Re: Flexnet server in a docker container ?

enzoferrari · ‎Feb 12, 2023

Hi,

we use a software for biologists called "Geneious". We have two floating licenses which run on a Flexnetserver.
I installed the server with a package from Geneious, it includes the license server and a JRE.
I managed to install this package in a docker container. When i start it the processes run and the ports (27001 and 49630) will be opened. But when i try to connect a PC with Geneious on it to the license server it doesn't succeed.
It says it can't connect to the license server.

The license server is "FlexNet Licensing version v11.16.3.0 build 246844 x64_lsb". Base image for the container is a "Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS".
Does anyone manage to run a Flexnet Server in a container ?

Bernd

jyadav · ‎Feb 12, 2023

Hi @enzoferrari ,

Officially FNP toolkit based licensing doesn't support the docker/container setup for licensing solutions.

Having said that, we have it at good authority that the licensing solution in field is already being used on such a setup with ease. FNP engineering is actively looking into bringing this under subscribed list of supported setup (may be in future releases).

The real challenge with docket based OS is to find a unique identity to which licensing rights can be node locked.

So, for now we officially don't support it. But, it should work and if you are facing any issues with that, we will be happy to assist with your further concerns. You can raise a case with us with all the details .

enzoferrari · ‎Feb 13, 2023

Dear iyadav,
thanks for the quick answer. Where can i raise a case ?

Regards,

Bernd

jyadav · ‎Feb 13, 2023

Hi @enzoferrari ,

To contact Revenera Support for technical issues, use our case portal by navigating to the top menu and clicking Get Support > Open New Case.

The online case portal requires the user to be logged into the community and their community login to be associated with an account that has active maintenance

https://community.flexera.com/t5/Support-Information/Support-Contacts/ta-p/94720

enzoferrari · ‎Feb 13, 2023

Dear jyadav,
i'm afraid we don't have a maintenance.
So we can't open a case ?

Bernd

jyadav · ‎Feb 13, 2023

Hi @enzoferrari ,

Unfortunately as per process you will not be able to raise a case with us however you can add the logs and the error details here so that if i find any resource which might help you then i will surely post it here .

enzoferrari · ‎Feb 13, 2023

Here is the log from the start of the server:

