Licensing - Server and Client

Alrighty, until we have proper licensing information for Krakatoa for Cinema 4D, here are some helpful bits:

License server setup

CAUTION: This is NOT needed for node-locked licenses, so don’t use it if you have one. The licensing code needed for node-locked licenses is written directly into the bridge.

How to install the license server and get it running manually:
thinkboxsoftware.com/license … figuration

For those on Mac OS X, this is a trial installer attached to this post. Feel free to comment about problems with it in this thread.

Things to note:

  • The file picker in this installer is a pain. You’ll need to type in the path manually. I’ll work on that after the break.
  • It will copy the specified license file into the installation path by default and name it “Thinkbox.lic”
  • It will create a service and start it automatically.
  • I haven’t gotten the uninstaller to work yet.
  • You can run the installer as many times as you like.

A manual process for setting things up on OS X can be found here:
github.com/ThinkboxSoftware/Dea … /Licensing

Client setup

  1. Open Cinema 4D, and select “Krakatoa” as the renderer.
  2. Under the renders settings, select the “Licensing” tab.
  3. In the licensing tab, enter in the path to your “.lic” node-locked license, or enter the license server name for floating license.
  4. Render (this will attempt a license checkout).

Edit: The following are no longer necessary as of Beta 3:
Client setup

  1. Standard Flex (easiest, node-locked only):
    If you want to go the standard flexlm route, it tries to read the license as a (probably) non-existent file “/usr/local/flexlm/licenses/license.dat”. If you create those folders, then put your license file in place as “license.dat” in there, it should just work. If the file ‘license.dat’ already exists, copy the ‘FEATURE’ line from the license file and paste it into this one.

  2. Environment variable (hard on OS X):
    Set a system environment variable called “THINKBOX_LICENSE_FILE” and set it to either path of your license file for node-locked licenses, or to the host name or IP address of your license server, but prefixed with an ‘@’ symbol. An example would be ‘@licserver
    Setting an environment variable is a pain on OS X in general (they seem to hate environment variable for some reason), so you can likely avoid that.

  3. That fancy .flexlmrc (OS X and Linux only):
    Create a file in your home folder called “.flexlmrc” and put the following line in it:
    for node-locked licenses:
    THINKBOX_LICENSE_FILE=/path/to/license.lic (where this is changed to the path to your license file)
    for floating licenses:
    THINKBOX_LICENSE_FILE=@licserver

I followed the readme file provided with the license server package,
but my hostid was wrong, so Radka from the support team corrected it
in my license file. I’m sure licensing like this is no prob for TD’s, but
for the usual c4d user it’s really complicated.

Steps I followed:

Create a folder for the licensing binaries. We expect it to be
“/usr/local/Thinkbox/lmgrd”.

Create a folder with license file at:
“/usr/local/flexlm/licenses/license.dat”
If you create those folders, put your license file in place as
“license.dat” in there.

Copy all of the licensing binaries (content of OSX_ppcia32ia64.zip)
and put them into the local folder “/usr/local/Thinkbox/lmgrd”,
and set permissions to read&write.

Now, copy the “com.thinkbox.license.plist” file into “/Library/LaunchDaemons”
and install it with the following command in a Terminal window:
launchctl load -w /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.thinkbox.license.plist

If something goes wrong, launchd should have written helpful output in
“/usr/local/Thinkbox/lmgrd/Thinkbox.log”. <— in this file I read that my hostid was wrong

Unloading the license service (stop it from running):
launchctl unload -w /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.thinkbox.license.plist
Re-load it:
launchctl load -w /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.thinkbox.license.plist

Help
The Launch daemon writes errors to /var/log/system.log with a prefix of
“com.apple.launchd[1]”. Usually, if you it’s not working, make sure that
the license file exists and reflects your machine. Usually it’s helpful to try
and run lmgrd first to see that the license file works, and then move on to
this.

Ok, had a severe crash, license thingie doesn’t work anymore.
This is rather frustrating, I think I’ll wait a couple of months
till this is sorted out.

Steps to take after setting up your license server on windows 8(.1)

Under windows 8(.1)

hit the windows key, type
‘Edit Environment Variables’

Hit return, and under user create new.

Variable Name: THINKBOX_LICENSE_FILE
Variable Value: ‘path to .lic file’

boom done, render!

=====

Derya dont give up because you can’t get the install working. This is a beta, elaborate on why its not working, tell us what happened. Share your logs, etc. All of this information will make the application better. Simply giving up because you aren’t reading isn’t going to help anyone!

Derya, out of curiosity, did you try putting the license file inside “/usr/local/Thinkbox/lmgrd/” as “Thinkbox_license.lic”? The launchd configuration file is supposed to try to use a license there, I’m just curious if I need to make an edit to help out.

Also, the only issue with placing it in “license.dat” is that that file is used to pool multiple licenses together from different vendors (like Audodesk, The Foundry, etc) and run under one running lmgrd. We keep them separate so we can restart the license servers independently. Not a big deal, it’s just something to be mindful of.

