Name: Achieving True User-Centric License Visibility with OpenLM Directory Synchronization
Start: 2026-02-25T10:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-25T17:00:00+00:00
Location: OpenLM

FlexNet Publisher (FlexLM) license management with OpenLM

Flexera FlexNet Manager (FlexLM) is the cornerstone license management system for hundreds of high-value engineering and specialty software tools across the globe, including applications from vendors like Autodesk, Cadence, and Ansys. As these licenses represent a substantial capital expenditure, efficient utilization is not just an operational goal—it’s a financial necessity.

OpenLM acts as your trusted guide, offering deep expertise and proactive tools to master your FlexNet licenses, ensuring your teams have continuous access while dramatically reducing waste.

Understanding the FlexLM License Management: What is FlexLM?

FlexNet Publisher (formerly FlexLM) is the industry-standard licensing technology used by software vendors (ISVs) to embed usage controls directly into their applications. It acts as the backend engine for managing concurrent (floating) licenses, allowing enterprises to share a centralized pool of expensive software seats across a network. Widely adopted by vendors like MathWorks, Siemens, and Ansys, it enforces compliance by validating user entitlements against a license server in real-time.

Licensing schemas of FlexNet Manager

The FlexLM server manages feature-based, concurrent-use (floating) licenses. This model is powerful but highly complex:

Feature-based access: Licenses are defined by specific product features (e.g., “Inventor-Pro,” “CFD-Solver”) rather than the application itself.
The Options File challenge: Administration relies heavily on the Options File to manage user groups, reservations, and borrow limits. Misconfiguration here often leads to denials and underutilization.
License borrowing: Users can temporarily borrow a license for off-network use, which permanently removes the license from the server pool for the duration, creating potential shortages.

OpenLM’s solution for FlexNet Manager optimization

OpenLM provides a comprehensive, forward-thinking approach that transforms reactive license administration into proactive asset management. We integrate directly with your FlexNet License Servers to deliver actionable, real-time data and automated optimization.

OpenLM capability	Value for FlexLM licenses
Real-time denials analysis	Gain by-the-second visibility into all license denial events, allowing you to identify true bottlenecks by feature, user group, and location, supporting claims with data.
Automated license reclamation (Harvesting)	Automatically detect and reclaim licenses from idle user sessions without interrupting their work. This is crucial for high-cost FLEXlm features, maximizing license availability and deferring unnecessary purchases.
Options File management	Monitor and visualize the impact of your Options File rules. We help you test different group allocation strategies to optimize the balance between user needs and license availability.
Borrowed license tracking	Track every borrowed license’s expiration, user, and return date, eliminating “lost” licenses that remain unavailable in the pool.

OpenLM advantages for FlexNet usage monitoring

OpenLM Platform is built for the complexity of enterprise-level engineering software. We monitor and manage more than 90 different engineering license managers—the highest number in the industry—with features specifically tailored for maximizing your investment in high-cost tools like those managed by FlexLM.

Granular usage insights: OpenLM Broker, installed alongside your FlexNet server, enables real-time monitoring of feature usage and critical denial events. This is crucial for understanding usage trends and preparing for future license negotiations that depend on precise feature-level data.
Maximized ROI: Our automated idle license reclamation ensures that licenses tied up by inactive users are returned to the pool for others to use. This directly boosts productivity and maximizes your return on investment by deferring the need for additional, unnecessary license purchases.
Unified management: OpenLM integrates with your other license managers (supporting 140+ in total, including both on-premise and SaaS) to provide a single, unified environment for all your software asset man