Question: What is SolidNetWork License (SNL) activation?
Answer: SNL Activation is a natural extension of Standalone License Activation. Itis a secure and hassle free process that authenticates network licensed users during the installation process. The process verifies that the serial number is legitimate and has not been activated on more systems than allowed by the SolidWorks End-User License Agreement (EULA). It does not affect the ability of licensed users to use their software the way they have always done.

Please also refer to the Licensing and Activation page for general activation or SNL questions.

Question: What are the steps of SNL Activation on the license server?

Answer:

1.Via the SolidWorks 2010 (or above) Installation Manager, download and install the SNL Administrator on the license server

2.Launch the SNL Administrator

3.Reply "Yes" to the question "Would you like to activate now?"

4.Proceed through the following screens to complete the activation process.

Question: What are the differences between Network licensing with a dongle and SNL Activation?

Answer: Network licensing with a dongle needs both a physical dongle and an explicit digital license file to activate a SolidWorks Network License product while SNL Activation does not need the dongle or the explicit license file, which will greatly reduce the delivery time and potential technical issues.

Question: Will SNL Activation be required for all the SolidWorks 2010 Network License customers?
Answer: Yes.

Question: Will SolidWorks Simulation (COSMOS) products be subject to SNL Activation?
Answer: Yes.

Question: I'm a current SolidWorks Simulation node-locked SNL user or SNL dongle user.What should I do to activate my products if I upgrade to SolidWorks 2010?

Answer: If you upgrade your Simulation products to SolidWorks 2010 release, you will need to activate the products using your serial number by following the steps in Question 2 above. You don't need a license file or dongle in this activation process, so please return your dongles to your resellers who will help with possible questions.

Question: Can the Activation-based SNL Administrator read multiple serial numbers?
Answer: Yes, the Activation-based SNL Administrator can read multiple serial numbers for different SolidWorks products.

Question: When will SNL Activation be implemented?

Answer: SNL Activation will be implemented for all global customers in SolidWorks 2010 SP0.

Question: When will SNL Activation be implemented for Education Edition customers?
Answer: SNL Activation will be implemented for Education Edition customers in SolidWorks Education Edition 2010-2011 academic year.

Question: Do I need to activate my license server immediately?
Answer: Yes. SNL Activation requires immediate activation for the license server to distribute licenses.

Question: What if I don't have an Internet connection?

Answer: Activating over the Internet is a quick, one-time process. If your computer is temporarily offline, you can activate the next time it's online. Once the product is activated, the activation process no longer needs to connect to the Internet. If you are installing on a computer that will never be connected to the Internet, you can activate your license by emailing your request file directly to SolidWorks. Please follow the email activation wizard found within the license administrator.

Question: What are the Operating Systems supported in the SNL Activation?
Answer: Please refer to the system requirements.

Question: How do I transfer my SNL server to another computer?
Answer: You can launch the SNL Administrator and press Modify button. Here you will have Transfer option if you have already activated the server.

Question: What will happen to my existing SNL dongle?

Answer: Existing dongles will be collected and destroyed by SolidWorks resellers.

Question: Can resellers disable a license server?

Answer: Yes, resellers can disable a customer's license server through the Activation Manager, the same way to disable a single-user machine.

Question: Can I still request a license file for SolidWorks 2009 or before from the Customer Portal?

Answer: Yes, but only if you have not upgraded to SolidWorks 2010. When you upgrade, a license file is no longer required. Please activate your products and return your dongles.

Question: How can I increase or decrease my concurrent users on my existing license?

Answer: You can increase the number of licenses by placing a purchase order to add with your Reseller. If you want to decrease the number of licenses, you need to request a license decrement from your reseller. In either case, please reactivate your license server and the change will be in place.

Question: Can I continue to use SolidWorks 2009 with the dongle until I'm ready to upgrade?

Answer: Yes.

Question: What does SolidWorks recommend if I want to run SolidWorks 2009 and 2010 at the same time?

Answer: You just need to activate your SolidWorks 2010 license server and it will be able to issue licenses for SolidWorks 2010 and previous releases including SolidWorks 2009.

Question: What if I'm already using SNL Activation with SolidWorks 2009? Do I need to do anything to activate SolidWorks 2010?

Answer: If you want to start using SolidWorks 2010, then yes. You will need to install the new SNL Administrator 2010 and activate your license server.

Question: What if my server crashes before I transfer my license to a new server?

Answer: You will need to create a Service Request with the SolidWorks Technical Support team. They will either issue a temporary license file, or allow you to reactivate on a different license server.

Question: How many Activations are allowed per network license server?

