The Network License Manager requires a configured license file in order to run. The license.lic file that is downloaded from MathWorks is insufficient to run the Network License Manager. Once the file is downloaded, it needs to be configured by adding SERVER and DAEMON lines to the top of the license file. It is helpful to then rename the file from "license.lic" to "license.dat" to indicate that the file has been modified, but is unnecessary.
If you install the Network License Manager using the graphical MathWorks Product Installer, the installer will do this configuration for you automatically However, if you are installing and configuring the Network License Manager manually, you will need to add and configure the SERVER and DAEMON lines manually.
To add the SERVER and DAEMON lines manually, see the following format:
Linux & macOS
SERVER $Hostname $HostID $primary-port-number
DAEMON MLM /full/path/to/MLM port=daemon-port-number
Windows
SERVER $Hostname $HostID $primary-port-number
DAEMON MLM "C:\full path\to\MLM.exe" port=daemon-port-number
$Hostname is the hostname of the license server.
$HostID is the HostID of the license server.
Below is some completed examples of the SERVER and DAEMON lines
SERVER jimmy-computer 047B2706C07E 27000
DAEMON MLM "C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2024b\etc\win64\MLM.exe" port=1711
You can then use this newly saved file with the Network License Manager. Note that specifying the DAEMON port number is unnecessary, but strongly recommended. If you do not set it, it will change each time the Network License Manager is restarted to a number around 50000.