How to set up my FLACS licence

A valid licence is required to run FLACS-CFD. This article covers installing the licence manager runtime software, configuring the licence connection, and using the licence configuration tools.

For updating or renewing a licence, see How to set up my FLACS licence.

License manager runtime software

The license manager runtime software (runtime) needs to be installed if you have a hardware key connected (HL), use a softlock key (SL) or cloud license (CL). The runtime can be automatically installed by the package installer.

When installed, the runtime runs in the background and provides a web-based administration interface at (http://localhost:1947).

Installers for the runtime can be found in the installation directory under the license/Sentinel subdirectory.

Minimum runtime version

FLACS-CFD 26.1 requires licence manager runtime version 8.53 or higher. Gexcon recommends updating to the latest version (currently 10.11). If the runtime is too old, FLACS-CFD will display "Sentinel License Manager version too old" or "HASP LM version is too old" on launch.

Installers for the runtime are included in the FLACS-CFD installation directory under license/Sentinel.

For Linux

1. See the readme file for detailed instructions (extract readme.tgz and open Readme.html in a web browser), in the command line enter the following:

   > mkdir tmp-extract
   > cd tmp-extract
   > tar -xvf /usr/local/Gexcon/FLACS-CFD_26.1/license/Sentinel/linux/readme.tgz

2. Extract the package

   > tar -xvf /usr/local/Gexcon/FLACS-CFD_26.1/license/Sentinel/linux/aksusbd-10.11.1.tar.gz

3. Run the installer script as root (e.g. using sudo)

   > (cd aksusbd-8.53.1 && chmod -R a+rX . && sudo ./dinst)

Vendor libraries required

The Gexcon vendor library files (haspvlib*_102648.so) must be present in the same folder as the dinst installer script during installation. These are required to support softlock and cloud licence keys and are included in the extracted package.

For Windows

1. Extract the readme for detailed instructions:

   mkdir tmp-extract
   cd tmp-extract
   C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7z.exe x C:\Program Files\Gexcon\FLACS-CFD_26.1\license\Sentinel\windows\readme.zip
   

2. Run the installer as administrator:

   C:\Program Files\Gexcon\FLACS-CFD_26.1\license\Sentinel\windows\haspdinst.exe -i

   Available options: -i (install), -r (remove), -info (show contents), -help (brief help).

   Vendor library required

   The file haspvlib_102648.dll must be present in the same folder as haspdinst.exe during installation. It is included in the runtime package and supports softlock and cloud licence keys.

Installing license per user configuration

The hasp_104628.ini file allows per-user configuration of licence server access. This is useful when you need to connect to a specific licence server rather than relying on automatic broadcast discovery.

Linux: ~/.hasplm/hasp_104628.ini

Windows: C:\Users\USER_NAME\AppData\Local\SafeNet Sentinel\Sentinel LDK\hasp_104628.ini

Example: connect to specific licence servers

broadcastsearch = 0
serveraddr = 10.0.0.1
serveraddr = 10.0.0.2
disable_IPv6 = 0

Example: connect using a cloud licence client identity

broadcastsearch = 0
serveraddr = UNIQUE:SecretClientIdentity@gexcon.prod.sentinelcloud.com
disable_IPv6 = 0

Example: connect to any detected licence server

broadcastsearch = 1
aggressive = 1
disable_IPv6 = 0

Single user license

Connect the license key to the USB slot on the computer and FLACS is ready for use.

Network license

Connect the license key to the USB slot on the computer that will hold the FLACS license.

Other computers on the network should automatically detect this license and FLACS is ready for use.

If the network license is not found

If it does not work, the licenses may not be available from the client computer. The following steps should be followed to troubleshoot:

1. Go to the configuration page and open the Access to Remote License Managers tab.

2. Ensure Allow Access to Remote Licenses is checked.

3. Enter the IP address of the licence server computer in the Remote License Search Parameters box.

Additional license troubleshooting can be found in FLACS User’s Manual. Alternatively, contact FLACS support for help.

If the licence key is visible in the web interface but FLACS-CFD cannot find it, specify the server IP address in hasp_104628.ini (see per user configuration) using broadcastsearch = 0 and serveraddr = <IP address>.

Ensure no firewall or antivirus is blocking port 1947 on the licence server — both TCP and UDP must be reachable.

Linux headless systems

On Linux machines with no display, you can specify the licence server IP in /etc/hasplm/hasplm.ini. Add the following, where 10.0.0.1 is the licence server address:

[REMOTE]
broadcastsearch = 1
serversearchinterval = 30
serveraddr = 10.0.0.1

You do not need to restart the licence manager after editing this file.

Cloud license (CL)

The cloud licence server is hosted by Gexcon on Amazon AWS and maintained entirely by Gexcon. Each user is identified by a client identity — a secret string that provides access to the purchased licence features.

Add the client identity on all client computers to the Remote License Search Parameters in the Admin Control Center web interface (the same process as for a network licence), or add it to hasp_104628.ini as shown in Per user configuration of license.

Technical requirements

Client machines must have internet access with outgoing connections permitted on HTTP (port 80), HTTPS (port 443), and port 1947 to gexcon.prod.sentinelcloud.com

Troubleshooting the connection to the cloud license server

Test whether each port is accessible using telnet:

telnet gexcon.prod.sentinelcloud.com <PORT>

A successful connection produces no output and the terminal goes blank — press Enter to disconnect.

If you see Could not open connection, try disconnecting from your company VPN and testing again. If the connection succeeds without VPN, contact your IT support to allow access to gexcon.prod.sentinelcloud.com on ports 80, 443, and 1947 over VPN.

Checking current sessions

The Admin Control Center shows the current number of active sessions for a network or local key.

1. Open http://localhost:1947 (or http://<IP-address>:1947 for a remote key).

2. Go to the Sentinel Keys page and select Features to see the concurrent user limits for CASD, FLACS, and Flowvis.

3. Select Sessions to see the currently active sessions.

If a session remains listed after FLACS-CFD has been closed — for example after a crash — use the Disconnect button to force it to end.

License configuration

The license configuration wizard / tool can be used to apply license updates, retrieve license information and obtain machine fingerprints. This can be done either by the command line license configuration tool or the license configuration wizard.

License configuration wizard

The license configuration wizard can be accessed through RunManager via Help → Start Configuration Wizard…

Alternatively, this can be accessed via the command line.

For Linux:

> /usr/local/Gexcon/FLACS-CFD_26.1/bin/run configureWizard

For Windows:

> C:\Program Files\Gexcon\FLACS-CFD_26.1\bin\configureWizard.exe

Note the user should edit the path as required.

License configuration tool

For Windows:

Users can employ the licenseconfig tool on Windows computers where FLACS is installed by following these steps:

1. Open ‘Command Prompt’ window.

2. Give the command >cd C:\Program Files\Gexcon\FLACS-CFD_26.1\bin\

3. Then give a command in the form of >licenseconfig.exe -option where -option is replaced by one of the options below.

For Linux:

Users can employ the licenseconfig tool on Windows computers where FLACS is installed by following these steps:

1. Run the command line tool with the required option (replacing -option with one of the options below) :

   /usr/local/Gexcon/FLACS-CFD_26.1/bin/licenseconfig -option

Options

Running the license configuration tool with a cloud license

When cloud licensing is used, the licenseconfig tool does not report the hostname of the cloud licensing server but the local computer where the tool is run.

Cloud licences

When a cloud licence is in use, licenseconfig reports the hostname of the local computer rather than the cloud licence server. This is expected behaviour.