The latest version of Pointwise can be downloaded from: www.pointwise.com/downloads.
On Windows platforms, you should install Pointwise as Administrator/root. If you have administrator privileges, you can right-click the Pointwise installer file and select Run as Administrator.
On Linux and Mac platforms, you can install as a user or as Administrator/root.
When Pointwise is installed on a client machine and started, it looks at the local area network to see if there is a Reprise License Manager (RLM) server currently “broadcasting” on that network that contains a valid Pointwise license. If there is, Pointwise automatically connects to that server.
In certain situations, you may wish to connect to a specific RLM server running Pointwise. To do so, use the following steps:
If Pointwise cannot find a license server in Step 1, the Pointwise License Wizard will launch automatically. Simply follow the remaining steps outlined above.
Yes, you can borrow processes from your main license server. This is most often necessary in the situation where you need to take a laptop with you while you are on a short-term trip. To borrow a process of Pointwise, use the following steps:
Note the maximum number of days that you can borrow a process is 30 days. In the Pointwise interface, this will be displayed as 31 days because each day is counted until midnight. For example, if you chose to borrow a process for 15 days, the first day would end at midnight on the day you borrowed the process.
For more information on how license roaming works for the Reprise License Manager (RLM), please refer to the RLM license administration documentation available at: www.reprisesoftware.com/RLM_License_Administration.pdf.
Returning your borrowed Pointwise process before it expires takes just a few simple steps:
Note: When a license is borrowed (or roaming), it depends on the version of the license file on the license server remaining fixed. If that file is changed, it can prevent the early return of a borrowed process. For more information, please refer to the RLM license administration documentation available at: www.reprisesoftware.com/RLM_License_Administration.pdf.
Pointwise is currently unsupported for remote execution. Most remote execution approaches do not have the graphics support necessary for Pointwise to function properly. For best results, we recommend that you install Pointwise locally on your workstation and use your remote server only for licensing.
We have received reports of customers making Pointwise work through remote execution but typically it is at a large performance penalty. If you wish to attempt remote execution of Pointwise, here are some platform-specific recommendations that may help you.
Note: You may need admin rights to perform these tasks.
Windows
If Pointwise was installed on a Windows machine and you are trying to execute it remotely from that machine there are two methods or tools that might work:
Remote Desktop Connection
cmd
.
cmd
command and icon appear, right-click on the icon and select Run as Administrator.
query session
.
console
session. You will need it for the next command.
tscon sessionID /dest:console
where sessionID
is the ID noted in the previous step.
start $PointwiseHome\win64\bin\Pointwise.exe
where $PointwiseHome
is your installation directory for Pointwise.
VNC Server
VNC Servers typically provide sufficient resources to run Pointwise remotely. TightVNC has been used successfully to run Pointwise remotely on Windows.
Linux/Mac
VirtualGL
In general, remote display of Pointwise from a Linux workstation is impossible without VirtualGL or similar software that gives Linux remote display software the ability to run OpenGL applications with full 3D hardware acceleration.
Instructions on how to download, install, and configuration of VirtualGL is available on the VirtualGL documentation page.
If you install VirtualGL and still experience issues running Pointwise remotely, check the below list of potential issues and solutions to see if they solve your problem:
sudo nvidia-xconfig -a --use-display-device=None --virtual=1280x1024
-a
Configure an X screen on every GPU in the system.
--use-display-device=None
Force the X driver to use the display device "None"
sudo init 3
sudo init 5
./pointwise –noshaders
If none of these suggestions have resolved your issue, it may require further debugging. Please run Pointwise with the following arguments and send the output to support@pointwise.com.
./pointwise –m -vgl
Pointwise supports the most popular desktop workstations in use today by CAE engineers. The application supports each platform's native look-and-feel and provides 3D graphics through the OpenGL industry standard. Pointwise's native project file is portable across all supported platforms.
Pointwise currently supports Windows, Linux, and macOS 64-bit systems. For more information about the minimum requirements for each of those platforms, please see our Supported Platforms page.
This RLM troubleshooting guide provides a quick reference to common questions Pointwise has received from our customers about our new license manager. This resource should not be seen as a comprehensive guide to using the Reprise License Manager. If you need detailed information about how to administer RLM on your server, you should use the RLM License Administration guide provided by Reprise Software.
The version of RLM used by Pointwise can be downloaded from: www.pointwise.com/downloads
Refer to the 'For License Administrators' section of the RLM support page.
On Windows platforms, you should install Pointwise as Administrator/root. If you have administrator privileges, you can right-click the RLM installer file and select Run as Administrator.
On Linux and Mac platforms, we recommend that you do not install as Administrator/root.
Click here to watch an associated video that helps explain these steps.
An activation key is a 16-digit numeric string that the Reprise License Manager (RLM) installed on your machine will use to contact Pointwise. The expiration date and number of processes of Pointwise for your license server are encoded in this key.
