Solidsquad License Servers Work

How SolidSQUAD License Servers Work: A Technical Overview 1. Introduction: What Is SolidSQUAD? SolidSQUAD is a well-known group in the computer-aided engineering (CAE) and computer-aided design (CAD) software community. It is famous for producing unofficial license emulators, keygens, and patching tools for high-value software like ANSYS, COMSOL, LS-DYNA, Altair, and many others. The "SolidSQUAD license server" is not an official product from any software vendor. Instead, it is a software emulator that mimics the behavior of official license managers (e.g., FlexNet, LM-X, RLM) to trick commercial software into believing it is running on a valid, paid license. 2. Core Principle: Emulation vs. Cracking Unlike a simple crack (which replaces an executable), a SolidSQUAD license server operates on the network licensing model . Most professional engineering software uses a client-server licensing system:

Client = Your workstation running ANSYS, Abaqus, etc. License server = A dedicated machine (or localhost) running a vendor daemon (e.g., lmgrd for FlexNet).

When you launch the software, the client checks out a license from the server over TCP/IP. The SolidSQUAD server replaces the genuine vendor daemon with a custom emulator that responds correctly to all license requests without ever contacting the software vendor’s activation servers. 3. Typical Components of a SolidSQUAD License Server Setup A complete SolidSQUAD server installation (usually for FlexNet-based software) contains: | Component | Purpose | |-----------|---------| | License file ( .lic or .dat ) | Contains fake, but syntactically correct, license keys, feature names, counts, and a dummy server hostid (often ANY or 000000000000 ). | | Vendor daemon emulator (e.g., lmgrd.exe / lmgrd modified) | A patched or rewritten daemon that bypasses cryptographic signature checks. | | Vendor-specific emulator (e.g., ansyslmd.exe , adskflex.exe ) | Handles feature checkout for that specific software brand. | | Utility tools | lmutil.exe for status checks, lmstat , lmdown (modified versions). | | Redistributables | Sometimes includes fake service installers (e.g., install_license.bat ). | 4. Step-by-Step Workflow of a SolidSQUAD License Server Here is what happens when you install and run a SolidSQUAD emulated license server (e.g., for ANSYS, using FlexNet): Step 1 – Preparation

The user copies the SolidSQUAD license file ( license.dat ) to a folder, e.g., C:\SolidSQUAD_License_Servers\ . The license file contains lines like: SERVER localhost ANY 1055 DAEMON ansyslmd "C:\...\ansyslmd.exe" FEATURE ansys mechanical solidquad 9999.9999 permanent 100 \ HOSTID=ANY SIGN=1234567890AB solidsquad license servers work

( HOSTID=ANY means any machine can act as server.)

Step 2 – Launching the Emulator

The user runs lmgrd.exe -z -c license.dat (often via a batch script). The emulated lmgrd starts listening on port 1055 (or another defined port). It spawns the emulated vendor daemon ( ansyslmd.exe ), which is actually a SolidSQUAD-modified binary. How SolidSQUAD License Servers Work: A Technical Overview

Step 3 – Client Request

The user opens ANSYS Workbench on the same or another machine. ANSYS reads its own license preferences (environment variables like ANSYSLMD_LICENSE_FILE=1055@localhost ). The client sends a TCP packet to port 1055 requesting checkout of feature ansys mechanical .

Step 4 – Emulator Response

The emulated ansyslmd receives the request. Instead of checking a real FlexNet license file with encrypted signatures, it:

Parses the fake SIGN value (ignoring cryptographic validity). Returns a “license granted” message for any requested feature present in the .lic file. Logs the checkout in a debug file (optional).