Why do I receive License Manager Error -15?

Why do I receive "License Manager Error -15"?

On the client system, the error appears as:

ERROR: License checkout failed. Cannot connect to license server. License Manager Error -15.

On the license server, the error appears as:

ERROR: FlexNet Licensing error: -15,10. System Error: 10061 "WinSock: Connection refused"

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

This error can have different meanings depending on which system it occurs.

If you receive this error on a client installation of MATLAB:

1. Verify communication by pinging the license manager server from the client with the following command: ping <hostname>  where <hostname> is the hostname of the server machine. If this fails you may have a networking error that is preventing the client from communicating with the license manager server. Contact your network administrator to resolve this issue. NOTE: If you know the IP address of the server and are able to ping that, the issue more lies within the DNS configuration of your network. You can replace the hostname in the server line of the network.lic with the IP address as a workaround
2. Verify that the SERVER line of the network.lic on the client matches that of the license.dat file on the server itself. If the SERVER line differs it may cause the client to contact the wrong server/port.
3. Check if there is a firewall(s) between the MATLAB client and the license manager server. The license manager communicates on two ports that must be opened through the firewall(s). These ports are specified in the license file hosted on the license manager server. If there is a firewall running, contact your System Administrator to open the necessary ports in the firewall.
4. If you require a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to connect to the Network License Manager, make sure that you are connected to the VPN.

If you receive this error on the license server:

1. Verify that the license manager is running on the license server. If the license manager is not running, restart the license manager and try to run MATLAB again. This will often resolve the error. For more information on how to restart the license manager, see instructions: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/102968-how-do-i-start-or-stop-the-network-license-manager
2. Verify that the TCP port numbers used by the license manager are not already being used by another application. To determine which port numbers the license manager is using, refer to the end of the SERVER and/or DAEMON lines in the license.dat file.

Note that the license manager uses two ports. The first port is used by lmgrd, and is defined at the end of the SERVER line in the license.dat file. By default, port 27000 is used. The second port is used by MLM, and is (optionally) defined at the end of the DAEMON line in the license.dat file. By default, the port is randomly selected.

Example:

SERVER Host_Name HostID 27000
DAEMON MLM <path/to/MLM> port=1711

Note: In this setup both the Host Name and HostID are from the License Server, not the client computer.

If the DAEMON line does not end with "port=<number>", then MLM is using a random open port. In the example above, you will need to check ports 27000 and 1711. Consult your network administrator for help identifying ports in use.

To verify which ports are in use on your system, you can use the "netstat" utility. This utility is called from the DOS prompt for Windows, or through a terminal window on Linux/MacOS. To use the utility, execute the following command:

netstat -aon

For Windows users: to then verify which program is using the port, copy the PID and then put it at the end of the command below:

tasklist | findstr

An example would be:

tasklist | findstr 21592

For more information about these ports, see the article below:

What ports does the MATLAB license manager use, and how can I set those ports?

If you are getting this error while connected to a Wide Area Network (WAN), please see the article below:

Why do I receive a license manager error -15 when trying to checkout a license key from a distant location or over a wide area network (WAN)?

[Mary Kaltenberg]

Matlab was working perfectly fine until one day I kept getting this error. I have a Mac. I pinged the host, where it says I have an unknown host. I use a VPN to connect to the host. Please advise how to resolve this error on a Mac. I can't find the network.lic file to compare the server lines. Thanks.

[Baris Akin]

hey,

ı got same error but cant understand how to verify communication by pinging license manager server. ı am so newbie in matlab and actually dont know anything about license manager server and how to connect it. Can you draw me a plan or a way that ı can follow it in my desktop? thanks for all. stay in safe!

[Cody Lamke]

Hello,

If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:

http://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us/

-Cody Lamke

[Paul Duffield]

Hi all,

If I were to change the port on the server to 27010, is there a simple way to update the clients or do I need to reinstall with the new license.dat file?

Cheers

[Colin Fraser]

You would need to update the license files of all clients to now have the 27010 set as the port.

If you are still experiencing this issue, please create a service request below.

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Colin Fraser

[Ali Naeemah]

the software center of my university told me that the expire date of Matlab 2019a will expire on my 2020 that means now I can not use the university version right now until they update it

Answer 2

[pronning]

To me, the error occured when I was off-site, and the VPN to the University server was disconnected...