13:06:27 (lmgrd) -----------------------------------------------
13:06:27 (lmgrd)   Please Note:
13:06:27 (lmgrd)
13:06:27 (lmgrd)   This log is intended for debug purposes only.
13:06:27 (lmgrd)   In order to capture accurate license
13:06:27 (lmgrd)   usage data into an organized repository,
13:06:27 (lmgrd)   please enable report logging. Use Flexera's
13:06:27 (lmgrd)   software license administration  solution,
13:06:27 (lmgrd)   FlexNet Manager, to  readily gain visibility
13:06:27 (lmgrd)   into license usage data and to create
13:06:27 (lmgrd)   insightful reports on critical information like
13:06:27 (lmgrd)   license availability and usage. FlexNet Manager
13:06:27 (lmgrd)   can be fully automated to run these reports on
13:06:27 (lmgrd)   schedule and can be used to track license
13:06:27 (lmgrd)   servers and usage across a heterogeneous
13:06:27 (lmgrd)   network of servers including Windows NT, Linux
13:06:27 (lmgrd)   and UNIX.
13:06:27 (lmgrd)
13:06:27 (lmgrd) -----------------------------------------------
13:06:27 (lmgrd)
13:06:27 (lmgrd)
13:06:27 (lmgrd) Server's System Date and Time: Mon Feb 13 2023 13:06:27 CET
13:06:27 (lmgrd) SLOG: Summary LOG statistics is enabled.
13:06:27 (lmgrd) FlexNet Licensing (v11.16.3.0 build 246844 x64_lsb) started on 73480b48d2a0 (linux) (2/13/2023)
13:06:27 (lmgrd) Copyright (c) 1988-2019 Flexera. All Rights Reserved.
13:06:27 (lmgrd) World Wide Web:  http://www.flexerasoftware.com
13:06:27 (lmgrd) License file(s): /usr/local/GeneiousFloatingLicenseManager/vendor/geneious.lic
13:06:27 (lmgrd) lmgrd tcp-port 27001
13:06:27 (lmgrd) (@lmgrd-SLOG@) ===============================================
13:06:27 (lmgrd) (@lmgrd-SLOG@) === LMGRD ===
13:06:27 (lmgrd) (@lmgrd-SLOG@) Start-Date: Mon Feb 13 2023 13:06:27 CET
13:06:27 (lmgrd) (@lmgrd-SLOG@) PID: 209
13:06:27 (lmgrd) (@lmgrd-SLOG@) LMGRD Version: v11.16.3.0 build 246844 x64_lsb ( build 246844 (ipv6))
13:06:27 (lmgrd) (@lmgrd-SLOG@)
13:06:27 (lmgrd) (@lmgrd-SLOG@) === Network Info ===
13:06:27 (lmgrd) (@lmgrd-SLOG@) Listening port: 27001
13:06:27 (lmgrd) (@lmgrd-SLOG@)
13:06:27 (lmgrd) (@lmgrd-SLOG@) === Startup Info ===
13:06:27 (lmgrd) (@lmgrd-SLOG@) Server Configuration: Single Server
13:06:27 (lmgrd) (@lmgrd-SLOG@) Command-line options used at LS startup: -c /usr/local/GeneiousFloatingLicenseManager/vendor/geneious.lic -l /usr/local/GeneiousFloatingLicenseManager/vendor/geneiouslm.log
13:06:27 (lmgrd) (@lmgrd-SLOG@) License file(s) used:  /usr/local/GeneiousFloatingLicenseManager/vendor/geneious.lic
13:06:27 (lmgrd) (@lmgrd-SLOG@) ===============================================
13:06:27 (lmgrd) Starting vendor daemons ...
13:06:27 (lmgrd) Starting vendor daemon at port 49630
13:06:27 (lmgrd) Using vendor daemon port 49630 specified in license file
13:06:27 (lmgrd) Started geneious (internet tcp_port 49630 pid 212)
13:06:27 (geneious) FlexNet Licensing version v11.16.3.0 build 246844 x64_lsb
13:06:27 (geneious) SLOG: Summary LOG statistics is enabled.
13:06:27 (geneious) SLOG: FNPLS-INTERNAL-CKPT1
13:06:27 (geneious) SLOG: VM Status: 4
13:06:27 (geneious) SLOG: FNPLS-INTERNAL-CKPT5
13:06:27 (geneious) SLOG: TPM Status: 0
13:06:27 (geneious) SLOG: FNPLS-INTERNAL-CKPT6
13:06:27 (geneious) Using options file: "geneious.opt"
13:06:27 (geneious) Warning: floating_license expires 17-Feb-2023
13:06:27 (geneious) Server started on 73480b48d2a0 for: floating_license
13:06:27 (geneious) EXTERNAL FILTERS are OFF
13:06:27 (geneious) ALL FEATURES: INACTIVITY TIMEOUT set to 900 seconds
13:06:27 (lmgrd) geneious using TCP-port 49630
13:06:27 (geneious) SLOG: Statistics Log Frequency is 240 minute(s).
13:06:27 (geneious) SLOG: TS update poll interval is 600 seconds.
13:06:27 (geneious) SLOG: Activation borrow reclaim percentage is 0.
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) ===============================================
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) === Vendor Daemon ===
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) Vendor daemon: geneious
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) Start-Date: Mon Feb 13 2023 13:06:27 CET
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) PID: 212
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) VD Version: v11.16.3.0 build 246844 x64_lsb ( build 246844 (ipv6))
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@)
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) === Startup/Restart Info ===
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) Options file used: geneious.opt
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) Is vendor daemon a CVD: No
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) Is FlexNet Licensing Service installed and compatible: No
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) FlexNet Licensing Service Version: -NA-
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) Is TS accessed: Yes
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) TS access time: Mon Feb 13 2023 13:06:27 CET
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) Number of VD restarts since LS startup: 0
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@)
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) === Network Info ===
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) Listening port: 49630
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) Daemon select timeout (in seconds): 1
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@)
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) === Host Info ===
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) Host used in license file: 73480b48d2a0
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) HostID node-locked in license file: NA
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) HostID of the License Server: 0242ac110003
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) Running on Hypervisor: Unknown Hypervisor
13:06:27 (geneious) (@geneious-SLOG@) ===============================================

Processes are running:

root@73480b48d2a0:/usr/local/GeneiousFloatingLicenseManager# ps aux|grep geneious
geneiou+     209  0.0  0.0  13472  3360 ?        Sl   13:06   0:00 /usr/local/GeneiousFloatingLicenseManager/vendor/lmgrd -c /usr/local/GeneiousFloatingLicenseManager/vendor/geneious.lic -l /usr/local/GeneiousFloatingLicenseManager/vendor/geneiouslm.log
geneiou+     212  0.4  0.3 164336 12028 ?        Ssl  13:06   0:00 geneious -T 73480b48d2a0 11.16 7 -c :/usr/local/GeneiousFloatingLicenseManager/vendor/geneious.lic: -srv Ko1Ow7Bj7Kio5T0gZlxl4HsHC0hTmNMeFXlwFuJ40Ia1LTF2gsMRe1S19gv3y47 -daemon_port c1de --lmgrd_start 63ea27c3 -vdrestart 0

