What should I do if I get the error 'locking code mismatch' during the license file installation even though I specified the correct values?

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Last UpdatedJan 03, 2025
5 minute read

What should I do if I get the error 'locking code mismatch' during the license file installation even though I specified the correct values?

This usually happens on laptop installs. The license server state has changed since requesting the license servers locking criteria, and now when attempting to start the license server you get a locking-code mismatch.

LAN Network Card

For example, when running the AVEVA-Locking.bat file, the laptop was using the LAN network card, and now, when attempting to start the license server, the laptop is using the wireless network adaptor.

For example, the following are the contents of a AVEVA-Server-info.txt file when a server is connected over the LAN with wireless network card disabled.

Sentinel RMS Development Kit 10.2.0.94 Host Locking Code Information Utility

IP address : 10.0.101.38

Disk ID : 0x8771CA45

Host name : UKCAML4161

Ethernet address[1] : 2C-41-38-08-01-9F

Hard Disk Serial[1] : J3360081G1KVBC

CPU Info String : GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2540M CPU @ 2.60GHz 6 10 7

UUID : 008E337B-321F-11E1-9716-6CC25F06A060

Same machine with Wireless network active (see two Ethernet addresses now):

Sentinel RMS Development Kit 10.2.0.94 Host Locking Code Information Utility

IP address : 10.0.101.38

Disk ID : 0x8771CA45

Host name : UKCAML4161

Ethernet address[1] : AC-81-12-97-F1-1C

Hard Disk Serial[1] : J3360081G1KVBC

CPU Info String : GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2540M CPU @ 2.60GHz 6 10 7

UUID : 008E337B-321F-11E1-9716-6CC25F06A060

Locking Code 1 [1] : 381E-*15S SFAW CGQ8 XADQ

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Ethernet address[2] : 2C-41-38-08-01-9F

Hard Disk Serial[1] : J3360081G1KVBC

Two workarounds are available:

Place the license server into the same state (as when the .bat file was run when the license was requested), then run the license.

Note:
Once the license file has been installed, it will work, which ever network card is being used, so long as the original card is active /enabled.

Run the (.bat file) again and request a new license file with the new [1] locking criteria. Once obtained, install it without changing the server state.

Docking Station

For example, when running the AVEVA-Locking.bat file, the laptop was using a docking station with a wired ethernet connection. The mac address of the docking station was detected and typically reported as the first ethernet address in the AVEVA-Server-HOSTNAME-info.txt file.

If a license is created which is locked to the ethernet address of the docking station, it will only work when the laptop is connected to the same docking station. In a hot desking environment, moving from one desk to another may cause a problem if connecting to different docking stations. Similarly, the home environment will be different. It is essential to make sure that licenses are locked to criteria, in particular ethernet addresses, that are stable across environments.

It is common for users to pick the first ethernet address from the file when requesting a license; if the file is uploaded to CALM to create a server, CALM will definitely use the first entry.

A workaround is available:

Only generate the locking file when the laptop is disconnected from a docking station.
Verify that the ethernet address used from the AVEVA-Server-HOSTNAME-info.txt file is also listed in the output from the Windows utility getmac.exe file.

The example displays the output of the getmac.exe file when the laptop is connected using WiFi:

PS > getmac.exe

Physical Address Transport Name

=================== ==========================================================

Disabled Disconnected

50-2F-9B-40-26-3A \Device\Tcpip_{BB22D8D2-F314-4A47-9D48-CDFE786384EE}

74-78-27-73-78-40 Media disconnected

50-2F-9B-40-26-3E Media disconnected

For example, 50-2F-9B-40-26-3A, is the WiFi network adaptor. This is intrinsic to the laptop and is a good candidate to lock to.

Note:
Once the license file has been installed, it will work, whether WiFi is enabled or disabled. It can be confirmed as a WiFi network adaptor by running ipconfig /all

Wireless LAN adapter WiFi:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : http://aveva.com

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Wi-Fi 6 AX201 160MHz

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 50-2F-9B-40-26-3A

DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

When the AVEVA-Locking.bat file is run with the laptop disconnected, the following output is generated, with the WiFi adaptor as Ethernet address[1].

