & submit the License Request File, (3) Configure Firewall security settings, (4) Activate the CAMWorks license on the host (server), (5) Configure the client computers, and (6) Check out the CAMWorks modules. Follow the steps below.

Step 1: Install the CAMWorks License Manager on the Host 

The computer hosting the license server must be on a Windows network that client computers can communicate with. This hosting computer must have a static MAC address and static port numbers. It is best that this computer typically be powered up and remain connected via a reliable wired network connection. A physical server is ideal. The client computer(s) using CAMWorks, CAMWorks Solids, CAMWorks ShopFloor and/or NESTINGWorks will obtain the license from this hosting computer.

1. From a Windows user account with administrative rights, install the 'CAMWorks License Manager' by right-clicking on it and selecting "Run as Administrator". The latest version of the 'CAMWorks License Manager' can be downloaded from the Miscellaneous section of the CAMWorks Customer Area (login required). 
2. Follow the prompts through the installation. It is best to install it to the default location. It must be installed on the local C:\ drive of the computer hosting the license. 

Step 2: Generate & submit the License Request File

1. Launch the ‘CAMWorks License Manager’ as Administrator (Right-click and select 'Run as Administrator'). If prompted, a dialog box with the options of Wizard or License Manager, select the License Manager option.
2. Navigate to the Server Settings tab and click on "Use this Machine as License Server"

3. Change the "Server License Method" From "Online Activations" to "License File Based"
4. Click the “Request Network Server License…” button, and the license request form will appear.

5. Complete the form with valid contact information. The company specified needs to match the company name that was on your purchase order. This information is used to verify the purchase. The license will be sent to the email addresses specified. Check the box to approve the Privacy Policy
6. Note the specified port number. This will be needed when establishing client computers. The default port number is 27000.
7. Click the “Open in Windows Explorer” button. This will capture the computer’s HostID, generate the License Request File (file extension .CWREQ), and save it in the path/folder where the ‘CAMWorks License Manager’ was installed. Note: The default location is C:\CWLicenseManager
8. The file extension will be .CWREQ, and the name of the file should indicate the company name, Windows user profile name, and the type of license request (Server or Standalone)
9. Attach this License Request File to an email and send it to: Gt.register@hcltech.com. To help expedite the license, please specify your supplied CPD number in the subject of the email. It is also recommended to provide licensing with the type of bundle this request is for (CAMWorks Standard, Milling Pro, Turning Pro, Premium, etc.) as well as any additional purchased add-ons (3 Axis VoluMill, Virtual Machine Pro/Premium, PrimeTurning, etc.). This can help HCL licensing when they cross-check the request against the order.
10. Typically, the license turnaround time is 1-2 business days; however, during peak volume times, it could be an additional 4-5 business days. Should you not receive your license from HCL Technologies within 5 business days, please contact us at support@hawkridgesys.com. 
11. Click the "OK" button to close/exit the ‘CAMWorks License Manager’

Step 3: Configure Firewall Security Settings

Client computers must communicate with the license server to access licensed modules, but firewall and security software may block this connection. Configure exceptions in Windows Firewall/Defender and other security software, such as McAfee, Norton, AVG, Avast, or Kaspersky, to allow the required licensing services. Because configuration steps vary, consult your IT representative or security software provider. Setting these exceptions is recommended to prevent license interruptions after security updates.

1. To set exceptions within the Windows Firewall, launch the Windows Control Panel, go to System Security, then under Windows Firewall, click on “Allow a program through Windows Firewall”.
2. Click the "Allow another program…" button and in the window that appears, click the "Browse…" button.
3. Browse to the location where the ‘CAMWorks License Manager’ was installed. The default location is:  C:\CWLicense Manager. 
4. Click on the ‘lmgrd.exe’ file, click the "Open" button, and then click the Add button. Check the Domain, Private, and Public options for all these services to run across your network, unblocked.
5. Repeat the process in the above step 4, for the ‘teksoft.exe’ file and the ‘CWLicenseManager.exe’ files. In summary, the three services to set exceptions for are:
   • lmgrd.exe: Flexera Software LLC
   • teksoft.exe: Geometric Daemon
   • CWLicenseManager.exe: CW License Manager

These exceptions are typically only needed on the computer (server) hosting the license. Remember, if applicable, these same exceptions may need to be entered into the additional security software. The exact process for configuring exceptions will vary for each different security software. Some additional security software may need exceptions for the port number.

Step 4: Activate the CAMWorks License on the Host

A representative from HCL Technologies CAMWorks Licensing Department will send an email containing the license file to the email addresses provided above.

1. When the license file (.lic) is received via email, save the license file into the location where the ‘CAMWorks License Manager’ was installed. Only the computer hosting (server) the license needs the .lic file. The default location is: C:\CWLicenseManger
2. Launch the ‘CAMWorks License Manager’ as Administrator (Right-click and select 'Run as Administrator'). If prompted, a dialog box with the options of Wizard or License Manager, select the License Manager option.
3. Navigate to the Server Settings tab and click the “Use this Machine as License Server” button to activate the License Server Settings options.

