Name: Optimizing high value A&D Engineering Software License Concurrency
Start: 2026-02-17T15:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-17T15:30:00+00:00
Location: OpenLM

Zoo license management (LAN Zoo) with OpenLM

McNeel’s Zoo License Manager (or LAN Zoo) is a free, specialized license server utility designed to share licenses for Rhino and compatible third-party plug-ins (like Lands Design) among multiple users on a private network. It is the standard on-premise solution for organizations that have more users than licenses and need centralized control over their 3D modeling environment.

OpenLM provides a comprehensive solution for monitoring Zoo License Manager usage. OpenLM Zoo License Manager monitoring delivers high-resolution usage data, denial reports, and remote management capabilities, enabling IT to ensure high license availability and maximize the utilization of these critical design tools.

Understanding Zoo licensing: Floating and check-out

The Zoo provides a robust network licensing architecture that ensures flexibility and high availability for specialized 3D design software.

What is the Zoo license manager?

The Zoo License Manager is a centralized software utility that runs on a Windows computer on the network (often using TCP Port 80 for communication). It holds the license keys for products like Rhino and dispenses them on demand to client workstations installed as Network Nodes. The key features of the Zoo include running as a service, being routable on complex networks, and supporting mixed environments of Network Nodes and Standalone Licenses.

Zoo licensing schemas

The Zoo primarily manages concurrent licenses and is one of three options offered by McNeel (along with Single-Computer and Cloud Zoo):

Network node (Floating license): When a user starts the application (Rhino/plug-in), it requests a license from the Zoo. If available, the license is assigned, and the total available pool is reduced. When the application shuts down, the license is returned to the pool. This is the model used to share licenses among teams.
License check out (Borrowing): The Zoo allows licenses to be checked out on a semi-permanent basis to support laptop users or those disconnecting from the network. A checked-out license cannot be used by another system until it is checked back in.
License recovery: The Zoo automatically recovers licenses that become orphaned (e.g., due to network interruption or abnormal program shutdown) so other users can access them.
Multi-format support: The Zoo supports floating licenses for Rhino and compatible third-party plug-ins.
Historical logging: The Zoo records all license activities (loaned out, returned, checked out, recovered) in CSV log files.

OpenLM's solution for Zoo license manager monitoring and optimization

OpenLM provides deep integration with the Zoo License Manager to extract and process its log-based data, offering a full suite of management and optimization capabilities.

OpenLM capability	Value for Zoo licenses	Supported by OpenLM
Real-time usage monitoring	Tracks usage activity with high-resolution reporting, available by second.	Yes
License totals and usage	Reports the total number of licenses owned and tracks active usage in the pool.	Yes
Denials reporting	Provides advanced reporting on license denial events (classified as Limit Reached), helping identify bottlenecks.	Yes
Idle session detection and harvesting	OpenLM detects idle sessions and reports actual usage, enabling automated license harvesting to reclaim licenses left open but unused.	Yes
Remote administrative actions	Broker enables buffered communication and the ability to start or stop the license service remotely.	Yes
Borrowed license reporting	OpenLM’s current documented integration with Zoo relies on log file parsing and does not directly support tracking Borrowed Licenses.	No
Multiple server redundancy	OpenLM does not currently support monitoring Zoo’s multiple server redundancy schemes.	No

The OpenLM advantage for Zoo license manager

OpenLM turns the raw CSV log data from the Zoo into critical business intelligence, ensuring your design teams remain productive and licenses are maximized.

Maximize concurrent access: The combination of Denials Reporting and License Harvesting minimizes downtime. Harvesting ensures licenses are automatically returned, reducing the number of orphaned seats.
High-resolution audit trail: With usage tracked per second, OpenLM provides an incredibly detailed record of license activity for accurate internal chargeback and renewal planning.
Broker for stability: The use of OpenLM Broker ensures stable communication with the Zoo server and utilizes buffered communication, protecting data integrity even during network failures.
Unified SAM: Monitor Zoo License Manager alongside the many other engineering and design license managers supported by OpenLM in a single, intuitive dashboard.

Zoo license manager configuration and implementation guide

Monitoring the Zoo License Manager requires installing OpenLM Broker (v4.8.8 or higher is required) on the same machine as the Zoo License Manager. The Broker is configured to monitor the Zoo’s default port (typically 80) and, crucially, to read the CSV Zoo log file (e.g., C:\ProgramData\McNeel\Zoo#.#\Usage).

Delivering impact at every scale