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Installing and Configuring the Network License Server for Global Mapper

IMPORTANT NOTE: Part I and Part II provide instructions on how to install the FLEX software on a server machine to host the network license. These instructions are for the network administrator. This is a separate step from installing the Global Mapper software and licensing it on the end user machine. For end-user instructions see Connecting to a Network License Server.

For information on updating an existing licensing server, please see Upgrading a Network License Server

Part I - Installing the Network Server Software and Obtaining Server Information

In order to receive a network license, information from the server machine must be collected and sent to authorize@bluemarblegeo.com . This information can be collected from the server tools.

  1. Upon purchase of a network license of Global Mapper, you (the purchaser of the license) will receive an e-mail with instructions to download a ZIP file containing the server licensing tools. Choose the machine that will act as the license server, and move the files to that machine.


    Extract the ZIP file to a directory on the machine to be used as a license server.

    Note: We recommend that you DO NOT set up the license server on the same machine that will run Global Mapper.

    Note: Please inform us if you are using a licensing server that already has existing FlexNet license services running for other applications. The default tools provided are 64-bit FlexNet Publisher 11.15

    For more information on server setup or machine recommendations, please email geohelp@bluemarblegeo.com

  2. Unzip the folder to a chosen location on the computer that will host the license server. This example will use the path C:\lmtools .

    Note: To avoid configuration problems, Flexera recommends that you keep the path to the GM_Flex folder as short and simple as possible.

    Note: For users of Windows 10 and Windows Server 2012 Operating Systems, the path to the LMTOOLS and license file must be outside of protected directories. This includes the Windows install directory, as well as the 32 and 64-bit Program Files directories.

  3. Open the LMTOOLS.EXE application in the lmtools folder. You will find this program in the selection of files you just extracted on the server.


    Run lmtools.exe from the directory on your application server.

  4. Click on the System Settings tab of LMTools.


    Clicking the System Settings tab opens the dialog shown above.

  5. In the 'HostId Settings' group on the System Settings tab, you will see fields labeled 'Computer/ Hostname' and 'Ethernet Address'.

    Please report the Computer/Hostname (or the IP Address) and the Ethernet Address to Blue Marble Geographics via e-mail at authorize@bluemarblegeo.com or by phone. Press the Save HOSTID Info to a File to create a simple text file containing the information that can be attached to the email.

    Note: Please do NOT use the IP Address if your FLEXnet server does not have a fixed IP address (typical if you are on a DHCP network.)

  6. Once you send the FLEXnet server information, Blue Marble Geographics will supply you with a secure, custom license file.

Part II - Configuring the Network Service

Once you have received the license file (*.lic) from Blue Marble Geographics, please complete the following steps:

  1. Please place your license file (*.lic) in the directory on the server from which the network service will run (where you put the contents of the Flex file in Part I Step 1) as shown below.


    Place the license file in the network service directory on your application server.

  2. Now that the license file is installed, you can set up the license service. Run the LMTOOLS.EXE program from the server.

  3. Click on the Config Services tab of LMTools.


    Clicking the Config Services tab opens the dialog shown above.

  4. Fill in the 'Service Name' field with a meaningful name of your choice, such as 'GMService' or 'GlobalMapper'.

  5. Set 'Path to the lmgrd.exe file' to reflect the path to the directory on the server from which the network service will run.

  6. Set the 'Path to the license file' to the same directory.

  7. Set the 'Path to the debug log file' to the directory where you want the system to write the log file. Don't forget to specify a file name for the log file as part of the 'Path to the debug log field' field.


    Fill in the required parameters to configure the service.

  8. If you want the license server to run as a Windows service (recommended), check the Use services check box.

    This will enable the Start Server at Power Up check box. Check this if you want the service to start when the server is turned on or rebooted.

  9. Click the Save Service button to store your settings for the service.

  10. You are now ready to start the license server. Click the Start/Stop/Reread tab of LMTools .

  11. Click on Start Server to run the license server service. The status line at the bottom of the dialog should read "Server Start Successful".


    After clicking the Start Server button, the dialog at the bottom of the Start/Stop/Reread tab says "Server Start Successful."

  12. If the system was set up to use services, the Service/License File tab should show Configuration using Services.


    Select the Configuration using Services radio button option.

  13. Log onto an end user machine and open Global Mapper. If the machine has never been connected to the license, follow the instructions in Connecting to a Network License Server to test it. We recommend that you do not check the borrow option when testing the connection. Specifying a borrow will permanently reserve the license for that period of time (the max and default is 90 days), and lock the seat to that specific username and machine.

    For information on Administrative installation and Network connection deployment, see Advanced Installation

Troubleshooting