I was able to get things finished and setup with a second pair of eyes from a coworker.
For those looking to setup a floating license hosted on a server (windows), my experience.
Buy your license of Quartus Prime Pro, get your license file and create your account with Intel to log in to the Intel FPGA Self-Service Licensing Center.
Select your license and apply the hardware data for where you are going to have the license hosted. In this case I used the NIC of the server and the servers name. This was set as my primary computer. Then make sure that you set the dropdown option to "float".
Once you have entered the information into the text fields, create the license file. It should allow you to download a license.dat file with an L-####### style name. you can either do this while on your server location or you can move the generated file to the server.
once the license is on the server,
Download the desired version of Quartus, I used Intel Quartus Prime Pro Edition Software V22.1, Note, that you do not have to use the full software package. If you go to the multiple downloads tab you can find a slimmer version of the program. Make sure that it says it has Flexlm License Server Software included.
download the program, unzip the .tar file and then either in cmd/powershell/ or by right click and run as admin, run the .bat file. This may take a while depending on the version of the software that you select.
I suggest installing the paired down version of the program because it makes the directories for you and you dont have to hunt for the components as much when you read the Intel documentation. (they ask you to move certain executables from a local machine already running the software)
If that is still too much, you can also download just the Flexlm License Server Software and then run the executable that way. I think its still missing one of the four pieces suggested to have/use by Intel.
during the installation process of the Quartus program, go to your license file and change the,
SERVER line information to "your server name" "default should be the NIC ID" "your chosen port#"
Vendor alterad "Path to daemon executable" port=#### In my case it was the bin64 file location, \alterad.exe port=####
Vendor Mgcld "Path to daemon executable" port=#### In my case it was the bin64 file location, \mgcld.exe port=####
USE_SERVER
In order to do the two vendor lines you'll have to wait for the Quartus software to finish loading, OR, get the executable from a machine already running Quartus AND then you will have to create the file path folders to mimic the file path from the local machine.
IE, "DriveLetter:\intelFPGA\##.#\.....\bin64\alterad.exe" and of course place the executables in that final bin64 location.
In the documentation it stated that you grab the:
- lmgrd.exe
- lmutil.exe
- alterad.exe
- lmtools.exe
and because you need the variable for mgcld for your license file
- mgcld.exe
While waiting to load or after you have created the file path for the software, you will also need to pick three ports on your server, and allow those ports through the firewall both inbound and outbound. Name them something you can remember or relate to the software\service.
Once the software has loaded or you've copied the components necessary to the file location you've created.
originally I had my license file in a folder called flexlm, from the intel instructions. The file path was "Drive:\flexlm\License.dat"
In the cmd I ran the command instructed by Intel
<installation or user created file path>\bin64\lmgrd -c \path\to\license.dat
this should give you an output that tells you if your license and a server service has been started.
Now, so long as you have downloaded or moved the lmtools executable, you can bring up lmtools.
leave it on the default which should be configuration using service, the box was blank at first when I ran it, navigate the tabs to "config services"
set your Service name as desired, then set your paths to lmgrd and the license file in the boxes.
In the flexlm folder you created, create another file called logs, and make that your debug log path.
select the boxes that say "start server at power up" and "use services" then save and run.
If all has gone well, a user with an installed version of quartus should be able to go in to the license setup tab or open quartus and tell it you have a license file.
in the top line enter, example, 1777@servername, then select the box that says "wait for floating license" if things have gone well, your licenses should appear in the large box and youre all set.
Hopefully some of this helps any first time user/setup folks. And, for more trouble shooting you can use the forums to help you after that.
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