How to Monitor TeamCenter Licenses with FlexLM

TeamCenter, one of the leading PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) software solutions, uses FlexLM as its floating license manager. To ensure that licenses are used optimally and to avoid operational disruptions, it is essential to monitor license allocation and usage in real time. Here is a guide on how to monitor TeamCenter licenses using FlexLM.

1. Installing lmutil

The first step in monitoring TeamCenter licenses managed by FlexLM is to download the lmutil application from the Flexera website. It is important to use a version that is up to date and compatible with the one installed on the license server, as mismatched versions may return incorrect or incomplete data.

Preliminary Information

Before querying the FlexLM server, you’ll need to obtain the following information:

• The name of the server on which the licensing service is running.
• Communication port configured for the FlexLM service. These details can be found in the server’s license file.

Very important: When specifying the server name, do not add any domain suffixes (e.g., .local or .corp). If the name is not resolved correctly, add the suffix to the client machine’s hosts file or configure it in the system’s DNS settings.

2. Commands for Monitoring Licenses

Once you have configured lmutil and obtained the server and port information, you can run the commands to retrieve license information.

Checking Available Licenses

To view all licenses available on TeamCenter via FlexLM, use the following command:

lmutil lmstat -a -c 27000@nomeserver

The -a parameter returns a detailed list of all configured and active licenses. If the server uses a triad of redundant servers, the command will also include all three servers, separated by commas:

lmutil lmstat -a -c 27000@server1,27000@server2,27000@server3

License Usage Monitoring

To check how many TeamCenter licenses are in use and by which users, you can use the following command:

lmutil lmstat -S teamcenter -c 27000@nomeserver

This command will display the number of licenses issued and in use for each feature of the software.

FlexLM Output Example

Here is an example of the output generated by the lmstat command to monitor the status of TeamCenter licenses:

lmutil - Copyright (c) 1989-2024 Flexera Software LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Flexible License Manager status on Thu 24/10/2024 10:32

License server status: 27000@SERVER1
    License file(s) on SERVER1: /opt/teamcenter/license/license.dat:
SERVER1: license server UP (MASTER) v11.16.0

Vendor daemon status (on SERVER1):
      tc_d: UP v11.16.0

Feature usage info:
Users of teamcenter:  (Total of 50 licenses issued;  Total of 20 licenses in use)
  "teamcenter" v2024.0 vendor: tc_d
  floating license
    user001 COMPUTER001 (v2024.0) (SERVER1/27000 12345) start Thu 24/10 10:10
    user002 COMPUTER002 (v2024.0) (SERVER1/27000 12346) start Thu 24/10 10:15

In this example, of the 50 available TeamCenter licenses, 20 are currently in use. The information displayed includes the username, the client computer name, and the session start time.

Automating Monitoring with Observer

If you manage many licenses or multiple software applications such as TeamCenter, using manual tools can be inefficient. Observer offers an automated solution for monitoring license usage in real time. It can send FlexLM commands at regular intervals, format the output, and generate detailed reports. In addition, it sends notifications about license expiration dates, allowing you to plan for renewal in advance.

Regular monitoring of TeamCenter licenses is essential to ensure efficient use and to prevent ” denied” errors, i.e., license denials for users. Using the lmutil commands and automation via Observer, you can maintain accurate, real-time control over your company’s licensing infrastructure.

To learn more about how Observer can help you monitor TeamCenter licenses and other software, contact us for a free demo!