Floating licenses
Lightning licenses come in two forms, this article is about floating network licenses. We also offer PC-bound licenses.
What is a floating license?
A floating license means multiple users can take turns using a single license. With three licenses, three users can use Lightning at the same time.
How Lightning starts up
Lightning automatically tries to check out a network license when it starts. It connects to our license server and checks out a license when one is available.
Disable checking out a license automatically
Open the license window, click Floating Licenses, then uncheck Check out a floating license on startup.
See who is using a license
If all licenses are in use, you can see who is using them in the License Manager window > Floating licenses… > Connected users.
How to return your floating license
You can return a floating license to the pool in three different ways:
- Open the License Manager window > Floating licenses > Click Return license
- Or close down SOLIDWORKS
- Or unload the Lightning add-in using the Add-Ins menu in SOLIDWORKS. See the image below.
