The most common reason for a license server failing to start is that no served licenses are installed on the license server.
There must be at least one served license in the licenses directory for the license server to start. When you install a new license server, there are, by default, no served licenses in the licenses directory. Generate and deploy a served license to this directory.
Using an unserved license with a license server – the license activated from SPDC or SMP is an unserved license. Examine the license files. Served licenses always start with a SERVER header. If you do not see a line starting with SERVER , you are using an unserved license that does not work with the license server.
The license server port number is already in use – if you are using a specific port number for the license, that port number may already be in use. Use netstat -a to verify that the port number is free. If not, reassign the port or use a different port number for the license server.
Mismatch between the host name in the license file and the actual host name – the host name is recorded next to the SERVER keyword. If it does not match the actual host name, correct the host name in the license file or set the value next to the SERVER to this_host which is a keyword that works with any host name.
Header mismatch – when you have multiple license files, each one must have the same header, host name, port, and so on.
The licenses on one machine were generated for a different machine – examine the host ID recorded next to the value in the license file host name in the SERVER header. It must match the host ID for the machine on which the license server will run.