FLEXlm is a license manager that manages software used by multiple end users on different computers. Notably, it allows companies to take advantage of floating licenses. A system employing floating licenses has a license pool on a host server from which end users check out licenses. When a user finishes using a software license, it is checked back into the pool, now available for another user to check out.
What is FLEXlm license timeout?
FLEXlm license timeout is a feature that releases inactive licenses back to the license pool. Licensed software is determined to be inactive when a machine is completely idle, meaning no mouse clicks, keystrokes, modal dialog boxes are occurring. Its timeout settings determines how long such a period continues before licenses are freed up.
How to set FLEXlm timeout
License timeout settings can be configured for some or all the features, and are configured in the FLEXlm option file.
Further information on option files
Individual license key timeout is set by entering the variable “timeout” followed by the timeout period (in seconds).
Example: Setting AutoCAD to be timed out in 108000 seconds (3 hours)
timeout AutoCAD 108000
License timeout for all license keys in the system is set by the variable “timeoutall,” followed by the timeout period.
Example: Setting all licenses to be timed out after 30 minutes of inactivity
timeoutall 1800
Limitations on license timeout settings
It is important to note that software vendors often impose limitations on the timeout period for their products; specifically, the minimum amount of time of inactivity after which licenses can be freed up. For example, whereas Autodesk licenses can be released after 15 minutes of inactivity, MathWorks licenses can only be released after 4 hours.
Autodesk 900 sec (15 minutes)
MathWorks 14,400 seconds (4 hours)
IBM 7200 seconds (2 hours)
Application
Customizing FLEXlm timeout settings is simple way to improve the efficiency of your company’s licenses, ensuring that end users aren’t slowed down by waiting for inactive, locked-up licenses.
