The root cause was identified as a within the local license configuration file.

This feature would allow a user to "deactivate" a Fixed License remotely via a web portal if the host machine becomes inaccessible.

Historically, Zemax utilized a licensing architecture. In this model, the license is "fixed" to a specific hardware configuration—typically defined by the Host ID (MAC address) of the primary Ethernet card or a specific Hard Drive Serial Number.

If you believe your team will need OpticStudio for the next 7–10 years, the time to buy a is now . Once they are gone, you will be forced into annual subscriptions, which, compounded over a decade, cost 3–5x more.

: If using a Red USB key and seeing a "Jan 01 0001" date error, it usually means your Sentinel licensing runtime is outdated and needs a fresh install from the prerequisites folder. Ansys Optics 5. Migration to Ansys Licensing Since 2023, new features are only available for Ansys Zemax licenses