4. For the License file path, click the 'Browse...' button, and browse to the license file (.lic file) saved location. The default location is: C:\CWLicenseManager

5. Highlight the .lic file, click "Open", and then click the “Install License Service” button. It may take 1-2 minutes to install the service. Please be patient as it is running.

6. Once available, click the “Start License Service” button. It may take 3-4 minutes to start the service as well. Please be patient as it is running.

7. Once running, the Status section should display: “License Service is running”.
8. Click the "Apply" button.
9. Navigate to the Status tab. Verify the Authorization status is prompting: Succeeded. Additionally, the License File Used should display the computer’s name hosting the license, with a license type of Floating, your CPD number and/or the CAMWorks serial number.

Step 5: Configure the Client Computers

To successfully check out a license on a client computer, the client computer must be configured to access the floating network license

1. Ensure the ‘CAMWorks License Manager’ is installed on the client computer/workstation that is running CAMWorks. If it is not, please install CAMWorks. The installation of CAMWorks will also install the ‘CAMWorks License Manager’. Please see the ‘CAMWorks Installation Guide’ for details
2. Launch the ‘CAMWorks License Manager’ as Administrator (Right-click and select 'Run as Administrator'). If prompted, a dialog box with the options of Wizard or License Manager, select the License Manager option.
3. Within the ‘CAMWorks License Manager’, navigate to the License Setup tab
4. For the License Method drop-down, select “Floating network server”
5. Specify the Server Host Name, which is the name of the computer (server) hosting the license
6. Specify the Port number. The default port number is 27000

7. Click the "Apply" button

   

8. Navigate to the Status tab. Verify the Authorization status is prompting: Succeeded. Additionally, the License File Used should display the computer’s name hosting the license, with a license type of Floating, your CPD number and/or the CAMWorks serial number. 

   

9. Verify the licensed modules and dates by navigating to the Authorized Modules tab
10. Click the "OK" button to close and exit the license manager. 
11. Repeat these steps for each client computer/workstation using CAMWorks

Step 6: Check out the CAMWorks Modules

The license for the corresponding CAMWorks modules must be “floated” to the client computer/workstation from the hosting computer (server) by the user physically checking the modules out. Failure to do so will result in deactivated (grayed out) icons/functions within CAMWorks and/or NESTINGWorks.

1. Launch ‘SOLIDWORKS’ or ‘CAMWorks Solids’, depending on which CAD application you are using to run CAMWorks and/or NESTINGWorks within. The CAMWorks and/or NESTINGWorks add-in needs to be enabled and loaded
2. The CAMWorks and/or NESTINGWorks add-in can be enabled and loaded by going to ‘Tools’ within the top menu bar of SOLIDWORKS and/or CAMWorks Solids and selecting ‘Add-ins’. Check off CAMWorks and/or NESTINGWorks as an active add-in and check as a startup add-in if desired.
3. Within the top menu bar, find the SOLIDWORKS Help menu, a question mark inside a circle. Select the CAMWorks 20XX help flyout, then select "License Info..."

4. In the dialog window that appears, it will list all the available modules. Check all the modules desired for this user. Once all the desired modules are checked, click the Update Licenses button. Notice that the availability of a module will decrease because this user just checked it out for use. If a module is unavailable, another user may have it checked out, and they will need to release it so that someone else can use it. A checkmark indicates which modules are assigned to this client. A checkmark in the “Start-up” column will automatically use this given module upon launching your next CAMWorks session.

5. Click the "OK" button to finish checking out (floating) a module from the hosting computer (server) to this client computer/workstation. Similarly, we can navigate to the same License Info area, and uncheck modules and click the "Update Licenses" button to release modules back to the hosting computer (server), so that another client computer/workstation can then check them out for use.
6. Repeat this process to check out CAMWorks modules on each client computer/workstation using CAMWorks and/or NESTINGWorks. The number of concurrent users that are checking out licenses is dependent upon the number of seats purchased. Once this seat count is hit, users will have to release a license so that another user can use it, and they will have to float the licenses back and forth by checking and unchecking out the modules.

Troubleshooting

If any issues occur, please try the below troubleshooting options:

• Ensure the license manager is launched as administrator when configuring/modifying license settings.
• Verify that the ‘CAMWorks Manager Version’ is the same on the server/hosting computer as the client computers.
• Verify the Host Name and Port Number are specified correctly in both the server/hosting computer and client computers.
• Verify the license status is prompting Succeeded. If prompting failed on the client computer, but succeeded on the server/hosting computer, then a firewall security software is most likely blocking it.
• Review the firewall settings in Step 3 of these instructions.
• From the client computer, ping the hosting server’s IP address.
• From the client computer, ping the hosting server’s name.
• Check the license duration date.
• Check the Support/USP expiry date vs. the date required for each version/service pack of installed software.
• Verify the Host ID on the server/hosting computer matches that computer's Physical Address/MAC Address.
• Verify the port number is correct.
• If conflicting with other software, try a different port number. The .lic file will need to be edited accordingly.

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