Forum Discussion
New ContributorTrouble licensing Questa Starter Edition
Hi,
I have Quartus Prime Lite 24.1std.0. I select Tools->Run Simulation Tool->RTL Simulation and get a Fatal License Error, Unable to checkout a license.
I've gotten a license file from Intel and set LM_LICENSE_FILE to point to it. When I run lmutil lmdiag, I get:
lmutil - Copyright (c) 1989-2022 Flexera. All Rights Reserved. FlexNet diagnostics on Fri 6/27/2025 12:15 ----------------------------------------------------- License file: C:\Users\Bob\AppData\Roaming\LR-240159_License.dat ----------------------------------------------------- "intelqsimstarter" v2026.06, vendor: mgcld, expiry: 27-jun-2026 vendor_string: D59A5B02 uncounted nodelocked license, locked to ethernet address "10ffe03bda88" starts: 27-jun-2025, expires: 27-jun-2026 This is the correct node for this node-locked license -----------------------------------------------------
In Quartus' Options dialog, under EDA Tool Options, the Questa Intel FPGA is set to c:/intelfpga_lite/24.1std/questa_fse/win64. There is a Questasim installation there.
What could be going wrong?
Thank you.
10 Replies
paveetirrasrie_AlteraFrequent Contributor
Hello Robert,
Before starting the Questa*-Intel FPGA Edition software, please set the MGLS_LICENSE_FILE environment variable to the location and file name of the Questa*-Intel FPGA Edition license file.
Kindly refer to https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/programmable/683472/25-1/and-software-license.html for more detail on Questa setup.
Regards,
Pavee
- BobA
Thank you. I added MGLS_LICENSE_FILE. Here's my environment:
I still get the Fatal License Error when starting RTL Simulation:
Here's what I see when I run lmutil lmdiag:
C:\altera\13.0sp1\quartus\bin>lmutil lmdiag lmutil - Copyright (c) 1989-2008 Acresso Software Inc. All Rights Reserved. FLEXnet diagnostics on Tue 7/15/2025 09:19 ----------------------------------------------------- License file: C:\Users\Bob\AppData\Roaming\LR-240159_License.dat ----------------------------------------------------- "intelqsimstarter" v2026.06, vendor: mgcld uncounted nodelocked license, locked to ethernet address "10ffe03bda88" starts: 27-jun-2025, expires: 27-jun-2026 This is the correct node for this node-locked license ----------------------------------------------------- C:\altera\13.0sp1\quartus\bin> - paveetirrasrie_Altera
Hello Robert,
Thank you for the update.
I've noticed there's an error in QSYS_ROOTDIR path. Please help to fix the path and try again.
- paveetirrasrie_Altera
- BobA
You mean because of the forward slashes? OK. I changed them to backslashes, re-started Quartus, and tried running the RTL simulator. I still got the Fatal License Error.
- paveetirrasrie_Altera
Thanks, Robert. Check the license file in a text editor. Kindly check the MAC address is similar to your current machine MAC address. If not, you should try regenerating it at the SSLC.
Regards,
Pavee
- BobA
I have of course, several network interfaces and several MAC addresses. But my active ethernet connection's MAC address matches the one in the license file.
lmutil says "This is the correct node for this node-locked license". Doesn't that mean the MAC addresses match?
- Bob
- paveetirrasrie_Altera
Hey Bob,
Thanks for the update.
Kindly attach the license file DAT for me to debug further. You may email privately the attachment.
Regards,
Pavee
- paveetirrasrie_Altera
Hello Bob,
You may delete the MGLS_LICENSE_FILE environment variable or update its value to point to your correct license path.
It looks like Questa is currently using MGLS_LICENSE_FILE, but the path specified is invalid or does not exist.
This is likely the root cause of the issue.
The MGLS_LICENSE_FILE takes precedence over LM_LICENSE_FILE settings. Kindly let me know if this helps on resolving the issue.
Regards,
Pavee
- BobA
I removed the MGLS_LICENSE_FILE environment variable, but I'm still getting the "Unable to checkout a license" error.