Once an activation key is entered during the RLM installation process, your workstation sends its Host Name and Host ID to the Pointwise license server. A text-based license file is generated based on your workstation information, expiration date, and number of processes of Pointwise for your site. It is sent back to your workstation, installed, and the Pointwise license server started automatically for you.
Caution should be exercised when using your activation key. Install RLM and enter the activation key only on the machine that you intend to be your license server.
A license file is a text-based file that contains the following:
When you install RLM on a machine and enter your activation key, it contacts the Pointwise Activation Key server and requests a license file. This license file is then installed in your RLM server and the server started automatically.
For customers who complete the Pointwise license request form, Pointwise will send a license file instead of an activation key. This will be necessary for customers with a secure network or a workstation that has no internet connection.
You can request an activation key by completing the license request form at: www.pointwise.com/licenses.
You can request a license file if you have a machine without an internet connection or if you are on a secure network that will not allow activation keys.
The Reprise License Manager (RLM) is installed with a license administration webpage that will assist you in finding your server information.
Click here to watch an associated video that helps explain these steps.
Please see our instructions on how to update an activation key below under the Pointwise and RLM Installation Help heading.
Please see our instructions on how to update a license file below under the Pointwise and RLM Installation Help heading.
Click here to watch an associated video that helps explain these steps.
There are a several reasons why your activation key may not be working:
HTTP_PROXY = MyProxyHost:1234
MyProxyHost
and 1234
are your Proxy Server name and port.HTTP_PROXY_CREDENTIALS = ProxyUsername: ProxyUser_Password
ProxyUsername
and ProxyUser_Password
are your username and password for the proxy server.The RLM server is automatically started for you at the end of the RLM installation process. If the RLM server is shut down for some reason, you may need to be able to start it up again yourself. Follow these steps for your platform to restart it:
Linux
$RLM_Installation_Directory/linux_x86_64/
../rlm_control.sh start
(Starts the RLM license server.)./rlm_control.sh status
(Checks if the license server is running.)Mac
$RLM_Installation_Directory/macosx/
../rlm_control.sh start
(Starts the RLM license server.)./rlm_control.sh status
(Checks if the license server is running.)Windows
services.msc.
Note: If you did not find Pointwise RLM License Server in the list of services on your Windows machine, it may have not been started because of a failed or aborted installation. In this situation, try uninstalling and reinstalling RLM. If that does not work, please contact support@pointwise.com for further assistance.
Please see our instructions on how to set up redundant servers for RLM below.
The activation key uses an internet connection to contact Pointwise's servers and request a license file based on your workstation's host name and host ID (Ethernet address). If your system does not have an internet connection or is on a very secure network, you will be unable to use an activation key.
In these situations, Pointwise will provide you with a text-based license file which you can install on the license server. You can request one of these license files by completing our license request form. You will be asked to provide your activation key (if you were provided one), host name and host ID for the license server at that time.
Pointwise V18 will only run with the Reprise License Manager (RLM). If you are moving to Pointwise V18 from V17, you will need to download and install the new RLM server to run the latest Pointwise. This RLM server will not run versions of Pointwise prior to V18.
Instructions on how to install RLM and Pointwise V18 can be found at: www.pointwise.com/downloads.
Pointwise V17 will only run with the FlexNet license manager. This version of Pointwise cannot be served a license from the Reprise License Manager (RLM).
Gridgen V15.18 will only run with the FlexNet license manager. Gridgen cannot be served a license from the Reprise License Manager (RLM).
Here is a list of the ports that the Reprise License Manager (RLM) uses:
If you need to explicitly set your ISV port number you can do so by modifying your license file in the RLM License Administration webpage. Additionally, you can also modify your RLM port number. The additional port number flags for the RLM server and ISV are colored below in green and red respectively:
SERVER myservername 685b35cb4866 5053
ISV pwid port=9876
LICENSE pwid pointwise 18.0 30-apr-2016 1 customer=PWI-55-55
issued=17-mar-2016 _ck=26d6c7a734 sig="60PG452H5GXE62VQJ27BVMC6KB5M
AYACC4H8U2G22M0CKNA4N549UTFD9BB417J7NMAGASHYHMP0"
If a license manager software application senses that the computer system clock has been tampered with, it assumes that somebody is trying to game the system into using the license longer. RLM checks the time and date on several key files every time it starts to detect any clock tinkering. If it detects an inconsistency, it won't serve licenses.
