Troubleshooting
Problem
Attempts to use an IBM Rational product on a system protected by a firewall results in the error "FLEXlm error -96, Server node is down or not responding".
Cause
Cause #1: This issue is commonly cause by the firewall blocking specific port requests made by the IBM Rational License Server which in turn prevents the client system from obtaining a License Key.
Cause #2: FLEXlm error -96 indicates that the client can communicate with the lmgrd daemon, but not the ibmratl vendor daemon.
Cause #3: The port for the ibmratl vendor daemon is not opened on the firewall.
Resolving The Problem
Solution #1: In order to check out licenses from the license server through a firewall, ports need to be opened in the firewall for the lmgrd daemon and for the ibmratl vendor daemon. Review the installation guide for more details.
Solution #2: After a new port was specified in the license file for the ibmratl vendor daemon, the license server will need to be restarted for changes in the license file to be read and take effect.
Solution #3: Check with your local LAN administrator to ensure that the correct port on the firewall is opened for the ibmratl vendor daemon.
To find out which port was assigned to the ibmratl vendor daemon in the license file, open the license *.dat / rational_server_perm.dat file on the server, find the VENDOR ibmratl line, and look for port=xxxx at the end of the line.
For example:
VENDOR ibmratl PORT=27002
If there is no port number specified in the VENDOR line of the license file on the server, then you can add the port=XXXX at the end of it, where XXXX is an open port number, allowing bi-directional communication through the firewall and is reserved for the ibmratl vendor daemon.
To find out which port was assigned to the ibmratl vendor daemon in the license file, open the license *.dat / rational_server_perm.dat file on the server, find the VENDOR ibmratl line, and look for port=xxxx at the end of the line.
For example:
VENDOR ibmratl PORT=27002
If there is no port number specified in the VENDOR line of the license file on the server, then you can add the port=XXXX at the end of it, where XXXX is an open port number, allowing bi-directional communication through the firewall and is reserved for the ibmratl vendor daemon.
[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU053","label":"Cloud & Data Platform"},"Product":{"code":"SSTMW6","label":"Rational License Key Server"},"ARM Category":[{"code":"a8m0z0000001hpAAAQ","label":"Rational licensing->FLEXlm FLEXnet error messages"}],"ARM Case Number":"","Platform":[{"code":"PF002","label":"AIX"},{"code":"PF016","label":"Linux"},{"code":"PF033","label":"Windows"}],"Version":"8.1.1;8.1.2;8.1.3;8.1.4;8.1.5;8.1.6","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB45","label":"Automation"}}]
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Document Information
Modified date:
10 July 2020
UID
swg21133205