Answer: One.

Question: We have Home Use Licenses (HUL) with our SNL. How will SNL Activation affect HUL licenses?

Answer: SNL Activation will not affect HUL licenses.

Question: Does SNL Activation affect Triads licensing?

Answer: No, SNL Activation will not affect Triads licensing, which will continue to be supported with dongles.

Question: Will I still be able to use the "borrow" functionality with Activation?

Answer: Yes.

Question: How does SNL Activation benefit Resellers?

Answer: SNL Activation will help dramatically decrease one of the biggest customer pain points: configuration of SNL installations. More than just removing the dongle, SNL Activation also takes care of setting up the SNL server with the customer's assets, which has always been a big source of service requests and customer dissatisfaction. This will also allow near-real-time fulfillment of SNL seats to a customer.

Question: When can users activate after the placement of an order?

Answer: Within two business days.

Question: What happens if the activation server is unavailable when I try to activate?

Answer: The activation server is very reliable with downtimes measured in only a few hours per year. In the rare case of an activation server failure, you cannot activate or run your software. Please contact SolidWorks Technical Support team for a temporary license file.

Question: How long does it take to activate an SNL product?

Answer: About one minute for Internet Activation and ten minutes for E-mail Activation.

Question: Can I keep my existing SolidWorks serial number or do I need a new one in order to activate? How will I get my new serial number?

Answer: You can continue to use your existing serial number. During install, your serial number will be upgraded to 24 digits. But the first 16 digits will always remain the same, and you can continue to use the original 16 digits during future installs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on SolidNetWork License

Question: What is the SolidNetWork License?

Answer: The SolidNetWork License is an optional product offering from SolidWorks Corporation that uses FLEXlm from Macrovision Corporation to manage the use of SolidWorks licenses.

Question: What are the benefits of the SolidNetWork License (SNL)?

Answer: The SolidNetWork License ensures that customer use of the SolidWorks software does not exceed the purchased number of seats. The SolidNetWork License uses a License Server, which grants permission to License Clients to execute SolidWorks. The SolidNetWork License allows multiple concurrent users to access the software in a distributed, work-group environment, while ensuring compliance and flexibility.

Question: Can SolidWorks customers with stand-alone seats change to the SNL (SolidNetWork License)?

Answer: Yes. SolidWorks customers with stand-alone seats of SolidWorks will be able to change the stand-alone licenses for SolidNetWork Licenses. The SolidNetWork fee applies.
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Question: Does SolidNetWork License (SNL) support Gold Partner products (add-ins)?

Answer: No, the SolidNetWork License is independent of any Gold Partner license management scheme. The license management or metering software used by Gold Partners is not dictated by SolidWorks Corporation.

Question: With the SolidNetWork License (SNL), do different add-ins require the same number licenses as SolidWorks installations?

Answer: No, the number of seats for each add-on is independent from each other and from the number of SolidWorks seats.

Question: Can SolidNetWork License (SNL) customers have both locked and networked licenses of SolidWorks?

Answer: Yes. Customers may have a mix of stand-alone and SolidNetWork licenses.

Question: What is a SolidNetWork License (SNL) installation?

Answer: An "installation" refers to each single SolidNetWork License setup. A SolidNetWork License setup is required on each license server. A SolidNetWork customer may have multiple installations that may be located within the same building, different buildings, or even different cities.

Question: Does the SolidNetWork License (SNL) support multiple installations?

Answer: Yes, The SolidNetWork License supports multiple site installations in the same global territory.

Question: Does the SolidNetWork License (SNL) support installations in different global territories?

Answer: No, per the SolidWorks license contract, the SolidNetWork License does not support installations in different global territories. The license server must reside in the same global territory as the license clients.

Question: Can a customer have SolidNetWork Licenses (SNL) distributed from different license servers? For example: 15 seats on one server and 10 on another.

Answer: Yes, the SolidNetWork licenses provide for multiple installations for commercial customers only. Each installation needs to be identified upon order.
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Question: Does the SolidNetWork License (SNL) support a configurable time-out feature?

Answer: Yes, The SolidNetWork License optionally supports a configurable time-out feature. The preset minimum is 15 minutes.
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Question: What happens when a user exceeds the time-out interval using SolidNetWork License (SNL)?

Answer: Inactivity beyond the specified interval frees the license for use by another user. The server reclaims the license to the free license pool. When the original user session is no longer idle, a new license will be granted if available. If there is no license available, the user will be able to exit without data loss.

Question: What is a SolidNetWork License (SNL) server?

Answer: A license server is a workstation that is set up to serve license clients. The license server grants permission to license clients to execute SolidWorks.

