LICENSE: Moving a Keil Floating License (FLF) to a FlexNet License

Information in this knowledgebase article applies to:

• Keil MDK V5.00 and later

QUESTION

I've been using an Keil MDK floating license (with FLF) and recently upgraded to a FlexNet license. What is the best way to migrate users to the new FlexNet MDK license?

ANSWER

This procedure explains how to migrate a Keil MDK floating (FLF) license installation to a FlexNet MDK installation. It assumes you have an installed Keil MDK floating license and you have received an MDK Flex license PSN. The procedure is designed to minimize the impact to your MDK-licensed users.

Make sure you have administration rights to create, modify and delete files on your file server, and you have access to at least 1 user workstation installed with the MDK tools and licensed using the FLF. This will be used for testing.

Part 1 - Find Users of the Keil MDK Floating License

1. On a Keil-licensed workstation, start µVision, click File - License Management, then click the Floating License tab.
2. Click the Keil MDK product line, then click the Used By button.
3. Note the names of the MDK users. These are the people you will be updating to the new Flex license.

Part 2 - Install and Verify the FlexNet Binaries on Your File Server

This part of procedure allows you to get the FlexNet license manager working without impacting the users of the old license. You may use the same file server that the FLF file was stored on as the FlexNet server.

1. Identify the file server that will run the FlexNet licensing daemon. You must have administrator rights to install the FlexNet binaries. Record the MAC address of the file server and the server name or IP address.
2. Install the FlexNet binaries on your file server and verify that the lmgrd daemon is running by following steps 1-6 of the FlexNet Publisher Setup procedure
3. Activate the FlexNet license on a workstation by following the FlexNet License Setup procedure.
4. Have a Keil MDK user verify that they can build and debug one of their projects from this workstation without receiving "Evaluation Version" warnings.
5. Once this is successful, using a text editor, open the TOOLS.INI file in the Keil installation folder (Default is C:\Keil_V5\).
6. Within the [ARM] section, the line that starts with "FLF0=" has the location of your KeilARM.FLF.
7. Note the path to the KeilARM.FLF file. (This will be the same for all users of the KeilARM.FLF)
8. Delete the line that starts with "FLF0=".
9. Save the TOOLS.INI file.

Part 3 - Update Your Users

Using the list of names you noted in Part 1, for each user on your list, activate the MDK FlexNet License using Steps 3-9 in Part 2.

Part 4 - Remove the KeilARM.FLF File

When all users have been successfully updated, locate the KeilARM.FLF file using the path you noted in Part 2, Step 7, and delete the old KeilARM.FLF file.

Remember to notify Sales that your old MDK license has been removed.

MORE INFORMATION

• LICENSE: FlexNet: Installation, Management, Troubleshooting

SEE ALSO

• Refer to FlexNet Publisher Setup (Server) in the Licensing User's Guide.
• Refer to FlexNet License Setup (Client) in the Licensing User's Guide.

Last Reviewed: Tuesday, October 6, 2020