concept · Reviewed 2026-09-11

Which Licensing Option Is Right for You?

Choose between Company License Proxy and License Hosting based on whether you already have license servers running.

Rescale has two ways to connect software licenses to your jobs: Company License Proxy and License Hosting. Both let jobs check out licenses. The difference is where the license server lives.

Company License Proxy forwards requests to servers you already run. License Hosting runs the server on Rescale infrastructure and you upload license files to it.

Quick Decision

Do you already have license servers running on your network?

Yes → Company License Proxy

• Your servers stay where they are
• Rescale sets up a proxy that forwards requests
• Works with multiple license servers
• Requires firewall config or VPN

No → License Hosting

• Rescale provisions a host for you
• You upload license files
• Simpler if you're starting from scratch
• Usually costs less

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Company License Proxy	License Hosting
Where it runs	Your network	Rescale infrastructure
What Rescale gives you	Proxy that forwards requests	License host machine
Setup	Firewall config or SSH tunnel	Upload license file
Connection	IP forwarding or SSH tunnel	Direct from jobs
Network changes	Firewall rules (IP mode) or SSH tunnel	None on your side
License managers	FlexLM, RLM, LSTC, DSLS, Altair (now Siemens), LM-X	FlexLM, RLM, LSTC
Multiple servers	Yes, one proxy can reach several	One license file per host
Cost	Proxy fee + connectivity fee (SSH mode)	Hosting fee (usually lower)
Maintenance	You run the server, Rescale runs the proxy	Rescale runs infrastructure, you manage licenses
Best for	Existing infrastructure, multiple servers	New to cloud, single license, less work

Company License Proxy

Pick this if you have license servers on your network and want to keep them there. The proxy sits between Rescale jobs and your servers. When a job needs a license, the proxy forwards the request to your server and sends the answer back.

The proxy runs in one of two modes: IP forwarding (simpler, requires firewall allowlisting) or SSH tunnel (encrypted, no inbound firewall rules). One proxy can forward to multiple license servers.

Read CLP Overview for connection mode details and setup steps.

License Hosting

Pick this if you don't have license servers yet, or if you're moving licensing to the cloud. Rescale gives you a host machine and you upload license files to it.

Each host runs one license file. This keeps license daemons isolated from each other. If you need licenses from multiple vendors, provision multiple hosts.

Read License Hosting for provisioning and configuration steps.

License Manager Support

Company License Proxy supports:

• FlexLM (including Ansys)
• RLM (Reprise License Manager)
• LSTC (LS-Dyna / Ansys Dyna)
• DSLS (Dassault Systems License Server)
• Altair (now Siemens)
• LM-X

License Hosting supports:

• FlexLM (including Ansys)
• RLM (Reprise License Manager)
• LSTC (LS-Dyna / Ansys Dyna)

LSTC licenses and hardware

LSTC licenses bind to the hardware. If Rescale replaces the host, you may need a new license from your vendor. FlexLM and RLM don't have this problem.

Next Steps

Company License Proxy: Read CLP Overview, then License Server Setup to prepare your server.

License Hosting: Read License Hosting for provisioning steps.

Not sure? Contact your Rescale account team or email support@rescale.com.

Related

• CLP Overview — how the proxy works and connection modes
• License Hosting — set up and manage hosted servers
• License Server Setup — prepare your FlexLM, RLM, or LSTC server
• On-Demand Licenses — Rescale-provided pay-per-use licenses