[Shilin Chen]

So did I

[凌华 杨]

That is my cause! thanks so much

[MACHAALLAH SOMAI]

thnQ !

[Gjermund Holøyen]

Thank you! It's funny how the replies always are so much better at providing the solution.

Answer 3

[Wenxuan Liang]

This happened to me seemingly because that nmy university has updated the license, so my old MATLAB 2017b on one long-unused computer could not start.

The solution here is simple. Assuming you have an updated license (through the University probably), simply go to the installation directory ("C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2017b" for me), and locate "<MATLAB DIR>\bin\win64\activate_matlab.exe", and then run it to re-enter the license information.

No need to re-install MATLAB.

[圆 李]

Yes，I solved my problem~

[Evangeline Eigbobo]

Just tried it.. It works!. Thank you so much!!.This was very helpful to me.

Answer 4

[Mariusz Pawlak]

Hi,

I found that on license server manager computer must be enabled mlm.exe connection by windows firewall. That was my case, that is why I couldnt connect to license.

Regards :)

[Shawgi Mohammed]

It does installed but not work

[Mariusz Pawlak]

Try to switch off Windows firewall or antivirus firewall if You have ( temporary od course :) if this fix the problem than the problem is with closed ports

Answer 5

[Bradley Evans]

No wonder many students are choosing Python over MATLAB. So, we download, install it, but still can't use it. Chalk up another one for the gurus at MathWorks!

[Omar]

….

Answer 6

[Asma]

I got this problem but it was like intermittence connection. Sometimes there is no error, sometimes not ok and appears this error. Ping the hostname is successful. I don't know how to solve it.

Answer 7

[Leonid Tulin]

I have that error after force-quit . Server works fine . How can i fix it ??

[Laurent Patry-beaudoin]

have you found how to solve this problem?

[Tech Support]

Hi Laurent,

If you are still experiencing this issue, please contact MathWorks support:

http://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us/

-Justin

Answer 8

[Anuradha Das]

i could not open the matlab r2017a due to licence failure..kindly assist me

[Riley Holzman]

You have to wait for your teacher. she will tell you.

Answer 9

[blue ece]

how i can install matlab

[William Jones]

I tried steps 1,2,3 and I am still getting -15 error. Anything other suggestions?

[Kyle Perry]

Hi William,

If you are still getting license manager error -15, please contact the Installation support team so we can assist with the error.

www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us/

[William Jones]

Hi Kyle, MATLAB worked on the client PC for a few days for a User, and then stopped working on its own when I got the call. The first thing I noticed in the license file "(lmgrd) MLM using TCP-port 54612 when it was working, but now the server PC config/debug log says it is using port 50977. I thought this was odd. Not sure if you've seen/heard this before? So, I changed the port in the license file on the client PC to match the server PC (port 50977) and it now works again on the client PC. Go figure. Is there a way to automate this? Or a way to predict when it was happen again. Thanks! Will.

[Kyle Perry]

Hi Will,

It should not have been adjusting the port number on its own, if this happens again, please contact us so we can take a look at the issue.

Regards, Kyle Perry

Answer 10

[h612]

I am using Matlab2017a from my university. I just figured out that using any network besides that of my universities', I had the license server issue. Hope that helps sm1.

Answer 11

[Alfonso Valdes]

Hi, I just migrated to Mac OS Mojave and got the license message the first time I tried to use Matlab under Mojave. The license path in the message is /Library/Application Support/MathWorks/MATLAB/R2017b_licenses:/Applications/MATLAB_R2017b.app/licenses/license.dat:/Applications/MATLAB_R2017b.app/licenses/network.lic

But if I ls from /Library/Application Support/MathWorks/MATLAB, I just see the directory R2017b and there is no license. Anyone else seeing this? Have you migrated to Mojave?

[Torvald Ask]

I have the same problem. Matlab won't start; I just get the License Manager Error -15 and when I follow the path you have listed it stops with the R2018b directory.

[Kyle Perry]

Hello Everyone,

If you are still receiving the error after trying all the steps listed above, then please contact our support team so we can assist.

www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us/

Answer 12

[Dhritiraj Sengupta]

Hello, I am having the following error. How can I fix it?

