Why does launching MATLAB 2016a result in starting the Activation Module through the executable, or a -5 error via the command line?

After a transition to a new network license server, MATLAB 2016a fails to open with the following behaviors:

When opening via start menu shortcut, or through the direct executable, the activation module is opened, requiring administrator permissions

When opening via the command line (e.g. C:\>matlab -c "<port@host>"), a -5 license error is returned.

Answer 1

[Cy Haukdal]

Matlab 2016a has a known bug + fix, 2016a does not work with redundant network license servers.

https://www.mathworks.com/support/bugreports/1374124

If this update is installed, no action below is required.

Another solution is to just replace the contents of your license server pointer method with the main server ONLY, deleting the contents of the redundant servers.

EDIT: THIS METHOD DOES NOT ALLOW SIMULINK CHECKOUTS, in order to permit simulink checkouts, the patch must me installed.

For example, network.lic contents for a triad server:

SERVER hostName1 hostID1 port PRIMARY_IS_MASTER
SERVER hostName2 hostID2 port
SERVER hostName3 hostID3 port
USE_SERVER

Should be replaced with:

SERVER hostName1 hostID1 port
USE_SERVER

network.lic in the licenses folder of the matlab 2016a installation location is the 5th and final place checked for a license.

The previous 4 are described in this article:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/254541-what-is-the-license-file-search-path-for-matlab

For -c starutp arguments, environment variables, and registry keys, the port@host syntax must also reflect only the main server.

E.g. a startup command on windows must be:

matlab -c "port@hostName1"

NOT:

matlab -c "port@hostName1,port@hostName2,port@hostName3"

On linux, a semicolon is used instead of a comma to differentiate redundant servers.