Ports are open:

root@73480b48d2a0:/usr/local/GeneiousFloatingLicenseManager# netstat -tulpn
Active Internet connections (only servers)
Proto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address           Foreign Address         State       PID/Program name
tcp6       0      0 :::27001                :::*                    LISTEN      -
tcp6       0      0 :::49630                :::*                    LISTEN      -

I attached the error message from the geneious software trying to connect to the license server.
The id which is shown in parenthesis is the id from the container.
So some form of communication is happening.

Bernd

frankson · ‎Feb 15, 2023

Hi Bernd,

we also experimented with running a license server inside a container.

Did you export these ports when running the container? E.g. "-p 27001:27001 -p 49630:49630" - https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/commandline/run/#publish

Both ports have to be accessible from outside (from the client computer). You may check this on the client computer e.g. with the netcat utiltiy:

% nc -v license.mycompany.com 27001

jyadav · ‎Feb 15, 2023

Hi @enzoferrari ,

Since the client is unable to connect with server here are few things you could check

1. Make sure the server is accessible , ping the server to see the response.

2.The port should be open /listening and not blocked by the firewall.

3.Add the the server name and IP address to the file C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts in Windows.

4.IP address can be specified in place of hostname if feasible .

5.Exceute the below commands to check if there are any connectivity issues

Ping # <Hostname_of_license_server>
# Ping <IP_address_of_license_server>
# Telnet <IP_address_of_license_server> <Port_of_lmgrd>
# Telnet <IP_address_of_license_server> <Port_of_vendor_daemon>
# Lmstat -A -C <Port Atto Hostname_of_licsvr>
# Lmstat -A -C <Port Atto Ipaddr_of_licsvr>

6.Hostname resolution should be in place.

7.Perform lmreread to make sure correct configuration is taken into consideration .

enzoferrari · ‎Feb 15, 2023

Hi,
1.
It is accessible.
2.
Ports are open.
3.
Hostname is resolved by DNS, no need for etc/hosts.
4.
see 3.
5.
Don't understand what to do:
root@73480b48d2a0:/usr/local/GeneiousFloatingLicenseManager# ./lmstat -A -C 27001 vm53200-14.scidom.de
lmstat - Copyright (c) 1989-2019 Flexera. All Rights Reserved.
usage: lmstat
[-a] (display everything)
[-asec] (display everything in HH:MM:SS format)
[-A] (list all active licenses)
[-c license_file] (use "license_file" as license file)
[-f [feature_name]] (list usage info about specified (or all) feature(s))
[-i [feature_name]] (list info about specified (or all) feature(s) from
the increment line in the license file)
[-lm] (display status of license manager)
[-S [DAEMON]] (display all users of DAEMONs licenses)
[-s [server_name]] (display status of all license files on server node(s))
[-t timeout_value] (set connection timeout to "timeout_value")
[-v] (display FLEXlm version, revision, and patch)
[-vd] (display status of vendor daemon)
[-old] (allow communications with an old server that
uses communications version 1.2 or earlier)
[-help] (prints this message)
I have no option -C.
What does "Atto" mean ?
6.
It is.
7.
I don't have a tool called lmreread.

Bernd

enzoferrari · ‎Feb 15, 2023

Hi Frank,
yes we started the container in that way.
Did you finally managed to run Flexnet in a container ?
Bernd

frankson · ‎Feb 15, 2023

As far as I remember it worked when we used the server container as one node of a swarm. A colleague did these tests.

But as your logs show, the server itself seems to be running without problems, so there are only connectivity / firewall problems left, I think, which have nothing specifically to do with the license server setup.

enzoferrari · ‎Feb 15, 2023

Do you think you could give me the contact details of your colleague?
I'd like to address him.

Bernd

enzoferrari · ‎Feb 19, 2023

I tried now an older bundle from Geneious.
Installation ran fine, but activating a license doesn't work:

root@7749a94ed65f:/usr/local/GeneiousFloatingLicenseManager# ./floatingLicenseManager -activate -activationID XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
Initialising utility
Checking whether to install licensing service...
Already installed
!:!:!:Couldn't read trusted storage. Reason: Looks like the licensing service isn't installed

Can anyone help me ?

Thanks.

Bernd

mrathinam · ‎Feb 19, 2023

Hi @enzoferrari install install_fnp.sh and then try the activation?.

Best Regards,