Licensing Options

Choosing the Correct Licensing Option for CODE V, LightTools, and LucidDrive

Starting with the 2023.03 releases of CODE V, LightTools, and LucidDrive, you will be asked to select one of two licensing methods when installing the software. The options are: 

  1. Legacy Licensing 
  2. Synopsys Common Licensing 

This page is intended to help you choose the correct licensing method when installing Optical Solutions products. 

If you need further assistance choosing the appropriate licensing method, please contact your product’s support team

Using Host IDs to Determine the Licensing Type

The two licensing methods use exclusive Host ID numbers and are not interchangeable.

You can determine the type of licensing to choose during product installation based on your Host ID format as described in the following table.

Host ID Formats for Legacy Licensing

Host ID Formats for Synopsys Common Licensing

The Legacy Licensing is the same method used in prior versions of CODE V, LightTools, and LucidDrive. Your Host ID may start with a 400-* or C-*, followed by 15 hexadecimal characters.

 

Common:

400-*###############

C-*###############

 

Other:

80-*###############

4-*###############

Host IDs are 12-digit hexadecimal strings, based on a MAC address for your computer. Host IDs tied to FLEX dongles start with a 9- followed by 8 hexadecimal characters, or a 10- followed by 8 hexadecimal characters.

 

12 Digit Hexadecimal String:

############

9-########

10-########

Supported Dongle Types

If you are using dongle-based licenses, note that the two licensing types support different dongles. Legacy Licensing is built on the Sentinel licensing platform. Synopsys Common Licensing is built on the FlexLM platform.

Dongles for Legacy Licenses: Sentinel

Dongles for Synopsys Common Licensing: FlexLM

Sentinel HL Dongle | Synopsys
Sentinel SuperPro (a) Dongle | Synopsys
Sentinel SuperPro (b) Dongle | Synopsys

Typical User:

Users at sites that have prior releases of CODE V, LightTools, or LucidDrive

If your Host ID has not changed, choose Legacy Licensing when installing the 2023.03 release software.

Flex10 Dongle | Synopsys
Flex9 (a) Dongle | Synopsys
Flex9 (b) Dongle | Synopsys

Typical User:

Users at new sites who have not previously used CODE V, LightTools, or LucidDrive

Are you using a license over a network?

Please contact your company system administrator for assistance choosing which licensing option is used in your environment. 

If the licenses are managed on the server using the OSG Floating License Manager, choose Legacy Licensing.

If the licenses are managed using Synopsys Common Licensing, choose “My license is for Synopsys Common Licensing”. In the Optical/Photonic Solutions Licensing, choose “Network (Client Installation)”.

Installation Guides

For further details about installing each software, please visit the Optical Solutions Licensing and Installation Help page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know that I have chosen the incorrect license type? (Fixed/Nodelocked Licensing)

If you have chosen to install Synopsys Common Licensing, but you have a Host ID for Legacy Licensing, a conflict will be detected during the Setup Configure Optical/Photonic Solutions Licensing when you input your license file, “The license file appears to have one or more issues which may generate licensing errors when running the software”:

Setup - Configure Optical/Photonic Solutions Licensing | Synopsys

If you have chosen to install Legacy Licensing, but you have a Host ID for Synopsys Common Licensing, a “License Error Message 18b: No valid license code for version 2023.03 found” will display when you try to start the software.

License Manager Error | Synopsys

Note: These messages could also indicate general license problems

How do I know that I have chosen the incorrect license type? (Floating/Network Licensing)

If you have chosen Synopsys Common Licensing > Network (Client Installation), but your server uses the OSG Floating License Manager (Legacy Licensing), the software will issue a “Flex Error Number : -15, Cannot connect to the Synopsys license server” message.

License Manager Error | Synopsys

If you have chosen Legacy Licensing > Floating, but enter the server hostname for a computer hosting the SCL network server, you will get an Error Number: 3 – License manager is not responding message when you start the software. 

License Manager Error | Synopsys

Note: These messages could also indicate general license manager issues.

How can I change an existing software installation to the alternate method?

If you have chosen a licensing option that does not match your Host ID, you will need to modify your existing installation to the alternate mode. 

Changing the CODE V Licensing Option

  • Go to the Windows Apps & Features. Find CODE V 2023.03 and click Uninstall. This action will launch the CODE V InstallShield Wizard.
CODE V InstallShield Wizard | Synopsys
  • Click Modify licensing
CODE V InstallShield Wizard | Synopsys

  • In the License Install Options:
    • If your Host ID is for CODE V Legacy Licensing, uncheck “My license is for Synopsys Common Licensing”, then click Next
    • If your Host ID is for Synopsys Common Licensing, check “My license is for Synopsys Common Licensing”, then click Next
  • At this point, complete the installation update as described in the CODE V Installation Guide.

Changing the LightTools Licensing Option

  • Go to the Windows Apps & Features. Find LightTools 2023.03 and click Modify. This action will launch the LightTools 2023.03 Setup.
LightTools Licensing Option | Synopsys

  • In the Welcome screen, click Next.
  • On the Program Maintenance window, choose Modify. Click Next.
  • In the Installation Options, choose “Change Licensing Options”
LightTools Installation Options | Synopsys

  • In the License Install Options:
    • If your Host ID is for LightTools Legacy Licensing, uncheck “My license is for Synopsys Common Licensing”, then click Next
    • If your Host ID is for Synopsys Common Licensing, check “My license is for Synopsys Common Licensing”, then click Next
  • At this point, complete the installation update as described in the LightTools Installation Guide.

Changing the LucidShape Products Licensing Option

  • From your LucidShape product, select the menu Help > Setup License.
  • The License Setup dialog box opens.
LightTools Installation Options | Synopsys

  • If you need to change your license method, you can choose between Legacy Licensing and Synopsys Common Licensing.
  • If you select Synopsys Common Licensing, click the Setup SCL Licensing button to make changes to your Synopsys Common Licensing license type or settings.
  • Use this option to:
    • Switch between Nodelocked and Network license types
    • Configure a new license key file
    • Change the Synopsys Common Licensing server hostname or port a Network client points to
  • See the LucidShape Product Family Installation Guide for more details.

Terminology

Legacy Licensing

Synopsys Common Licensing

Purpose

Fixed

Nodelocked

Software license tied to a single computer or USB dongle.

Floating

Network

Shared pool of licenses that is accessible by a group on the same network.