By default a VDI client which has the NVIDIA Graphics Driver installed, claims a license from the NVIDIA license server and keeps it for 24 hours.
Especially in Instant clone situations I have seen that the NVIDIA license is not always correctly released when the VDI is being deleted. This is due to the way instant clones are deleted by VMware. In some cases this can be problematic as you have to wait for 24 hours until NVIDIA licenses are released. New clients might not get a new license from the NVIDIA license server if you do not have enough licences available
Unfortunately there is no clean way to release the NVIDIA licences from the license pool and make them available for other clients. There is however a registry key that can be set on the VDI client to lower the default 24hr license lease.
Add the following registry key to your parent image:
- Location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA Corporation\Global\Gridlicensing
- Add DWORD LicenseInterval with a value of 600 (or another value you prefer)
Reference:
In circumstances where you ran out of licences due to the above reason there are basically two things you can do:
- Wait (24 hours) until the licences are freed up again
- In cases you cannot wait: Clear the NVIDIA license store and reapply the license
- When you installed the NVIDIA license server on a Windows machine
- Log into NVIDIA Licensing Portal: https://nvid.nvidia.com/dashboard/#/dashboard
- Click on Search License Servers and select the appropriate registered server
- Click on Remove Add-Ons in the NVIDIA Licensing Portal
- Enter number of Currently on Device in Quantity to Remove and click Remove Add-Ons
- Close all browsers that are running on the license server
- Stop the “FlexNet License Server – nvidia” service
- Delete the nvidia folder from: C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\flexnetls\
- Start the “FlexNet License Server – nvidia” service.
- Register the MAC address in the NVIDIA Software License Portal if applicable
- Click on Search License Servers and select the registered server
- Click on Download License File, save it to a local drive, then discard it (see note)
- Click on Map Add-Ons from the NVIDIA Licensing Portal
- Enter number of Add-Ons you want mapped in Qty to Add box and click on Map Add-Ons
- Click Download License File
- Save license bin file to disk and upload to local license server within 24 hours
- When you installed the NVIDIA license server on a Linux machine
- Log into NVIDIA Licensing Portal: https://nvid.nvidia.com/dashboard/#/dashboard
- Click on Search License Servers and select the appropriate registered server
- Click on Remove Add-Ons in the NVIDIA Licensing Portal
- Enter number of Currently on Device in Quantity to Remove and click Remove Add-Ons
- Close all browsers that are running on the license server
- Stop the NVIDIA license service.
- Delete /var/opt/flexnetls/nvidia
- Start the NVIDIA license service.
- Register the MAC address in the NVIDIA Software License Portal if applicable
- Click on Search License Servers and select the registered server
- Click on Download License File, save it to a local drive, then discard it (see note)
- Click on Map Add-Ons from the NVIDIA Licensing Portal
- Enter number of Add-Ons you want mapped in Qty to Add box and click on Map Add-Ons
- Click Download License File
- Save license bin file to disk and upload to local license server within 24 hours
- When you installed the NVIDIA license server on a Windows machine
References:
https://gridforums.nvidia.com/default/topic/9066/general-discussion/horizon-7-5-instant-clones/