5.4.4.1. Setting up a License File in the License Server - 2025-12-16

Altera FPGA Software Installation and Licensing
Version
25.3
Perform the following steps in the license server:
  1. Save the license.dat file. The preferred location is:
    • Windows*:
      <drive>:\flexlm
    • Linux:
      /usr/local/flexlm/licenses
  2. Identify the hostname of the license server.
  3. If the license server uses Windows*, specify the port number for the licensing manager.
    • Choose a number outside of the 27000-28000 range, and unique on the machine.
    In Linux systems, the FLEXlm license manager automatically chooses a free port between 27000 and 27009.
  4. Modify the SERVER line in the license.dat file to include the hostname and port number of the license server. 
    SERVER <hostname> <8 or 12-character host or NIC ID> <host port number>
  5. Identify the path to the alterad vendor daemon executable. 4
    • Windows*:
      <installation_directory>\bin64\alterad.exe
    • Linux:
      <installation-directory>/linux64/alterad
  6. Optionally, identify the user-defined port numbers for the alterad daemons.

    The FLEXlm software works with Internet firewalls that require you to specify port numbers in the license file on the SERVER line and each VENDOR or DAEMON line. The syntax to specify a port is PORT=<number>. Finally, you must allow firewall access to those port numbers.

  7. Modify the VENDOR line in the license.dat file to include the path to the alterad daemon 5 and the daemon's port number. 
    VENDOR alterad <path/to/alterad> [port=<user-defined port number>]
  8. If you are using a license file for the Questa Altera FPGA Edition software and/or Siemens EDA AXI BFMs, identify the path to the vendor daemon executable saltd. 4
  9. (Optional) Identify the user-defined port numbers for the saltd daemon.

    Allow firewall access to those port numbers.

  10. Modify the VENDOR line in the license.dat file to include the path to the saltd daemon5 and the daemon's port number. 
    VENDOR saltd <path/to/saltd> [port=<user-defined port number>]
    Note: If the VENDOR line mentions mgcld, you must manually change it to saltd. mgcld is no longer supported in the Questa Altera FPGA Edition version 2024.1 and later.
When you complete all modifications, ensure the license file conditions are met.

Setting Up Floating Network Licenses on the License Server

The following example shows how to specify port numbers in a floating license file, where ports 1800, 1801, and 1802 provide access through a firewall.
SERVER myServer 0123456789ab 1800
VENDOR alterad ./alterad port=1801
VENDOR saltd ./saltd port=1802
With the modified license.dat file, you can set up the FLEXlm license manager on the license server, and finally start the license server.
4 If the license server does not provide the necessary vendor daemon, copy the required daemon from another machine, save the file in a location on the license server, and specify the daemon location on the license server in the license file.
5 If the server path has spaces in it, enclose the full path in quotation marks.