General Licensing: ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE versus LICPATH.lic

Recently, in support, we had a case with AutoCAD Architecture 2011 and how it will search for the licenses on the network.  

Will it follow ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE environment variable or will it use the contents in the LICPATH.lic file?

After some  testing,  we can confirm that the ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE environment variable overrides the LICPATH.LIC file. 

http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS71384

The tricky part is the fact that AutoCAD Architecture 2011 starts searching for it's license as per the cascading sequence as noted here:

http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS16981643

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Scenario #1

There are 2 license servers with the following licenses:

• Server-A -  Autodesk Building Design Suite Premium 2012 license
• Server-B -  AutoCAD Architecture 2011 license

The client computer is setup with:

• ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE=@Server -A
• LICPATH.lic points to Server-B

Result:  AutoCAD Architecture 2011 will use LICPATH.lic to get the license and get it’s  license from Server-B.

Scenario #2

There are 2 license servers with the following licenses:

• Server-A -  Autodesk Building Design Suite Premium 2012 license
• Server-B -  Autodesk Building Design Suite Premium 2012 license

The client computer is setup with:

• ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE=@Server -A
• LICPATH.lic points to Server-B

Result:  AutoCAD Architecture 2011 will use ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE environment variable and will get it’s license from Server-A.

Thanks to Avto Chachava for this tip.