There is an important Chaos Licensing server application update scheduled for January 28, 2025, because the server certificate will expire on that date.
We are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible and are here to assist you every step of the way. If you have any further questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Support team.
What Should I Do?
You must update your Chaos License Server application by January 28, 2025, to ensure uninterrupted access to your licenses. Failure to update the Chaos License Server application will result in losing access to your licenses.
The easiest way to proceed is to update the Chaos products you are using to their latest versions. Download the latest version of your product from our download section here
If this solution works for you, there is no need to go through the steps below.
What If I Don’t Want to Update My Products Now?
If you cannot or prefer not to update to the latest versions, go to Step 1 and follow the detailed guide below to update the Chaos License Server application independently. This guide walks you through everything you need to do to ensure your licensing system is updated and functional before January 28, 2025.
Step 1: Important Notes Before Updating
If you or your organization’s users sign in to their Chaos accounts to access licenses, this update must be performed on each device. This applies to both individual license holders and organizations using cloud-based floating licensing.
Note: If you are using the Chaos License Server as a service, please refer to the “Exceptions” section at the bottom of the article for more details.
Troubleshooting: Removing Older Versions
If you encounter issues during installation, ensure older versions of the Chaos License Server are fully removed.
For Windows Users:
Uninstall the Chaos License Server:
Navigate to: Start Menu > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs, locate the Chaos License Server, and uninstall it.
Delete the following folders:
C:\Program Files\Chaos
C:\Program Files\Chaos Group\VRLService
C:\Program Files\Common Files\ChaosGroup\ssl
%appdata%\Chaos\VRLService\ssl
For macOS Users:
Remove the Chaos License Server app.
Delete the following folder: /Users/YOUR_USERNAME/.ChaosGroup/ssl
To access this folder:
Open Finder.
Select Go > Go to Folder, and enter ~/.ChaosGroup/ssl.
If you are still unable to proceed after following these troubleshooting steps, please contact Chaos Support. You can do that from the following page.
Exceptions
For Users Borrowing Licenses for Offline Use
If you are currently borrowing licenses for offline use, it is recommended that you update the license server app and re-borrow your licenses once more. Alternatively, you will need to do this when the borrowed licenses expire.
For Chaos License Server 5.5.5 Users
If you are currently using version 5.5.5 or older, which supports running the license server as a service, you should update to version 5.5.6. This version is compatible, runs as a service, and is up to date.
Enscape’s 4.2 update introduces powerful features designed to enhance real-time rendering workflows. Here’s a detailed look at what’s new:
1. Revit Graphics Override
This feature allows designers to achieve visual consistency across Revit views, giving presentations and exports a more cohesive look. Now, any adjustments to model appearances in Revit translate directly to Enscape, eliminating the need to adjust graphics between platforms manually.
2. World Coordinate System (WCS) Mapping for Rhino
For Rhino users, WCS Mapping enables material textures to remain true-to-scale regardless of object dimensions or transformations. This means materials such as wood grains and tiled surfaces retain accurate alignment, crucial for models requiring consistent, real-scale materials.
3. Improved Software Ray-Tracing
Enscape 4.2 enhances ray-tracing for software that allows more realistic lighting and shadow behavior, supporting better illumination in challenging spaces. Designers can create renderings that not only capture natural light more convincingly but also refine the level of detail in shadows and reflections.
4. Expanded Section Plane Support
Both Rhino and Vectorworks now support up to six section planes, giving users more flexibility in how they present or dissect their models. This added capability is particularly beneficial for large-scale projects or complex designs where multiple sections are needed to illustrate structural relationships.
5. Enhanced Artistic Visual Modes
For users looking to add a unique, stylized look to their models, Enscape has expanded its Artistic Visual Modes. The latest update includes more texture options and shading effects, ideal for exploring conceptual designs or creating high-impact visuals for presentations.
6. Enscape Impact Add-On
Sustainability has become increasingly integral to design, and Enscape’s new Impact add-on supports energy performance analysis directly within the render. This tool enables designers to make informed, sustainable design decisions right from the earliest stages, considering energy efficiency as part of the creative process.
With Enscape 4.2, designers have a toolkit that boosts accuracy, adaptability, and visual quality. These updates not only improve productivity but also empower architects, interior designers, and planners to deliver more engaging and sustainable designs.
To ensure a smooth transition to the new licensing experience, we wanted to share some of the most important aspects and provide you with additional information and updates that you may find helpful:
New Enscape Licensing Experience
Configure your setup once, and all Chaos products will work seamlessly.
Activate Enscape usage with just a login.
Experience it with the upcoming Enscape 4.1 release.
Multiple License Assignment & Administration
It will no longer be possible to assign one seat to multiple users. Each license seat you assign will be reserved only for the user (email) to whom it is assigned.
For instructions on setting up a Chaos license server without assigning licenses to specific users, please refer to our step-by-step process below.
For guidance on setting up administrator and member/guest rights when assigning licenses to specific users, please refer to our Self-Service Portal User Guide.
We are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible and are here to assist you every step of the way. If you have any further questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Support team.
Top things to know about your Chaos Licensing Setup
All Chaos products need to be connected to a Chaos License Server to function on your machine. It allows you to easily activate more licenses right after the purchase and provides a way to stay offline while using your Chaos products when you need to.
An instance of the Chaos License Server that uses the same user account may be installed more than once on the same internal network when on different workstations or servers to act as a redundancy measure. This is to make sure licenses are still obtainable during server downtime due to failures or maintenance, which is especially useful for organizations with multiple locations that share the same internal network.
The following are a few examples of how to best deploy license servers in multi-machine environments, depending on the needs.
Chaos Licensing Setup for Two-Machines
In a case where there are only a couple of machines, such as users with a workstation and a laptop, it’s best to install and activate the License Server on both machines.
Please note that any borrowed licenses will be available only on the License Server from which they were borrowed.
Chaos Licensing Setup for Small Studio Office
In a small office or studio environment, for example, with 10 workstations, it’s best to install and activate a single License Server for the office that is activated by the user account. All of the workstations will then need their license settings configured to use the IP address of that one license server machine as their primary server.
The license server should be visible from the local network by default, however, you can check Settings > Expert mode to make sure that Network Visibility is set to Visible to Local Network.
To make configuration changes easier, a single vrlclient.xml file may be loaded from a shared network drive for all networked office machines requiring a license. For more details on how to do that, Sharing vrlclient.xml over a network page.
Chaos Licensing Setup for Large Studio Office
In a larger office or studio where there are many workstations and a render farm with multiple render nodes, install the license server on the network with a redundancy as discussed here. In other words, the license server is installed on 2-3 machines on the network which are all activated by the same user account. All of the workstations in that office will need their license settings configured to use the IP addresses of those 2-3 license server machines as their primary and alternate server(s), as discussed in the following section: Setting up multiple license servers for redundancy.
Chaos Licensing Setup for Multiple Regional/Global Locations
In offices or studios with multiple regional or even global locations, install up to three license servers for each location, all activated on the same account. This way, each office will have a local redundancy. All the workstations in that local office would have their license settings configured to use the IP addresses of those 2-3 local license server machines as their primary and alternate server(s).
Note that installing a license server for one location in a remote location may lead to connection issues when obtaining a license.
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