How to Use a BricsCAD Network Licence
Quick answer: Setting up a network licence is normally an IT admin task: download and install the Network License Server, activate it with your licence key, and open a handful of specific ports. Client machines just need to be on the same network as the server; BricsCAD usually finds it automatically at startup, with no manual configuration needed.
Setting Up the Server
This is typically handled by whoever manages your network or systems, not individual BricsCAD users.
- Download the Network License Server installer and install it with default settings. Afterwards,
RLM.exeneeds three ports open:
| Port | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 5053 | The licence itself |
| 5054 | The web-based admin UI |
| Dynamically allocated | The ISV server (can be fixed to a specific port after activation via advanced configuration) |
- When the Activate New Network License dialog appears, enter the licence key from your Octave account. The Network License Manager tool also needs outbound access to:
| Endpoint | Port |
|---|---|
| license.bricsys.com/actpro | 80 |
| api.bricsys.com | 443 |
- The Reprise License Server Administration page is available at
localhost:5054. Change the default login credentials (username and password both default to “admin”) immediately after setup. Leaving these unchanged is a real security gap on infrastructure your whole team depends on.
Connecting a Client Machine
Client machines need to be:
- On the same LAN as the Network License Server, either physically or over VPN
- Able to reach the server on port 5053 over TCP/UDP
Once that’s in place:
- Install BricsCAD with default settings.
- Launch BricsCAD. It checks the network for a licence server automatically at startup, so manually entering the server address and port usually isn’t necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do client machines need manual configuration to find the licence server? Usually not. BricsCAD checks the network for a server automatically when it starts. Manually entering the server name or IP and port is a fallback, not the default expectation.
What ports does the Network License Server need open? 5053 for the licence itself, 5054 for the web-based admin UI, and a dynamically allocated port for the ISV server, which can be fixed to a specific value after activation.
Is there a security step worth doing right after setup? Yes. Change the default RLM login credentials (admin/admin) immediately. This is flagged directly by Octave as something not to skip.
What if a firewall is blocking activation? Make sure outbound access is allowed to license.bricsys.com/actpro on port 80 and api.bricsys.com on port 443; both are required for the Network License Manager to activate.