topic Re: Which Host ID to use when there is no Ethernet port? in System Administration

Which Host ID to use when there is no Ethernet port?

idrive101 — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 08:47:45 GMT

Hello,

my new laptop doesn't have an ethernet plug with its own Physical address, and depending on where I work I plug it into different docking stations which have an ethernet plug and their own physical address.
I have a nodelock license, so which Host ID should I enter into the licensing page?

Right now I'm at the office plugged into a docking station, and cmd-ipconfig shows my host id is 30-13-8B-EF-C2-A9.
When I start the Creo installer it shows the same host id. So I get a license file for this host id, load the file in the License window, and I get a Not suitable error.

I contacted PTC licensing support and the seem to be clueless on this issue, any ideas or possible solutions?

Thank you!

Guido

Re: Which Host ID to use when there is no Ethernet port?

AndyPoulsen — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 15:35:32 GMT

Is there another host ID listed when you use ipconfig /all? If there is one for your wifi adapter, you should be able to use it.

Is the one you used above listed as virtual? (such as with a VPN or a "Virtual Ethernet Adapter" or something like that?) I believe the license server software won't let you use virtual adapters.

One other option (though not as convenient) is to purchase a USB ethernet adapter dongle and use its ID for the licenses. I have done that in the past when I needed to temporarily run my software on a guest machine. It worked just fine (though I did have the dongle to worry about, which was a little bit annoying).

I hope this helps! Let me know how it goes!

andy

Re: Which Host ID to use when there is no Ethernet port?

BenLoosli — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 14:04:17 GMT

I think PTC has stopped supporting dongle-based IP addresses as it violates their definition of node-locked.

Re: Which Host ID to use when there is no Ethernet port?

AndyPoulsen — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 15:29:07 GMT

I believe you are correct that the MSU dongle (serial-port connection) is no longer supported. PTC may also not support the USB-based ethernet adapters, though the last I heard (and haven't tested it recently) those devices still worked. I don't know if the license server can differentiate between a USB-based adapter and any other ethernet port (whether on the motherboard or a card).

Probably worth a try, though!

Re: Which Host ID to use when there is no Ethernet port?

BenLoosli — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 16:23:25 GMT

Article - CS349044 - Types of Network adapters compatible to work with Creo Parametric and Mathcad Prime (ptc.com)

Re: Which Host ID to use when there is no Ethernet port?

AndyPoulsen — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 17:33:52 GMT

Thanks for the link, Ben. It's clear from that article that the Flex license server (used for Creo Parametric and other applications) doesn't support it.

However, since Creo Elements/Direct doesn't use Flex, but rather its own License Server called MEls (ME License Server), I checked the MEls manual to see if it says anything. Here's a link to the manual for version 20.6:

https://www.ptc.com/support/-/media/support/refdocs/Creo_Elements_Direct_License_Server/20,-d-,6/Licensing.pdf

The "Hardware ID" section has the following paragraph:

Passwords are supported on valid hardware IDs, such as LAN-cards with manufacturer assigned MACAddress or a serial MSU security device provided by PTC.

and the "Virtual machines" section (right below) indicates that USB network adapters can be used in pass-through mode (meaning it needs to be a physical USB network adapter).

So it appears that both USB network adapters and MSU serial-based devices (which aren't used much any more) are supported and should work, along with any non-virtual adapters (motherboard ethernet, on-board wifi, etc)..

Good information -- thanks for the discussion!

andy

Check out our tools for Creo Elements/Direct at www.ai-maxtools.com!

Re: Which Host ID to use when there is no Ethernet port?

idrive101 — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 08:27:06 GMT

No solution yet, but a little update

Day 1, licensing support had me install Flexnet admin which showed the docking station's host id as THE host id to use, I got a license for it and it worked.

Day 2, Creo won't start. I open Flexnet admin and today THE host id is the wifi card's host, which by the way is not connected to anything as I'm connecting through the docking station. I get a license for it and it works.

As directed by licensing support I also use the registry editor to edit HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkCards to set the wifi card as no.1, this way it is supposed to be the first host Flexnet will look to.

Day 3, I start Creo assuming everything will work fine, but today THE host id Flexnet admin wants ot use is again the docking station's host. The registry editor trick apparently didn't work.

Good thing I have both license files on hand.

Still, I have the feeling that Flexnet is more temperamental than my 3-year-old son in front of a candy store...

Re: Which Host ID to use when there is no Ethernet port?

idrive101 — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:05:31 GMT

Issue fixed.

A second 45-minute call with support walked me through disabling the lmadmin_ptc service, loading the license with lmtools and starting the Flexnet_ptc service.

Definitely not an easy procedure, it would be a good idea for PTC to implement an easier licensing process.