How to Monitor Abaqus Licenses with FlexLM

Abaqus is a finite element analysis (FEA) software suite developed by Dassault Systèmes, widely used in engineering to simulate complex problems in structural mechanics, fluid dynamics, thermal analysis, and multiphysics. Abaqus stands out for its computational power and its ability to model nonlinear phenomena, making it indispensable for companies engaged in advanced design and research.

Abaqus licenses are managed through a FlexLM-based floating license system, which allows licenses to be shared among multiple users, optimizing their distribution. However, careful monitoring is essential to avoid lockups, errors, or unnecessary waste of licenses.

1. Installation and Configuration of Tools

To begin monitoring Abaqus licenses, you must use the lmutil application, provided by Flexera, which is compatible with Windows and Linux systems. This tool allows you to send commands to the license server and obtain up-to-date information on the status of available and in-use licenses.

Preliminary Steps

1. Download lmutil: Make sure to use a version that is the same as or newer than the one on the license server to avoid inconsistent responses or query errors.
2. Identify the license server and port: this information is contained in the license file provided by the vendor. Be sure to enter the server name exactly as it is configured, without any domain suffixes unless specified, to avoid DNS resolution issues.

2. Commands for Monitoring Licenses

Once you have configured lmutil, you can query the Abaqus FlexLM server using specific commands to get a complete overview of the available licenses and their usage.

Check Available Licenses

You can use the following command to list the available features:

lmutil lmstat -i -c porta@nomeserver

For high-availability configurations (triads), you must specify all servers, separating them with semicolons on Windows or commas on Linux:

lmutil lmstat -i -c porta@server1;porta@server2;porta@server3

or on Linux:

lmutil lmstat -i -c porta@server1,porta@server2,porta@server3

Sample Output

Feature             Version     #licenses    Expires      Vendor
abaqus              2022        10           31-dec-2025  ABAQUSLM

In this case, we see that there are 10 Abaqus licenses available, valid through December 31, 2025.

Check License Usage

To see which licenses are actually in use and by whom, you can use:

lmutil lmstat -S abaqus -c porta@nomeserver

This command will return details such as the username, workstation name, and session start time:

Users of abaqus:  (Total of 10 licenses issued; 4 licenses in use)
  "abaqus" v2022, vendor: ABAQUSLM
  floating license
    user1@PC01 (v2022) (SERVER/27000 1205), start Wed 12/11 09:15
    user2@PC02 (v2022) (SERVER/27000 1306), start Wed 12/11 09:20

In the example above, of the 10 available licenses, 4 are in use, with details on the connected clients.

3. Automate monitoring with advanced solutions

It is possible to perform these checks manually, but it is not always practical, especially if the licenses are used by many users in different locations or if the system is configured for high availability. For this reason, solutions such as Observer provide valuable support for automating the entire monitoring process.

Why use Observer?

With Observer, you can:

• monitor Abaqus license usage in real time without having to use complex command shells
• Receive email alerts about license expiration dates to avoid service interruptions
• Get detailed reports on usage peaks, historical trends, and key performance indicators (KPIs)
• centralize management even for redundant servers or those distributed across multiple facilities

Observer automates the sending of query commands, collects data from FlexLM, formats it, and stores it in its own database, making it available in easy-to-read dashboards. This allows the IT team to focus on strategic planning without the risk of overlooking renewals or underestimating license usage bottlenecks.

Effectively monitoring Abaqus licenses ensures the continuity of engineering activities, prevents project delays, and reduces unexpected costs. Whether you choose to manage them manually or opt for an integrated solution like Observer, it is essential to have complete visibility into availability, expiration dates, and actual usage.

If you’d like to find out how Observer can help you better monitor your Abaqus licenses, contact us for a free demo and try out automated monitoring in your IT environment!