Question: How does the SolidNetWork License (SNL) server control SolidWorks licenses?

Answer: The SolidNetWork License Server contains a License File that has information regarding the version of SolidWorks and the number of purchased licenses. The number of concurrent users is based on the number of purchased licenses.

Question: What happens when the number of SolidWorks licenses is exceeded when running the SolidNetWork License (SNL)?

Answer : The SolidNetWork license monitors the concurrent usage of SolidWorks to ensure that the number of concurrent users does not exceed the number of purchased licenses. Additional concurrent users can not execute SolidWorks once the specified number of users is exceeded.

Question: Is it necessary to shut down SolidWorks in order to release a license for a SolidWorks add-in?

Answer: No, it is not necessary to shut down SolidWorks to release the license for a SolidWorks add-in. Simply un-check the add-in under Tools, Add-ins, and this will release the license.

Question: Who supports the SolidNetWork License Option (SNL)?

Answer: The SolidWorks Reseller provides first line support for The SolidNetWork License. To limit the number of users contacting the reseller, customers are encouraged to identify specific Reseller to request support.

Question: If a company purchases 50 SolidNetWork Licenses (SNL) to support 100 users, do all 100 users have access to web support, downloads, FAQ's, etc.?

Answer: Yes.
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Question: What if a SolidNetWork License (SNL) customer does not purchase subscription service?

Answer : Future releases of SolidWorks and services will not be provided.

Question: Are SolidWorks service packs supported with SolidNetWork License (SNL)?

Answer: Yes, SolidWorks service packs are fully supported.

Question: How can I tell if problems accessing the SolidNetWork (SNL) license server are caused by my network?

Answer: There are two simple tests you can do:

1. To verify if your local machine can see the server machine over the network, open a DOS window and type the following command: ping [server_name]. If the server machine is accessible, you will get a reply message listing the IP address of the server. If the server machine is not accessible, you will get an error message stating "Bad IP address". A bad IP address can be caused by misspelling the server name, or by network connectivity problems.

2. To make sure more complex TCP/IP protocols are being routed properly, try doing a telnet to the port on the server where there FLEXLm server is residing, type: "telnet [server_name] [port_number]". The default SW FLEXlm port number is 16560. If you get an error message "connection failed", this indicates that there is insufficient TCP/IP routing between the client and the server. You will need to see your network administrator to get this resolved before SolidNetWork License will work.

Question: Is SolidWorks Subscription Service required for SolidNetWork License (SNL)?

Answer: No, the SolidNetWork License does not require subscription service. However, the benefits of subscription service (software upgrades, access to Knowledge Base, etc.) will not be available.

Question: Can SolidNetWork License (SNL) float licenses of 3rd party Solution Partner products?

Answer: No, SNL can only float SolidWorks licenses and those of SolidWorks supplied add-in products, such as PhotoWorks, FeatureWorks, Animator, Piping, and so on.
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Question: Does SolidNetWork License (SNL) support add-ins?

Answer: Yes, the SolidNetWork License fully supports SolidWorks add-ins.

Question: Does the SolidNetwork License allow for home usage?

Answer: The SolidNetWork license currently allows for home usage as long as the user has continuous network connection to the license server, and licenses are available. When a continuous network connection is not available a customer may request a home usage license. A home usage license will be issued by Order Administration upon receipt of a signed copy of the home usage agreement.

Question: What is the price of the SolidNetWork License?

Answer: The SolidNetWork License has an additional charge per seat for commercial customers. Please contact your SolidWorks Reseller for additional details.
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Question: What happens to the Subscription Service when additional users are added?

Answer: The Subscription Service fee will be pro-rated for additional users. All seats will be tied to the same subscription period.

Question: What is the process for a company to take stand-alone licenses and exchange them to a network license?

Answer: Customers who wish to convert stand-alone licenses to a SolidNetWork License must provide SolidWorks with the individual serial numbers to be converted. The customer will be issued a new serial number.

There will be a one-time Administrative fee for educational customers converting 25 or more stand-alone licenses to a SolidNetWork License. Customers currently using dongles will be required to return the appropriate number of hardware dongles.
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Question: Can resellers sell supplemental "Phone/Fax/Email Subscription Contracts" to handle the fact that there will be more users than actual licenses purchased? (Technical support demands will increase for resellers).

Answer: Yes. SolidWorks recommends that resellers encourage and assist SolidNetWork License customers to create an internal support team responsible for coordinating support efforts with the reseller. It is in the best interest of both the reseller and the customer to "limit" the number of users contacting the reseller to the number of concurrent licenses purchased.