COMSOL

The Faculty of Science and Engineering has negotiated a Batch Academic Term License (BATL) for COMSOL Multiphysics and a wide selection of add-on modules. These licenses are now available for use by researchers within the faculty.

In addition to the research Floating Network Licenses for COMSOL and add-on modules, two 30-seat Class Kit licenses complete with the full range of add-on modules (for a total of 60 concurrent classroom users) are available for teaching. Please note that under the terms of our license agreement:

1. COMSOL Multiphysics Class Kit Licences and the associated class kit module licenses must only be used for teaching and MUST NOT be used for research in any way.
2. COMSOL Multiphysics Floating Network Licences may only be used for research.

Any user found violating these terms may have their access to any COMSOL products revoked.

In order to request access to the Class Kit Licenses, or if you have enquiries regarding COMSOL access, please email support@cs.manchester.ac.uk

In order to provide an audit trail for funding bodies and allow cost recovery and financial reporting, access to the research COMSOL floating network license and add-ons is being managed via PPMS.

If you require help with logging into or using PPMS please email PPMSFacilitySupport@manchester.ac.uk

Obtain access to COMSOL and add on modules

1. Go to PPMS: https://corefacilities.manchester.ac.uk/start/
2. Click on the "Optical and Electronic Measurements" facility
3. Log in using your University of Manchester login when prompted.
4. From the menu bar at the top of the page click on "Order"
5. Select a project to attach the order to.
   • If there is no suitable project, you can request the creation of a new project via the "Request" -> "Project Creation Requests" form.
6. If needed, select the financial account for the order
7. On the order page, open the "COMSOL Core" and "COMSOL" sections to see the full list of available items
8. Enter the number of licenses and add-on modules you need in the "Quantity" column.
9. Click "Order"

Please see this presentation prepared by John Warren regarding this process.

Once your order has been placed, you will be contacted to confirm the username(s) of the user(s) who will need access to the licenses. If using a managed desktop system or it's for use via the CSF, this will be a UoM username. Otherwise, it is the username they use when logging into their computer. At this time we're unable accommodate using both a UoM username and non-UoM username with the same license. The username information you provide and the list of licenses you have selected will be passed onto colleagues in IT Services. They will then update the license server to grant you access and provide the .dat file needed during the license installation process.

Unfortunately we can not automate this process at this time, so there will be a delay between placing your order and the license being usable, as staff process the request. We will be looking into ways to improve this in the future but ask that you bear with us for the moment. We apologise for delays there may be in this process.

Once granted, you will have access to the selected licenses for 12 months. If you need to obtain access to any additional add-on modules or more COMSOL floating network licenses, you can repeat the process above. Ahead of expiry, you will be contacted with a reminder to extend your license(s), if still required.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the cost recovery process, please contact the Heads of Technical Operation, Craig Hopper <craig.hopper@manchester.ac.uk>, Kevin Jackson <kevin.jackson@manchester.ac.uk>, and Chris Muryn <christopher.a.muryn@manchester.ac.uk>.

Downloading and installing COMSOL

In order to download and install COMSOL, once you have obtained a license, please go to the COMSOL website:

https://www.comsol.com/product-download 

If you do not have an account, create one, and then log in. In order to download COMSOL you will need to associate licenses with your COMSOL account. The .dat file required to do this will be provided after your order is processed.

Support for COMSOL

Once you have signed up for a COMSOL you can obtain support from the COMSOL support team by following this process:

• In a web browser go to https://www.comsol.com/support
• Log in with your COMSOL access account if you're not already logged in
• Click on "Submit New Support Case" on the right side of the page.

Longer term our plan is to train up a local specialist for many COMSOL-related support issues.

License server details

The license server is vm-fselsp06.it.manchester.ac.uk (10.20.134.21) with the default COMSOL network ports (1718 and 1719) and it is managed by IT Services. If the license server is unavailable, please report this to IT Services via the helpdesk or support portal - FSE Technical Staff have no access to the server.