flexlm license manager in AppVM

[Stephan Marwedel]

Hi,
I use a commercial simulation environment running on Debian. I installed
the software in the Debian TemplateVM and it is running fine. However,
when starting an AppVM based on that template I cannot use the
simulation software because of the flexlm license manager failing. This
is most likely caused by the AppVM getting both a hostname and MAC
address being different from those of the corresponding TemplateVM.

What options do I have, if any, to work with such a commercial software
in an AppVM, as I don't want to work in the TemplateVM?

[Andrew David Wong]

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Consider using a StandaloneVM:

https://www.qubes-os.org/doc/glossary/#standalonevm

- --
Andrew David Wong (Axon)
Community Manager, Qubes OS
https://www.qubes-os.org
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[Steve Coleman]

What I have done is install the COTS software base in the template VM. I
generally choose /opt for COTS products to keep them separate.

Then I install a service to start the license manager in the one client
VM and create a desktop file pointing to that installed application
location. Install the desktop file in the template
/usr/share/applications but assign it in the start menu of just that one
VM. Look at qvm-service for how to assign the license manager service to
just that one VM instance.

Any VM may see the software on disk, but as long as you don't actually
run from the software template or other VMs then you should be good with
the license server seeing only the one install instance.

Things can get a bit trickier if the service/software demands to be able
to write to the system area of the template provided ro file system.
Then you may need some fixups performed prior to starting the license
service.

Other options might be to install in /usr/local in the client VM itself,
or even in your home directory if that is possible. The service is
likely required as before unless you write a script to launch the
license manager, wait for it, and then launch the application when the
license manager is ready.

My worst case situation would be a standalone VM, but I haven't found
anything quite that stubborn just yet.

Steve

[Stephan Marwedel]

Hi Steve,

thank you for the information.

Your approach probably won't work in my case, as the license served by
flexlm software is tied to MAC address and hostname. If I install it in
the TemplateVM the license will be created with MAC address and hostname
of that TemplateVM. If I later start the software from the AppVM like
you suggested, it will provide a different MAC address and hostname
which will invalidate the license. So there seems to be no alternative
other than to create a standalone VM and install the commercial package
in that VM.

Regards,
Stephan

t> or even in your home directory if that is possible. The service is

[Unman]

Stephen,

You can use macchanger to change your MAC address to match the flexlm
expectation. Similarly, changing the hostname is straightforward,
Depending on what the software is, you may be able to choose the
installation point: if so, you can install in a TemplateBasedVM in /home
or /usr/local, rather than in a Template.

I did have one issue where I was able to show the vendor that the
license issued with appropriate MAC/hostname/user details didn't work on
the qube. They provided me with effectively an open license, so it's
definitely worth talking to them if you have issues.

You haven't said what the software is - knowing that may help.

unman

[Stephan Marwedel]

Hi Unman,

I intend to use the simulation software package MLDesigner
(http://www.mldesigner.com) which is supported on RHEL/CentOS and
Debian. I already tried macchanger and that works. As I did not install
the software in /usr/local, but in /opt, it didn't help. I will try to
reinstall in in the AppVM in /usr/local and then use macchanger to
adjust MAC address and hostname.

Regards,

Stephan