HI all, After some days when it was not possible to generate license file for Questa Starter it is finally possible to do it. But unfortunately the license file that is sent over the email does not allow running Questa Starter. After trying to run Questa there is an error message saying:"Unable to checkout a license. Make sure your license file environment variable (e.g., LM_LICENSE_FILE)is set correctly and then run 'lmutil lmdiag' to diagnose the problem." If license file (fixed) is generated with host Id, the lmutil lmstat says "Error getting status: No SERVER lines in license file. (-13,66)" Is there ANYONE that can help on this? The documentation is quite poor, because for example in some places it says that Questa starte does not require license file (which is not true). Does Intel actually care about customers who want to use this version of the software??

1. Generated a license from this place: https://licensing.intel.com/psg/s/sales-signup-evaluationlicenses using my Nic (Physical Address without dashes - 12digit) , made sure it was Ethernet nic, not wifi nic, 2. Looked all over how to downoad the file... Finally after one hour, I realized that pressing "Generate License" it actually sends the file to my email (!), the notification " blah blah blah blah license was sent to your email" was too fast to read first place. 3. placed the .dat file in a folder in C: 4. Pointed Quartus to that file in Setup License 5. Hit Win, Search, "System Variables", window labeled "System Properties" opened, clicked "Environmental Variables", I set up a New one labelled "INTEL_LICENSE_FILE" pointing to the dat file, pressed ok. 6. Restarted. Nothing. Again the same error message: "Unable to checkout a license. Make sure your license file environment variable (e.g., LM_LICENSE_FILE) is set correctly and then run 'lmutil lmdiag' to diagnose the problem." I have to try this in another computer out of my work network, just in case that our server complicates communication, but I don't think that's the case. Why should you Intel have done all these SO much complicated? I m almost going to uninstall everything, install previous version with Modelsim and forget all about that. These lost hours should be productive, not the opposite. PS. By the way, AR_A_Intel , you gave a link (https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/how-to-set-intel-license-file-environment-variable_ that is wrong. I think the correct one is this one: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/developer/articles/troubleshooting/how-to-set-intel-license-file-environment-variable.html

I simply never receive the email, despite all indications I should Intel has been no help

I confirm that with the help of the employees, my case was solved. I was instructed to the correct System Variable name:"LM_LICENSE_FILE" which points to the dat file I was sent from Intel by email (I was using a wrong variable name). To make this entry, you may perform a windows Search for "System Variables" and then click on "Edit the System Environment Variables" and then click "Environment Variables". Be aware that you must add the entry in System variables, not user variables. (if you print "system v" instead, you can see it).

AR_Intel has replied in many of the other threads (but oddly not this one) that the license server is fixed. I had to negotiate the new login process via Intel Azure to get to the self-service center however I did that and re-generated the license (there's a button somewhere) and the new license file I received DOES have proper feature information in it. I haven't yet had a chance to go test it on my server box but it certainly looks very promising. So anyone following along on this thread, please go back to the self-service center and regenerate your license file and see if it fixes it.

I have the same problem! "Unable to checkout a license. Make sure your license file environment variable (e.g., LM_LICENSE_FILE) is set correctly and then run 'lmutil lmdiag' to diagnose the problem." Unfortunately I have no idea how to fix it, seems I ll try the previous version* with modelsim. *Edit: I m referring on the Quartus Prime Starter Edition

Has anyone succeeded running Questa Starter with license file?

37 Replies

se_ima
New Contributor
3 years ago
same problem
Comments only, no license.
cm600
New Contributor
3 years ago
Same here also.

Licence file with comments only...
victortomov
New Contributor
3 years ago
I have the same empty file here...
sduenas
New Contributor
3 years ago
This happens to me as well
vladimir_ar
New Contributor
3 years ago
Same problem. Empty license file:

# Intel Corporation Software and/or Intellectual Property License File
# Issued 14 February 2023
# Upgrade to these products will no longer be available after the Maintenance Expiration
# date unless licenses are renewed.
# Fixed Node License
# Primary Machine Name-USB
# Primary Machine ID-NIC ID e0d55e4f4ecb
# Companion ID-NIC ID e0d55e4f4ecb
# Companion ID 2-NIC ID b89a2ab875a4
# Product License Summary:
# Questasim*-Intel FPGA Starter Edition, 3 Seat(s)
# - Maintenance Expiration of 2024.02
# - License Expires 14-Feb-2024
################################################################################
# FEATURE START
# This is license file for Questasim*-Intel FPGA Starter Edition
# Number of seat licenses is 3
# License Expires 14-Feb-2024
#INCREMENT intelqsimstarter mgcld 2023.01 6-jan-2023 uncounted \
# FEATURE END
################################################################################
# End of Intel Corporation Software and/or Intellectual Property License File. Issued 02/14/2023

With environment variable LM_LICENSE_FILE whole right:

vladimir@WORK:~/PLD/intelFPGA_lite/21.1/questa_fse/linux_x86_64$ lmutil lmdiag
lmutil - Copyright (c) 1989-2019 Flexera. All Rights Reserved.
FlexNet diagnostics on Tue 2/14/2023 17:59

-----------------------------------------------------
License file: /home/vladimir/PLD/intelFPGA_lite/21.1/LR-111017_License.dat
-----------------------------------------------------

But vsim write:

vladimir@WORK:~/PLD/intelFPGA_lite/21.1/questa_fse/linux_x86_64$ vsim
Unable to checkout a license. Make sure your license file environment variable (e.g., LM_LICENSE_FILE)
is set correctly and then run 'lmutil lmdiag' to diagnose the problem.
Unable to checkout a license. Vsim is closing.
** Error: Invalid license environment. Application closing.

