ESRI ArcGIS License Manager & Installation tips

There have been a number of issues with ArcGIS installations and License Manager challenges. In particular there have been issues with the license manager not finding the keyfile needed to run the software. Some of the tips below may be helpful. The first two items in particular have solved several problems.

• Viewing your current license manager:
  1 - Close any ArcGIS applications that you have open.
  2 - For Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003, click the Start menu, point to Programs, point to ArcGIS, and click Desktop Administrator. For Windows XP, click the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to ArcGIS, and click Desktop Administrator.
  3 - Click the License Manager folder in the table of contents. The name of the license manager is displayed.
  
• Changing your license manager for ArcGIS Desktop and ArcInfo Workstation:
  1 - Close any ArcGIS applications that you have open.
  2 - For Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003, click the Start menu, point to Programs, point to ArcGIS, and click Desktop Administrator. For Windows XP, click the Start menu, point to All Programs, point to ArcGIS, and click Desktop Administrator.
  3 - Click the License Manager folder in the table of contents and click the Change button.The Change License Manager dialog box appears.
  4 - Type the name of the license manager you want to use or click the Browse button to browse to a license manager. The name of the license manager is the same as the host name of the machine where the license manager is installed. Do not prefix the machine name with @ or \\. (Note: Browsing does not always work but typing in the name should. To get the name of your local computer, in Windows XP go to My Computer>View System Information>Computer name. You should not include the domain portion of your computer name, for example fws.doi.net. Only the first part of the computer name is needed.)
  5 - Click OK.
  6 - Click OK to close the ArcGIS Desktop Administrator and apply your changes, or click Apply to set your changes without closing the ArcGIS Desktop Administrator.
  
• For information on administering the ArcGIS License Manager, please refer to the License Manager Reference Guide. This guide can be found in the following locations on a license manager machine.
  On Windows 2000:
      Start > Programs > ArcGIS > License Manager (9.x) > License Manager Reference Guide
  On Windows XP and Windows Server 2003:
      Start > All Programs > ArcGIS > License Manager (9.x) > License Manager Reference Guide
  
• License Manager Installation steps:
  1 - Obtain a hardware key and license file (keycodes). Either a parallel-port or USB-port hardware key may be used. When upgrading from Version 8.x to 9.x you will need a new license file, but the same file will work with all 9.x versions of ArcGIS.
  2 - Download and install the current Sentinel SuperPro driver from Safenet. (http://www.safenet-inc.com/support/tech/sentinel.asp) (may or may not be needed, but will not hurt!)
  3 - If you have a parallel-port key, plug it into your license server computer and reboot. If you are using the USB hardware key, please do not connect the USB key at this time. (USB hardware keys must be plugged in AFTER the license manager is installed and the system has been rebooted.)
  4 - Locate the license file. You should have your license file saved to a text file available on a floppy disk, hard disk, or online network drive. The license file is usually named hardware_key_id_v9.txt or hardware_key_id _v9.efl9. A license file works with only one hardware key and no other!
  5 - Install the license manager
  
• Sentinel key issues:
  License server hangs when a laptop goes to sleep. This is a known problem with USB keys. The fix is to Download and install the current Sentinel SuperPro driver from Safenet (http://www.safenet-inc.com/support/tech/sentinel.asp)
  
• Renamed computer:
  If your computer has been renamed the following steps may help. If not, you will need a new license file with an updated computer name. If you have an existing Windows license server (including ones on laptops), try the Update License Manager utility in Start/Programs/ArcGIS/ESRI License Manager/Update License. If that doesn't work, please try the following workaround (Special thanks to Carol Lowenburg of USGS-UMESC for this tip!):
  1 - Use ArcGIS Desktop Administrator to point to another license server (for example hqsun5.er.usgs.gov)
  2 - Uninstall the license manager (Add/Remove Programs)
  3 - Install the license manager using your ESRI keycode (.efl9 or license.dat) file. (Note, you do not need to edit the windows hostname in the license file; the Windows installer uses the current hostname to set things up, not what's in the file.)

For additional information regarding this Web page, contact Chris Lett, in the Division of Information Resources and Technology Management, at Chris_Lett@fws.gov

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