Monitoring the LS-DYNA License Manager with OpenLM

General #

LS-DYNA is a finite element simulation tool, produced by LSTC: Livermore Software Technology Corporation. LS-DYNA accommodates a series of peripheral tools such as LS-OPT, LS_PREPOST, LS_TASC and THUMS. Together they comprise a wide variety of applicable physics simulation subjects, from fluid dynamics to car safety. LS-DYNA’s proprietary license manager controls the deployment of network licenses for the different LS-DYNA features. OpenLM provides a clear method of viewing the current utilization of LS-DYNA licenses, as well as accumulating license usage statistics and patterns and managing idle licenses.

OpenLM is a license management and monitoring system for a wide variety of Network license types, such as Flexera FLEXnet Publisher (FLEXlm) and Sentinel RMS. This document discusses the configuration of the OpenLM system to monitor an LS-DYNA license manager.

There are two options to query the LS-DYNA License Server #

• the first option is to remotely query the license server from the OpenLM Server.
• the second option is to install the OpenLM Broker on the same machine as the LS-DYNA license server, query the License Server locally, and propagate the information back to the OpenLM Server.

OpenLM Server Direct Method #

Enabling the OpenLM server to interface the LS-DYNA license server

In order to configure OpenLM to work with LS_DYNA, follow these steps:

1. Download and install the OpenLM Server.
2. Navigate to the EasyAdmin User Interface→ Start → Administration → License Manager Servers
3. Select LM Tools tab. Choose LSDYNA.
4. Copy the lstc_qrun.exe and lstc_qkill.exe files to a folder located on the OpenLM Server machine. (C:\Program Files\OpenLM\OpenLM Server\LM
5. Fill in these files’ respective location, as depicted in the image below.\
6. Click SAVE.
7. Restart OpenLM Server Service in Windows Service.

Adding a new LS-DYNA server

1. Navigate to the EasyAdmin User Interface → Start → Administration → License Manager Servers→ LM Servers tab.
2. Click Add a License Manager.
3. From the Type drop-down menu, select LSDYNA.
4. Type in a descriptive text in the Display Name field (e.g.: “my lsdyna license server”).
5. Set the Time Zone to where the License Server physically resides (e.g.: Pacific time).
6. Submit appropriate Hostname and Port numbers (e.g. lsdyna_license_server and 31010 respectively).
7. “Is Triad Configuration”: OpenLM supports multiple server redundancy configurations for several types of license servers (e.g. FlexLM, DSLS, IBM LUM). At the time of writing this article, OpenLM does not yet support multiple server redundancy for LS-DYNA. Keep this box unchecked.
8. Use Broker unchecked.
9. Click SAVE.
10. Restart OpenLM Server Service in Windows Service.

Your OpenLM Server is now able to monitor your LS-DYNA licenses.

Monitoring LS-DYNA with Broker #

The OpenLM Broker should be installed and configured on the LS_DYNA license server machine. The OpenLM Broker queries the LS_DYNA license server locally, and propagates the data to the OpenLM Server. It facilitates robust, buffered communication with the OpenLM Server to overcome temporary network failures, and security issues.

OpenLM Broker configuration

1. Download and install the latest OpenLM Broker version. Follow the installation and configuration instructions on the OpenLM Broker Application Note:

• Download Page & Documents

1. Select the license manager node then click Add Port in case Auto-Detect couldn’t detect the LS_DYNA.
2. Configure the OpenLM Broker to monitor the LS_DYNA license server (e.g. lsdyna_license_server) on the license manager’s port (e.g. 31010).
3. In ‘‘Commands‘ node, fill in the full path to the ‘lstc_qrun.exe’ file.
4. Click Apply.
   
5. Switch to the Vendors node. Fill in Vendor Name.
6. Click Restart Broker.
7. Alternatively, the Broker Browser UI can be used for configuration.
   https://www.openlm.com/knowledge-base/openlm-broker-webui/

8.

Verify the LS-DYNA configuration #

Verify the OpenLM configuration to monitor the LS-DYNA license server via the EasyAdmin web application.

• Open the EasyAdmin web browser.
• Click the link of Pending Approval. Approve the LS-DYNA.
• Verify that the configured license manager appears on the list. A green circle node indicates Up-to-Date connection to a license server.