There are some legitimate reasons why files may have time discrepancies (usually forward dated). We’ve seen this when the BIOS battery dies or when there is a power failure. Regardless of cause, this can be one of the trickier situations to fix. In the past, the only solution was to re-install the operating system. That is no longer the case. Here are the general steps:
Click here to watch an associated video that helps explain these steps.
localhost
is your computer's name. This is the Reprise License Manager (RLM) user interface page.Workstations that do not have an internet connection or are on a network which blocks access to the Pointwise RLM Activation Server may need a license file to start the RLM license server. These steps will walk you through the process needed to do a first-time installation of the license server and Pointwise in this scenario:
hostname
.$Pointwise_Install_Directory/win64
and enter the command:rlmutil.exe rlmhostid –ether
$Pointwise_Install_Directory/linux_x86_64
(Linux)$Pointwise_Install_Directory/macosx
(Mac)./rlmutil rlmhostid –ether
pointwise_license.lic
into License File to create or edit.Click here to watch an associated video that helps explain these steps.
These instructions are for workstations that have an internet connection or are on a network with internet access that already have the Reprise License Manager (RLM) and Pointwise V18 installed. These steps will walk you through the process needed to activate or update a license:
Windows
Mac
$RLM_Install_Directory/Pointwise/RepriseLicenseManager/macosx
and double-click the Pointwise Activate Wizard icon.Linux
$RLM_Install_Directory/Pointwise/RepriseLicenseManager/linux_x86_64
and double-click the Pointwise Activate Wizard icon.These instructions are for workstations that do not have an internet connection or are on a network with limited internet access that already have the Reprise License Manager (RLM) and Pointwise V18 installed. These steps will walk you through the process needed to update your license file:
A redundant server configuration allows you to have a failover (or secondary) license server in the event that your primary license server fails. These steps will walk you through the process needed to install and start RLM on a redundant server configuration.
If you do not have license files for your primary and secondary servers, use the below steps to request them. If you already have both of your license files, please skip ahead to Installation.
hostname
.$Pointwise_Install_Directory/win64
rlmutil.exe rlmhostid –ether
$Pointwise_Install_Directory/linux_x86_64
(Linux)$Pointwise_Install_Directory/macosx
(Mac)./rlmutil rlmhostid –ether
When you have the license files for your primary and secondary servers, use these steps to install them:
_primary_server=5053@localhost
_primary_server=5053@MYSERVER
$RLM_Install_Directory/licenses
on both servers.$RLM_Install_Directory
, start RLM on the primary and secondary servers using the following command:./rlm_control.sh start
$Pointwise_Install_Directory/<platform>/bin
folder. If you do not wish to place the full license files on each client computer, simplified license files can be used instead:Unattended installation of Pointwise still requires some input, such as locations, etc. That means you’ll have to go through a manual GUI installation at least once so that Pointwise can generate a response file which saves all of your inputs. You can locate the response file at:
<install-dir>\Pointwise\PointwiseV18.1R1.install4j\response.varfile
(Note that the .install4j subdirectory is often hidden from view.)
Once you have the response file, you can run an unattended installation with the following:
Linux:
<terminal>./pw-V18.1R1-linux_x86_64-jre.sh –q –varfile response.varfile
Windows:
<command_line>start /wait <installer.exe> –q –varfile response.varfile
If you want to just run attended in the command line, that is called console mode and can be done with the following:
Linux:
<terminal>./pw-V18.1R1-linux_x86_64-jre.sh –c
Windows:
<command_line>start /wait <installer.exe> –c
For completeness, here are the command line arguments for the installers. Note that each starts with a dash:
-varfile [file] | Use a response file |
-c | Run in console mode |
-q | Run in unattended mode |
-dir [directory] | In unattended mode, set the installation directory |
-overwrite | In unattended mode, overwrite all files |
-splash [title] | In unattended mode, show a progress window |
-console | In unattended mode, open a console that shows the output |
The answer depends on your operating system.
Linux:
/RepriseLicenseManager/linux_x86_64/rlm.log
/RepriseLicenseManager/linux_x86_64/rlm_control.log
Macintosh:
/Applications/Pointwise/LicenseServer/macosx/rlm.log
/Applications/Pointwise/LicenseServer/macosx/rlm_control.log
Windows:
C:\Program Files\Pointwise\RepriseLicenseServer\rlm.log
The answer depends on your operating system.
Linux:
/Pointwise/.install4j/installation.log(Note: they are hidden)
/Pointwise/.install 4j/files.log (Note: they are hidden)
Macintosh:
/Applications/PointwiseV18.X/.install4j/installation.log (Note: they are hidden)
/Applications/PointwiseV18.X/.install4j/files.log (Note: They are hidden)
Windows:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Pointwise\PointwiseV18.X.install4j\installation.log
C:\Program Files (x86)\Pointwise\PointwiseV18.X.install4j\files.log
When using our MacOS installers (Pointwise and RLM), you may get an error message indicating that the files are damaged and they should be moved to the trash. It seems that with the latest OSX release, Apple has taken their Gatekeeper protection to a new level by hiding the option to allow third-party apps to be installed. In the past, you were able to manually go into the Security & Privacy panel and choose the Anywhere option; it seems that Apple has now hidden this option.
Here is how to get the Anywhere option back:
sudo spctl --master-disable