Licensing

Manage Licenses using Options File

Options File for STK and ODTK on Ansys License Manager Server FlexLM Options files are useful for managing the usage of ...

Drew Latta
May 29, 2026
Licensing

Options File for STK and ODTK on Ansys License Manager Server

FlexLM Options files are useful for managing the usage of licenses in a networked environment. They define rules for which users or hosts can access specific features, reserving licenses for particular users or groups, and limiting the number of licenses.

Purpose of Options Files

  1. User and Group Control: Specify which users or groups can access particular licenses.
  2. License Reservation: Reserve licenses for specific users or groups.
  3. License Limiting: Limit the number of licenses that can be used by certain users or groups.
  4. License Denial: Deny access to certain users or groups.

Key Options in FlexLM Options Files

  1. GROUP and HOST_GROUP: Define groups of users or hosts.
    • GROUP group_name user_list
    • HOST_GROUP host_group_name host_list
  2. INCLUDE: Allow specified users or groups to use a feature.
    • INCLUDE feature_name {USER | HOST_GROUP | GROUP} group_name
  3. EXCLUDE: Prevent specified users or groups from using a feature.
    • EXCLUDE feature_name {USER | HOST_GROUP | GROUP} group_name
  4. RESERVE: Reserve licenses for specified users or groups.
    • RESERVE num_licenses feature_name {USER | HOST_GROUP | GROUP} group_name
  5. MAX: Limit the number of licenses a user or group can check out.
    • MAX num_licenses feature_name {USER | HOST_GROUP | GROUP} group_name
  6. DENY: Deny specified users or groups access to a feature.
    • DENY feature_name {USER | HOST_GROUP | GROUP} group_name

Creating a FlexLM Options File

To create a FlexLM Options file for STK and ODTK products, follow these steps:

  1. Open a Text Editor: Use any text editor like Notepad (Windows), TextEdit (Mac), or vi/nano (Linux)
  2. Build the License Content: (Content is all configurable. Add any or all that you need)
    1. Define Groups:
      1. GROUP engineers user1 user2 user3
      2. GROUP analysts user4 user5 user6
    2. Include or Exclude Users/Groups:
      1. INCLUDE stk_mission_level1 GROUP engineers
      2. EXCLUDE stk_mission_space USER user6
    3. Reserve Licenses:
      1. RESERVE 2 stk_mission_level1 GROUP engineers
    4. Limit License Usage:
      1. MAX 1 stk_mission_level2 USER user5
    5. Deny Access:
      1. DENY stk_mission_space USER user6
  3. Apply the Options File
    1. Save the file with an .opt extension.
      1. File Name: ansylmd.opt which is the same name as the Ansys License File (usually).
      2. Location: C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc\Shared Files\licensing\license_files which is where the Ansys licenses are located on Windows.
    2. Restart License Server: Restart the FlexLM license server to apply the new settings. This can typically be done via command line or through an administrative interface provided by the software vendor.

Name of Product and Associated Features

Below is a list of Ansys products (AGI only) and their associated features:

  1. Ansys STK Pro
    • stk_mission_level1
    • stk_engine_runtime
  2. Ansys STK Premium Space:
    • (All Features in STK Pro)
    • stk_mission_level2
    • stk_mission_space
    • stk_snopt
    • stk_satcollection
  3. Ansys STK Premium Air
    • (All features in STK Pro)
    • stk_mission_level2
    • stk_mission_air
  4. Ansys STK Enterprise
    • (All features in STK Pro + Premium Air + Premium Space)
    • stk_geoserver
    • stk_geodata
    • stk_data_federate
    • moxie_sysml
  5. Ansys STK SOLIS:
    • stk_solis
  6. Ansys STK Scheduler:
    • stk_scheduler
  7. Ansys ODTK:
    • odtk_level1
    • odtk_level2
  8. Ansys ODSSA:
    • odtk_comspoc
    • odtk_maneuver
  9. Ansys STK RF Channel Modeler:
    • stk_rfchannel_ent
    • stk_gpusbr_p2p

By using FlexLM Options files, you can effectively manage and optimize the usage of your licensed software, ensuring compliance with licensing agreements and improving operational efficiency.

