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Troubleshooting MathLM

Troubleshooting MathLM

DiagnosticsTechnical Support
Problems and Solutions
Diagnostics
The following techniques are useful for debugging problems with client connections to the license server.
  • Launch MathLM with the option -foreground. This option allows you to see how requests are handled by MathLM in real time.
  • Log MathLM messages to a file with an increased level of verbosity by launching MathLM with the options -logfile and -loglevel. This allows you to see how requests are handled by MathLM over a certain period of time.
  • From a command line on the client, run the Wolfram Language kernel with the option -lmverbose and examine the messages produced. This option prints diagnostic information on connecting to the license manager.
Problems and Solutions

MathLM Cannot Find the Password File

MathLM will not start if it cannot find the password file. In that case, the following error message will be displayed on your screen:
Faulty license entry.
No valid mathlm password entry or file found.
To successfully start MathLM, use the option -pwfile followed by the full pathname of the mathpass file.

The Client Cannot Connect to the License Server When the Wolfram System Is First Launched

If this happens, the following dialog box appears.
You can choose one of the options:

Activate—try again, perhaps after changing the server name.

Other ways to activate—brings up the other ways the product can be activated. See "Activating Mathematica" for details.

Quit—exits the Wolfram System.

If you are running the kernel only, the following message will be displayed.
A password entry for a network license server was found,
but no license was returned. The license server may not be
responding, or no licenses are available from the server.
You may need to contact your system administrator to
start the license server, or wait until a license is
available.
You can press Ctrl+C to quit, or follow the instructions in "Entering a Single-Machine Password" to enter a single-machine password.
If these error messages are displayed, check that MathLM is running on the license server. If MathLM quits, it must be restarted in order to serve licenses. If there is a firewall between the license server and the client, verify that the firewall is configured to allow traffic through the proper port.

The Client Can Connect to the License Server, but Is Denied a License because the Process Limit Has Been Reached

If this happens, the following dialog box appears to notify you of an error.
You can choose one of the options:

Activate—try again, perhaps after changing the server name.

Other ways to activate—brings up the other ways the product can be activated. See "Activating Mathematica" for details.

Quit—exits the Wolfram System.

If you are running the kernel only, the following message will be displayed.
The n-process limit on the license you are trying
to run has been reached. Contact Wolfram Research or
an authorized Wolfram System distributor for information
on upgrading your license configuration.
You can press Ctrl+C to quit, or follow the instructions in "Entering a Single-Machine Password" to enter a single-machine password.
You can purchase additional licenses by contacting Wolfram Research.

The Client Can Connect to the License Server, but Is Denied a Kernel because the Kernel Process Limit Has Been Reached

You can choose one of two options:

Purchase—links to the Wolfram Mathematica Sales Inquiry web page.

Cancel—aborts the kernel launch.

If you are running the kernel only, the following message will be displayed.
The n-process limit on the license you are trying
to run has been reached. Contact Wolfram Research or
an authorized Wolfram System distributor for information
on upgrading your license configuration.
You can press Ctrl+C to quit, or follow the instructions in "Entering a Single-Machine Password" to enter a single-machine password.
You can purchase additional licenses by contacting Wolfram Research. Contact Sales at https://www.wolfram.com/contact-us for more information.
If you are running the Wolfram System using a network license, see "Restricting and Reserving Licenses" for more information on guaranteeing kernel availability to particular users.

MonitorLM Shows That There Are Available Licenses, but the Client Is Denied a License because the Process Limit Has Been Reached

If this happens, there are reserved licenses that are not in use. If necessary, you can reclaim an unused reserved license by removing the relevant line from the restriction script and restarting MathLM.

The Client Can Connect to the License Server, but Is Denied a License Based on a Restriction Script

If MathLM is configured to use a restriction script and an unauthorized client requests a license, the following message will be displayed.
You can choose one of the options:

Activate—try again, perhaps after changing the server name.

Other ways to activate—brings up the other ways the product can be activated. See "Activating Mathematica" for details.

Quit—exits the Wolfram System.

If you are running the kernel only, the following message will be displayed.
A password entry for a network license server was found,
but no license was returned. The license server may not be
responding, or no licenses are available from the server.
You may need to contact your system administrator to
start the license server, or wait until a license is
available.
You can press Ctrl+C to quit, or follow the instructions in "Entering a Single-Machine Password" to enter a single-machine password.
If the client that was denied should be allowed to request a license, edit the restriction script and restart MathLM.

The Connection to the License Server Is Lost after the Client Is Connected to It

Once the Wolfram System is running, the client contacts the license server every two minutes to refresh its license. If three successive attempts to contact the license server are unsuccessful, a dialog box will appear informing you that the license server could not be contacted. This happens six to eight minutes after the connection to the license server is lost.
If you are running the front end, the following dialog box appears.

You can choose one of two options:

Enter Password—brings up the front end password dialog box. See "Entering a Single-Machine Password" for details.

Quit—exits the Wolfram System. You are given the option of saving your work.

If you are running the kernel only, you will receive the following prompt to indicate that the connection has been lost. 
Lost connection to server>
You may attempt to connect to the license server again, or you may exit the Wolfram System.
Your options are:
    retry (or r) to retry server
    exit (or quit) to exit the Wolfram System
Technical Support
For further assistance, check the Technical Support FAQs on the web at support.wolfram.com. If you are a Site License Administrator, additional Site License Documentation is available at https://support.wolfram.com/topic/mathematica/sites-mathematica. If you do not find the information you need, please contact Technical Support by sending email to support@wolfram.com or by calling +1-217-398-6500. Include your license number in all correspondence. Your license number is located on your electronic or printed license certificate. It is also available after installation by going to the Help menu and clicking About Mathematica. You must be a registered user in order to receive installation support. You must have a current Premier Service subscription to receive Technical Support.