When i insert to my License file part from other license file? that i find in web - i give another answer :

# Intel Corporation Software and/or Intellectual Property License File
# Issued 14 February 2023
# Upgrade to these products will no longer be available after the Maintenance Expiration
# date unless licenses are renewed.
# Fixed Node License
# Primary Machine Name-USB
# Primary Machine ID-NIC ID e0d55e4f4ecb
# Companion ID-NIC ID e0d55e4f4ecb
# Companion ID 2-NIC ID b89a2ab875a4
# Product License Summary:
# Questasim*-Intel FPGA Starter Edition, 3 Seat(s)
# - Maintenance Expiration of 2024.02
# - License Expires 14-Feb-2024
################################################################################
# FEATURE START
# This is license file for Questasim*-Intel FPGA Starter Edition
# Number of seat licenses is 3
# License Expires 14-Feb-2024
INCREMENT intelqsimstarter mgcld 2023.01 6-jan-2023 uncounted \
5F3470861A2F6C12217D \
VENDOR_STRING=0E16EF4D HOSTID=e0d55e4f4ecb ISSUER=Intel SN=178444366 \
SIGN2="147E C53B A746 FEBE D06D 8D56 29D9 46C7 AEB5 140A 0C61 5AFC \
1FBC DF35 D749 1E7F 790F B086 4D2E 6056 ECC8 16FD 9597 D559 935A 91FC \
0D8F 4A1E A758 C944"
# FEATURE END
################################################################################
# End of Intel Corporation Software and/or Intellectual Property License File. Issued 02/14/2023

----------------------------------------------

vladimir@WORK:~/PLD/intelFPGA_lite/21.1/questa_fse/linux_x86_64$ lmutil lmdiag
lmutil - Copyright (c) 1989-2019 Flexera. All Rights Reserved.
FlexNet diagnostics on Tue 2/14/2023 18:15

-----------------------------------------------------
License file: /home/vladimir/PLD/intelFPGA_lite/21.1/LR-111017_License.dat
-----------------------------------------------------
"intelqsimstarter" v2023.01, vendor: mgcld, expiry: 6-jan-2023
vendor_string: 0E16EF4D
uncounted nodelocked license, locked to ethernet address "e0d55e4f4ecb" starts: 6-jan-2022, expires: 6-jan-2023

This license cannot be checked out because:
Invalid host.
The hostid of this system does not match the hostid
specified in the license file.
Feature: intelqsimstarter
Hostid: e0d55e4f4ecb
License path: /home/vladimir/PLD/intelFPGA_lite/21.1/LR-111017_License.dat:
FlexNet Licensing error:-9,57
-----------------------------------------------------

And vsim started, but close with error:

vladimir@WORK:~/PLD/intelFPGA_lite/21.1/questa_fse/linux_x86_64$ vsim
Reading pref.tcl
Unable to checkout a viewer license necessary for use of the Questa Intel Starter FPGA Edition graphical user interface. Vsim is closing.
vladimir@WORK:~/PLD/intelFPGA_lite/21.1/questa_fse/linux_x86_64$

I agree with others - intel send empty license file.

stm

New Contributor

3 years ago

Same problem: Requested a license for Questa and license file consists entirely of comments (I replaced the actual machine id with dots):

# Intel Corporation Software and/or Intellectual Property License File
# Issued 12 February 2023
# Upgrade to these products will no longer be available after the Maintenance Expiration  
# date unless licenses are renewed.  
# Fixed Node License
# Primary Machine Name-copernicium
# Primary Machine ID-NIC ID ............
# Companion ID-N/A
# Companion ID 2-N/A
# Product License Summary:
# Questasim*-Intel FPGA Starter Edition, 1 Seat(s)
# - Maintenance Expiration of 2024.02
# - License Expires 12-Feb-2024
################################################################################ 
# FEATURE START 
# This is license file for Questasim*-Intel FPGA Starter Edition 
# Number of seat licenses is 1 
# License Expires 12-Feb-2024 
# FEATURE END 
################################################################################
# End of Intel Corporation Software and/or Intellectual Property License File. Issued 02/12/2023

(

NikStr
New Contributor
2 years ago
I unfortunately did not get a valid license, it's still commented out.
DrSatUSD
New Contributor
5 months ago
This seems to be happening again. Tried generating new licenses and I get the "blank" (i.e. only comments) license files sent to me via email.

Forum Discussion

Has anyone succeeded running Questa Starter with license file?

37 Replies

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