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License Server on Pouta

OpenStack and Ansible scripts for hosting a private MATLAB license server on CSC Pouta. Hosting other FlexLM licenses should work in similar way.

This setup creates the following infrastructure on Pouta:

  • A virtual machine running Ubuntu
  • A floating IP address for external access
  • SSH key pair for secure access
  • Configured MATLAB license server software

Setup Instructions

1. Configure OpenStack Environment

Follow the CSC Pouta documentation to set up your terminal environment.

Source your project credentials:

. <project_name_here>-openrc.sh

This loads your OpenStack credentials into the current shell session.

2. Install Dependencies

Create a Python virtual environment and install required tools.

Regular pip:

python3 -m venv
. .venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt

Using uv:

uv venv --python 3.12
. .venv/bin/activate
uv pip install -r requirements.txt

This installs Ansible and the OpenStack SDK.

3. Create SSH Key

Generate an SSH key pair for accessing the VM:

./01_create_ssh_key.sh

The key is saved as ~/.ssh/id_rsa_license_server.

4. Create the Virtual Machine

Deploy the VM using OpenStack Heat with CIRDs for allowed SSH connections as comma separated list:

./02_create_vm.sh "0.0.0.0/32,0.0.0.0/32"

Verify the stack was created successfully:

openstack stack show license-server -f json

To retrieve the floating IP address assigned to your VM:

openstack stack show license-server -f json | jq -r '.outputs[] | select(.output_key=="floating_ip_address") | .output_value'

5. Configure the License Server

Run Ansible to install and configure MATLAB license server software:

./03_configure_vm.sh

This script connects to the VM and sets up the license server components.

6. Activate MATLAB License

After the configuration completes, you need to activate your MATLAB license:

  1. SSH into the VM to get the host ID:

    ssh -i ~/.ssh/id_rsa_license_server ubuntu@<floating-ip>

    Print the hostid and copy it:

    /license/matlab/mlm/R2025b/lm_hostid

  2. Go to the MATLAB License Center

  3. Activate your license:

    • Select "Activate a License Server"
    • Choose "Linux" as the operating system
    • Enter the VM's host ID
    • Provide a label

  4. Download the license file.

  5. On the server, append the license contents to the license file on the server:

    sudo -u lmmatlab vi /license/matlab/files/license.lic

  6. Modify the options file to allows desired users to use the license server:

    sudo -u lmmatlab vi /license/matlab/files/license.opt

Usage

Once the license server is running, configure MATLAB clients to use it:

export MLM_LICENSE_FILE=27000@<floating-ip>

Replace <floating-ip> with the actual floating IP address of your license server.