[Colin Fraser]

1. Verify communication by pinging the license manager server from the client with the following command: ping <hostname> where <hostname> is the hostname of the server machine. If this fails you may have a networking error that is preventing the client from communicating with the license manager server. Contact your network administrator to resolve this issue.
2. Verify that the SERVER line of the network.lic on the client matches that of the license.dat file on the server itself. If the SERVER line differs it may cause the client to contact the wrong server/port.
3. Check if there is a firewall(s) between the MATLAB client and the license manager server. The license manager communicates on two ports that must be opened through the firewall(s). These ports are specified in the license file hosted on the license manager server. If there is a firewall running, contact your System Administrator to open the necessary ports in the firewall.

If you need further assistance, please contact us.

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

-Colin

[Zihao Li]

If you use a laptop from your university with Matlab installed on it, you need to connect to your university network to open Matlab. Using your university vpn may also achieve the same effect.

[国昊 刘]

great answer!!!!! thanks!

Answer 13

[Toon Verwaest]

License checkout failed. License Manager Error -15

MATLAB is unable to connect to the license server. Check that the license manager has been started, and that the MATLAB client machine can communicate with the license server.

[Cody Lamke]

Hello,

If you are still experiencing this error, please contact MathWorks support:

http://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us/

-Cody Lamke

[nikolaos koutsogiannakis]

i dont understant .you mail me at the university mail so must be automatically recognised and conected with the license.why error15 even if i have the vpn of the university

national technical university of athenes is my university and []@mail.ntua.gr my mail

[Katholiki Triommati]

Νικόλα, το ίδιο ακριβώς πρόβλημα έχω και γω, δεν μου επιτρέπει την πρόσβαση παρόλο που έχω το vpn του ΕΜΠ, μήπως ο φάκελος του user σου έχει ελληνικούς χαρακτήρες;

[MICHAIL KARALIS]

Παιδιά και εγώ το ίδιο πρόβλημα έχω. Έκανα download με τους κωδικούς του πανεπιστημίου και μου εμφανίζει το ίδιο μήνυμα. Βρήκατε κάποια λύση;

[Nikolaos Pigadas]

Same here.

[stavros kolios]

Καλησπέρα!!

Έχω και εγώ το ίδιο πρόβλημα!! Έχετε βρεί κάποια λύση? Μήπως μπορείτε να βοηθήσετε??

[stavros kolios]

Με άδειες του ΕΜΠ έχω κατεβάσει το πρόγραμμα!!

[stavros kolios]

Good Evening!!I have the same problem !!Have you found a solution?Can you help ??

[N/A]

Πρέπει να έχετε κατεβάσει και να έχετε ανοιχτό το VPN του ΕΜΠ για να δέχεται το license.

[LAMPROS RAMMOS]

και πως ακριβως κατεβαζουμε το vpn του ΕΜΠ ?

Answer 14

[Jacques Richou]

Hello there,

My MatLab was working just fine last time I used it, I was not in school, but at home to try it 1st time

Next, when it did not work, I was at my girlfriends appartment when it showed me the License Error

No VPN used anywhere, and other students did not have the same issue.

I reinstalled Matlab, and it did not change anything, f someone has an idea about how to solve this, I'll take =)

Have a nice one =)

Answer 15

[Devki Talwar]

MatLab License Issue

Answer 16

[Dale Logan]

ERROR: License checkout failed. Cannot connect to license server. License Manager Error -15.

Answer 17

[Navneet Upadhyay]

MatLab License Issue

Answer 18

[Zaman Ali]

[Zaman Ali]

can anyone help me to resolve this issue ? i have tried several times but unable to resolve it. please help and tell me in detail what to do.

[Leo Pavletic]

I have the same problem...

[B. Kowshik Narayana]

yes

[KLEISTHENIS TZATZAS]

I too have the same problem if someone knows anything please tell me how to solve this..

[Walter Roberson]

See https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/98092-why-do-i-receive-license-manager-error-15#comment_725408

Answer 19

[Enayat Mahajerin]

failed

&

Refused Connection

Answer 20

[Zhongshan Li]

I would like to continue to have access when my VPN connection to my university, Georgia State University, is disconnected.

[Walter Roberson]

This is possible if the university agrees to configure to "borrow" licenses; see https://www.mathworks.com/help/install/license/borrow-licenses.html

Answer 21

[Amrarul Islam]

why I can not connect with VPN matlab ?

[Walter Roberson]

@Amrarul Islam

Possibly because https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissacristinamarquez/2020/07/20/our-underwater-world-is-full-of-cables-that-are-sometimes-attacked-by-sharks/