Sentinel RMS Development Kit 10.2.0.94 Host Locking Code Information Utility

IP address : 127.0.0.1

Disk ID : 0xCCA43077

Host name : GBCAML10362

Ethernet address[1] : 50-2F-9B-40-26-3A

Hard Disk Serial[1] : 3635_5630_4EC5_3455_0025_3845_0000_0001.

CPU Info String : GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10850H CPU @ 2.70GHz 6 5 2

UUID : 4C4C4544-0054-3610-8057-B9C04F374333

Locking Code 1 [1] : 381E-*1GP NFUK M8EZ U8A6

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Ethernet address[2] : 74-78-27-73-78-40

Hard Disk Serial[1] : 3635_5630_4EC5_3455_0025_3845_0000_0001.

Locking Code 1 [2] : 381E-*12F HSR4 Y65E XDRD

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The other Ethernet address is associated with the wired ethernet adaptor in the laptop, again confirmed with ipconfig /all. This can also be used.

Ethernet adapter Ethernet 3:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : http://aveva.com

Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) Ethernet Connection (11) I219-LM

Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 74-78-27-73-78-40

DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Running the AVEVA-Locking.bat file connected to a docking station with wired ethernet yields the following output:

Sentinel RMS Development Kit 10.2.0.94 Host Locking Code Information Utility

IP address : 10.241.60.203

Disk ID : 0xCCA43077

Host name : GBCAML10362

Ethernet address[1] : C0-25-A5-FA-7E-F8

Hard Disk Serial[1] : 3635_5630_4EC5_3455_0025_3845_0000_0001.

CPU Info String : GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10850H CPU @ 2.70GHz 6 5 2

UUID : 4C4C4544-0054-3610-8057-B9C04F374333

Locking Code 1 [1] : 381E-*1FY MF96 JHXW ACLD

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Ethernet address[2] : 50-2F-9B-40-26-3A

Hard Disk Serial[1] : 3635_5630_4EC5_3455_0025_3845_0000_0001.

Locking Code 1 [2] : 381E-*1VG FEZX LFLN 5PQZ

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Ethernet address[3] : 74-78-27-73-78-40

Hard Disk Serial[1] : 3635_5630_4EC5_3455_0025_3845_0000_0001.

Locking Code 1 [3] : 381E-*1PF 8FNZ DCVJ AYCH

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The Ethernet address[1] is C0-25-A5-FA-7E-F8, which does not appear in the getmac.exe file or ipconfig /all. This is not a safe candidate to use because any licenses locked to it will only work when the laptop is plugged into the same docking station.

Using a different docking station produces a similar result with a different value for Ethernet address[1].

Sentinel RMS Development Kit 10.2.0.94 Host Locking Code Information Utility

IP address : 10.241.60.203

Disk ID : 0xCCA43077

Host name : GBCAML10362

Ethernet address[1] : 3C-2C-30-CC-1C-6E

Hard Disk Serial[1] : 3635_5630_4EC5_3455_0025_3845_0000_0001.

CPU Info String : GenuineIntel Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10850H CPU @ 2.70GHz 6 5 2

UUID : 4C4C4544-0054-3610-8057-B9C04F374333

Locking Code 1 [1] : 381E-*1JV V79U T9ZV N6CS

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Ethernet address[2] : 50-2F-9B-40-26-3A

Hard Disk Serial[1] : 3635_5630_4EC5_3455_0025_3845_0000_0001.

Locking Code 1 [2] : 381E-*1VG FEZX LFLN 5PQZ

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Ethernet address[3] : 74-78-27-73-78-40

Hard Disk Serial[1] : 3635_5630_4EC5_3455_0025_3845_0000_0001.

Locking Code 1 [3] : 381E-*1PF 8FNZ DCVJ AYCH

---------------------------------------------------------------------

AVEVA™ Licensing System