Defining Host_Group and Group and User

In FlexLM Options files, HOST_GROUP, GROUP, and USER are used to define different types of entities for license management. Here's the difference between them:

USER

  • Definition: Specifies individual users by their usernames.
  • Usage: Controls license access based on specific users.
  • Example: If you want to allow or restrict access for specific users.

INCLUDE stk_mission_level1 USER bob alice john

GROUP

  • Definition: Defines a group of users by their usernames.
  • Usage: Manages licenses for a set of users collectively.
  • Example: If you want to apply the same license rules to multiple users.

GROUP STKUsers bob alice john

INCLUDE stk_mission_level1 GROUP STKUsers

HOST_GROUP

  • Definition: Defines a group of host machines by their hostnames.
  • Usage: Manages licenses for a set of computers collectively.
  • Example: If you want to control license usage based on the machine rather than individual users.

HOST_GROUP OfficeComputers host1 host2 host3

INCLUDE stk_mission_level1 HOST_GROUP OfficeComputers

When to Use Each Type

  • USER: Use when you need to apply license controls to specific individuals. For example, giving a user named Bob access to a particular license.
  • GROUP: Use when you need to apply the same rules to multiple users. For instance, allowing a team of developers to access certain features.
  • HOST_GROUP: Use when you need to control access based on the machine's hostname. This is useful in environments where users may move between different machines, but you want to restrict licenses to specific computers.

By using USER, GROUP, and HOST_GROUP effectively, you can create flexible and powerful license management rules tailored to your organization's needs.

Example Options File for STK and ODTK

Below is an example of a complete FlexLM Options file tailored for STK and ODTK products:

Example 1: User-Specific Access

Requirement: Bob should have access to STK Pro and SOLIS only, while Erica should have access to Premium Space without SOLIS.

# Define user groups

GROUP BobGroup bob

GROUP EricaGroup erica

# Include Bob in STK Pro and SOLIS

INCLUDE stk_mission_level1 GROUP BobGroup

INCLUDE stk_engine_runtime GROUP BobGroup

INCLUDE stk_solis GROUP BobGroup

# Include Erica in Premium Space excluding SOLIS

INCLUDE stk_mission_level1 GROUP EricaGroup

INCLUDE stk_engine_runtime GROUP EricaGroup

INCLUDE stk_mission_level2 GROUP EricaGroup

INCLUDE stk_mission_space GROUP EricaGroup

INCLUDE stk_snopt GROUP EricaGroup

INCLUDE stk_satcollection GROUP EricaGroup

EXCLUDE stk_solis GROUP EricaGroup

Example 2: License Reservation

Requirement: Reserve 1 license for Premium Space for Operations1 and reserve 2 Pro licenses for Marketing1 and Marketing2 machines.

# Define host groups

HOST_GROUP OperationsGroup Operations1

HOST_GROUP MarketingGroup Marketing1 Marketing2

# Reserve licenses for Operations1

RESERVE 1 stk_mission_level1 HOST_GROUP OperationsGroup

RESERVE 1 stk_engine_runtime HOST_GROUP OperationsGroup

RESERVE 1 stk_mission_level2 HOST_GROUP OperationsGroup

RESERVE 1 stk_mission_space HOST_GROUP OperationsGroup

RESERVE 1 stk_snopt HOST_GROUP OperationsGroup

RESERVE 1 stk_satcollection HOST_GROUP OperationsGroup

# Reserve licenses for Marketing1 and Marketing2

RESERVE 1 stk_mission_level1 HOST_GROUP MarketingGroup

RESERVE 1 stk_engine_runtime HOST_GROUP MarketingGroup

Example 3: Limiting License Usage

Requirement: Limit the number of STK Scheduler licenses that can be checked out by any user to 2 at a time.

# Limit license usage for STK Scheduler

MAX 2 stk_scheduler USER ALL

Example 4: Deny Access

Requirement: Deny access to ODTK products for user Dave.

# Define user group

GROUP DaveGroup dave

# Deny access to ODTK products for Dave

DENY odtk_level1 GROUP DaveGroup

DENY odtk_level2 GROUP DaveGroup

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