The logs should definitely give us a good clue about what went wrong with licensing.

Sorry mate, but I wanted to beta test the software/plugin, not the licensing/install routine.

Thanks very much for trying to help out eamsler, I will give this a shot later. This is how my usr/local folder looks like now.

Ok, I’m stuck too.

I have done pretty much everything.
Here’s what I get when I run lmgrd:
13:18:04 (lmgrd) license manager: can’t initialize:No SERVER lines in license file.
13:18:04 (lmgrd) License Path: “/usr/local/flexlm/licenses/license.dat”
13:18:04 (lmgrd) FLEXnet Licensing error:-13,66

and this is what I get in C4D console:

Krakatoa: [ERROR] Could not aquire Krakatoa license.
To specify a license server or file, set the environment variable THINKBOX_LICENSE_FILE, and restart Cinema 4D.
Example for floating license:
THINKBOX_LICENSE_FILE=@MyLicenseServerName
Example for node-locked license:
THINKBOX_LICENSE_FILE=/Users/MyName/Thinkbox_license.lic
Detailed license error information:
Invalid host.
The hostid of this system does not match the hostid
specified in the license file.
Feature: krakatoa-cinema4d
Hostid: e80688cb9f0b
License path: /usr/local/flexlm/licenses/license.dat:
FLEXnet Licensing error:-9,57

My Mac has 2 Ethernet cards. So 2 Mac Addresses.
Radka sent me a license for en0 (1st Ethernet card), and I just requested another .lic for the second ethernet card.
Is it possible to force the license server to use one or the other?

thanks

Sorry mate, but I wanted to beta test the software/plugin, not the licensing/install routine.<

the licensing/install is PART of testing. we need to ensure that things install, license, function properly. i understand that it can be painful at times, but if you want a polished experience, i would recommend not signing up for beta applications! :smiley:
that being said, let’s sort this out!!

cb

could I please have another license for my second Ethernet card?

e8:06:88:cb:db:09

thanks

@noseman Unfortunately that’s a sales process. E-mail back the new MAC to beta@thinkboxsoftware.com and they’ll help you right out. It looks like you’re definitely on the right track! That new license will get you going.

@Derya Try renaming that license file in ‘lmgrd’ to be ‘Thinkbox_license.lic’. I’ve updated the setup docs on GitHub as well to match things in the licensing docs a bit better, but since you’ve got the old config stuff, stick with the ‘lmgrd’ folder. Launchd should keep trying to pick up the license if I remember correctly.

For everyone else, I’m building some installers. Hang tight, I’m hoping to get them out by 4:00pm central. That might be a bit ambitious, but I think it can be done.

For you OS X users that are having trouble, are you 100% that you’ve followed the installation instructions here thinkboxsoftware.com/license … x_and_OS_X ?

after you can see that the server does in fact start up and run, then you can set a PATH like the prompt asks you too. I dont have an apple computer to test on anymore so I can’t help a ton, but here is some reading material on the subject of modifying your environment variables.

stackoverflow.com/questions/1356 … 442#588442

apple.stackexchange.com/question … es-on-os-x

dowdandassociates.com/blog/c … inal-only/

cyberciti.biz/faq/appleosx-b … -variable/

Also, when you’re having an issue with OS X please specify which version you’re on. Lion, ML, and Mavericks all function differently when it comes to launchd.

Challenges are fun! Don’t give up!

The most glorious moments in your life are not the so-called days of success, but rather those days when out of dejection and despair you feel rise in you a challenge to life, and the promise of future accomplishments.

  • Gustave Flaubert

For those having issues before, I made a typo earlier. The variable was not “THINKBOX_LMGRD_LICENSE_FILE” but was instead “THINKBOX_LICENSE_FILE”. Sorry for any issues that caused.

Alright, I have an obligation to run out to, but I will have these installers up as soon as I can. The Mac one needs a bit of tweaking, but it is nearly done (I just need to figure out how to have it ask for a license file).

You guys are my top priority. We’ll get this done as soon as I’m able.

Thanks guys. Appreciate your efforts - but I’ve just totally hit a brick wall, despite making a usr/local folder and doing everything by the letter. I am running my apps off an SSD - do you think that is hindering the license sever?

SSD shouldnt have anything to do with it. i presume this is a local client?

Yeah - just me and my 'puter!

did you take this into account weezer?

I’ll post the same thing here.
For Mac Pros with two ethernet cards, you may need a license for the second MAC address NOT the first one.

No you just need to take into account which one is active. System prefs/network/(green aka active)Ethernet/hardware boom you got it.

Also, for those still struggling to install the license server on OS X, give this a try.

CAUTION: This is NOT needed for node-locked licenses, so don’t use it if you have one.

Things to note:

  • The file picker in this installer is a pain. You’ll need to type in the path manually. I’ll work on that after the break.
  • It will copy the specified license file into the installation path by default and name it “Thinkbox.lic”
  • It will create a service and start it automatically.
  • I haven’t gotten the uninstaller to work yet.
  • You can run the installer as many times as you like.