[feynman]

I moved to a new location and some of my nodes can't license, but it worked before.

Setup: 1 laptop running RLM, several PCs to render with, all running W7, all connected via an gigabit ethernet switch, all PCs no WLAN (disabled).
Message: Error validating license. The license file has been correctly written but this system cannot connect to license manager...
Network: IPs are ok. The port number is ok. I can RDP and share folders and files. Firewalls off on laptop and PCs.

How do I best troubleshoot this methodically?

Thanks a lot in advance!

[F. Tella]

Hi Feynman,

Could you edit the maxwell_license.lic files in C:\ProgramData\Next Limit\Maxwell\licenses in all the nodes and make sure the IP address it shows matches the IP address of the laptop? It would be better if the IP of the laptop is a fixed one.

It should show something like HOST 192.168.0.15 ANY 5053

Let me know how it goes.

Fernando

[feynman]

Thanks, Fernando, I will try that when back in the office...

[feynman]

It reads HOST PC3 ANY 5053 on the nodes that won't license - but it reads the same on the nodes that do license. My laptop is set to "Obtain an IP address automatically" - it connects also to a WLAN router from our telephony/internet provider. The laptop is on ethernet and WLAN, as it always was/is. In any case, this seems not to be the problem, because some PCs can license from this laptop.

What must I check next?

[feynman]

This is how the network map looks if two PCs and the controlling laptop are connected via the ethernet switch and there is no USB LTE stick in the controlling laptop (the PCs have the WLAN adapter disabled). After re-licensing MR on the laptop for the 5th time, the two PCs license no problem.



However, when I put the USB LTE stick in the controlling laptop (that's all I change), the network map looks like this and the PCs do not license. Also the switch icon is replaced by a question mark.



In short, putting any USB LTE stick (no telephone/internet at the new office for weeks) into the controlling laptop messes with the network in general and the MR licensing in particular (because of the notwork).

So - what network settings on the controlling laptop do I need to examine to get this to work even when the laptop has internet access via an USB LTE stick?

Thanx!

[feynman]

Bump...

[feynman]

Tock...

[Mihai]

Isn't this the same issue really?

http://www.maxwellrender.com/forum/view ... 35&t=43720

[feynman]

I'm not sure. The problem really is that nowhere I look there is a good guide how to network a number of PCs for non-specialists. For example; I got this to work but now, when I just now came back to the office, my laptop can RDP into all render nodes and they all license MR - but I cannot Pack & Go to any node, because Windows 7 tells me that I have no access (although they all share the same IP space, are on the same switch, etc.) to the PCs. This is of course not Next Limit's problem, but network horror. If these guys would not cost €120 per hour or more, I would just bring in some network dude (but even there you never know if they are any good).

[dk2079]

there are a few things to consider as not all details of you're setup are known:

- are you in a domain network? and are the machines running the same user?

- if not, are all user accounts and file&directory sharing permissions setup correctly?

other than that, adding any second network interface (Lan,wlan,wan card..) to your machine will alter your routing table and traffic might try to get out on the wrong interface. this is due to multiple dns,gateways etc. which will now be present.

I have not had to solve you're situation before as i do all routing on an external firewall, but i think you have to fix your issue with some static route entries.

http://www.virtualizationhowto.com/2011 ... d=noscript
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/32 ... emove.html
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows/ ... ing-table/

[feynman]

My setup is small and simple:

- One laptop running OSX/W7 that runs the RLM server and Maxwell Studio
- A number of self-built PCs running W7 that work as render and simulation nodes

- The laptop and PCs are all connected to a desktop ethernet switch
- The laptop and PCs are all accessing a wireless router for internet access (not right now, my provider can't connect our new office)
- In W7 settings, I have prioritised the local area network connection use over the wireless connection use over the USB LTE stick use
- For the local area network connection, I have given the laptop and the PCs a static IP address

- All machines have only one account for myself
- I have never changed permissions on any machine
- All machines have the W7 firewall turned off

All I wish for would be to somehow be able to "reset" all machines to "factory settings" and then configure them "right" once and for all. I am looking through your sevenforums link; seems like a good and knowledgeable W7 forum...

[F. Tella]

Have you tried using Homegroups? PC only, though.

I've used them in some messy offices and it simplified things a lot.

Fernando

[feynman]

Thanks, I try not to resort to that solution, if I can get avoid it.

But, I think I have found out what it is, related to Mihai's help from the other thread: Depending on which network adapter is activated on my laptop, the licenser takes that network adapter's MAC address for the licensing file. So, with my WLAN adapter not active (disabled to get connected at a client site or disabled to get connected via an USB LTE stick), of course the licenser cannot work on my laptop and not on the render nodes either, having licensed initially when the WLAN adapter was active. I found out that it does not matter how I arrange the priority of network adapters in Windows. I found out via doing a number of ipconfig/all > C:\pc#_ipconfig.txt with various network adapters on, off or prioritised differently.

So, the solution seems to be: keep more than one license file "in stock", depending on which network adapters are active in one's laptop.

[Neil Evans]

Hi

I am getting the same error when I try and set up a node.

I am running windows 8.1 on both machines, no firewalls. One machine is a laptop the other a desktop. Both have the wifi network adapters disable(I have tried with them enabled too). I have set up workgroups, homegroups etc and nothing seems to fix the problem.

I have the machines networked ok, file sharing works and backburner works perfectly.

I just can't work it out.

The RLM server was set up with the ethernet cable connected so there should not be two adapter problem. When the wifi is disable Maxwell still runs. When it is enabled it runs fine too.

I have tried connecting a mac as well and get the same error.

I really want to get this running so any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks

Neil

[Neil Evans]

Sorry but has no one got an idea for this please? I have twenty house types to model and render. If I have to do them all on the same machine it is going to be a total nightmare! I re bought into Maxwell 3 especially for this project and the one I have just finished, which I managed to render but it was hard work.

Any help would really be appreciated.