This article goes over configuring Zemax applications to reach a license server using an Ansys license.

Authored By Don Dickinson

Important note before beginning! 

This applies only to those using an Ansys license and are going to download the Ansys version (2022 R2 or newer) of Opticstudio or OpticsBuilder. 

If you have been assigned a Zemax network license number starting with T or L (like L100000) see this article.

If your license number contains a 5 digit number (22000-40999) see the "Client" section of these instructions.    

Installing the application

Install the Zemax application you are going to use. Be sure to get the Ansys version from the Zemax profile page. You will need an account to access the site.

Configuring Access to the License Server 

When launching for the first time, it willl automatically go to the license utilty if there are no licenses found. Otherwise you can find the License Utility in the Help menu. 

Using a license activated on this machine

If you have activated a license file on this machine rather than accessing a license on a server, it will automatically use the local license. Leave "Use Default settings" checked if you will only be accessing a  license activated on this machine.

If you need to access a network license as well, just ensure "Localhost" is on the server name list and see the next section. If you won't be using a license installed on this machine, Localhost can be removed from the list.

Click Ok to save the settings. You will be prompted to restart the application to enable the new settings. If it finds the license and starts successfully, you are done!  

Accessing a license on a license server

If you are accessing a license on another machine, remove the check mark from "Use default settings" and fill in the license server's name. If you need to access multiple license servers also check the "Specify Redundant servers" box.

TIP: You can add "localhost" to the server list if you also need to use a license installed on your own machine.

You can also change the default port by checking the "Specify Server TCP/IP port number". If you are not sure of the port, leave this unchecked. It will use the default of 1055. If you are unsure of the server information, contact your license administrator. 

Click Ok when done to save the settings. You will then need to restart the application and it will attempt to find a license on the server you specified.

If the software starts successfully you are done!

If you get any errors or get dropped back to the configuration screen when starting the software, then it has not found the license. See the article linked at the bottom of this page

License Priority.

For OpticStudio, there is also a list that allows you to choose to use a Professional, Premium or Enterprise license as the first choice when the software starts. If the one you choose isn't available it will attempt to use the others on the list.

Errors

Conclusion

Hopefully this helped configure your machine to locate a license. If you still need help please contact us via your Zemax account profile or support@zemax.com