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Fast_Eddie's avatar
Fast_Eddie
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2 years ago
Solved

vsim Can't find license file for Questa*-Intel® FPGA Starter Edition SW-QUESTA

I have downloaded and installed Questa*-Intel® FPGA Starter Edition SW-QUESTA, requested a license for same from the portal, received this by email and installed it (on a Windows box).

When I try to run vsim, I get the following problem:

c:\intelFPGA\23.1std\questa_fse\win64>vsim
Unable to checkout a license. Make sure your license file environment variable (SALT_LICENSE_SERVER, MGLS_LICENSE_FILE, 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.

If I try running lmutil lmdiag as suggested, I get:

c:\intelFPGA\23.1std\questa_fse\win64>lmutil lmdiag
lmutil - Copyright (c) 1989-2019 Flexera. All Rights Reserved.
FlexNet diagnostics on Fri 12/13/2024 14:49

-----------------------------------------------------
License file: c:\Licenses\LR-208028_License.dat
-----------------------------------------------------

Which seems to suggest all is well - so why the error.

For completeness, here is a shot of the Windows environment variable dialog box:

I've got to be doing something wrong, but what?

(I have scoured the previous postings on similar subjects to no avail )

Installation & Licensing
  • Fast_Eddie's avatar
    Fast_Eddie
    2 years ago

    Hey Frank,

    Thanks for picking up this thread.

    Tried the SALT variable to no avail. However, removing conflicts between system and user variables (result of earlier experiments when I had the dud license file) , a reboot and a nice hot cup of tea seems to have fixed it just now!

    Thanks again.

3 Replies

  • Fast_Eddie's avatar
    Fast_Eddie
    Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor
    2 years ago

    So I played with this some more. The license file had this curious line in it:

    300 Your contract does not allow you to use this license type.: u

    - which doesn't sound good. So I tried to generate a new one.

    This time it looks different - it is twice as long (about 3k) and has some actual hex key strings in it (yay).

    Still doesn't work though vsim barfs with this:

    c:\intelFPGA\23.1std\questa_fse\win64>vsim
    Unable to checkout a license. Make sure your license file environment variable (SALT_LICENSE_SERVER, MGLS_LICENSE_FILE, 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.

    and if I run lmutil lmdiag, I get this:

    c:\intelFPGA\23.1std\questa_fse\win64>lmutil lmdiag
    lmutil - Copyright (c) 1989-2019 Flexera. All Rights Reserved.
    FlexNet diagnostics on Mon 12/16/2024 14:32

    -----------------------------------------------------
    License file: c:\Licenses\LR-208719_License.dat
    -----------------------------------------------------
    "intelqsimstarter" v2025.12, vendor: mgcld, expiry: 16-dec-2025
    vendor_string: C6EF63B9
    uncounted nodelocked license, locked to ethernet address "803f5d06e61b" starts: 16-dec-2024, expires: 16-dec-2025

    This is the correct node for this node-locked license
    -----------------------------------------------------

    .. which kinda seems promising but vsim isn't convinced. Can anyone help?

  • FvM's avatar
    FvM
    Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
    2 years ago

    Hi,

    under circumstances, Questa works only with SALT_LICENSE_SERVER entry, as reported several times in this forum. It's depending e.g. on other Software installed on your computer.
    Suggest to try.

    Regards,
    Frank

  • Fast_Eddie's avatar
    Fast_Eddie
    Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor
    2 years ago

    Hey Frank,

    Thanks for picking up this thread.

    Tried the SALT variable to no avail. However, removing conflicts between system and user variables (result of earlier experiments when I had the dud license file) , a reboot and a nice hot cup of tea seems to have fixed it just now!

    Thanks again.