Essential Information about Flux 2021.1

Essential information about Flux 2021.1
In order to use the version HWU, you need:
  • HW license file Version 21.0
  • License Manager-LMX Version 14.5.3
Flux 2021.1 is available for Windows and Linux OS:
  • Windows 10 Professional
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux and CentOS 8.2
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1

The Linux version is qualified with the Gnome Classic with X11 display server. It is highly advisable to use the Gnome Classic with X11 display server to run Flux on Linux.

Flux 2021.1 takes into account the feedback from several users, and around 30 customer issues have been fixed in this version.
The Dynamic memory management is available via an option in the Supervisor since the release Flux 2020.1.
Warning: The dynamic memory working process (with memory allocation/releasing) has a light impact on the performances (impact more noticeable with parallel computing). If you notice an abnormal execution time with dynamic memory (and not in static memory), you can contact the support. The default memory mode is still set to User but we encourage you to use the Dynamic mode extensively and give us feedback (except with parallel computing, we advise you to use User mode). We are continuing our work to improve performances, in particular to improve the use of dynamic memory with parallel computing for future versions.
Warning: All Flux algorithms work now with dynamic memory, except Delaunay mesher (not default mesher). Only MeshGems mesher is available in Dynamic memory. If user wants to use specifically Delaunay, he has to switch to User (or static) memory in supervisor options.
Distributed computing with MPI is available in Flux for Windows and Linux and can be used with PBS. However, qualification on Windows cluster connected with InfiniBand has not been done and Linux clusters are highly recommended for parallel computing.

It is now possible to install Flux on Windows or Linux without administrator rights with limited functionalities.
About CDE Licensing: Before using CDE, please check that the environment variable for the license: ALTAIR_LICENSE_PATH is set as system environment variable.

Warning: If ALTAIR_LICENSE_PATH is set as user environment variable only, CDE will fail. For CDE to work properly, ALTAIR_LICENSE_PATH environment variable must be set as system environment variable.
From this Flux 2021.1 version there is a new branding about the HyperWorks term. It is replaced by Altair Simulation Products
From this Flux 2021.1 version, The APIs in 32 bits are no longer supported, so no longer installed. Only the 64 bits are available with this version. There are some consequence because some applications were available only in 32 bits before:
  • the coupling with AMESIM is no longer available
  • the coupling with PORTUNUS is no longer available
Note: If you want use these type of coupling, please use a version prior to this Flux 2021.1 version.
When starting the FluxSupervisor, the splash screen may take a long time to disappear after the supervisor is displayed. This problem may happens if a license server which is not reachable is set in the ALTAIR_LICENSE_PATH environment variable or in the license manager of FluxSupervisor.

In that case we recommend to set the environment variable ALTAIR_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT with a value in seconds. This variable will stop the checking of the license on a not reachable host, if the time limit set by the value is reached.

A value of 3 seconds should be enough to reach any license server, but if it is not enough this value should be increased.

Minimum memory required:
  • For Flux 2D: 8 GB of RAM
  • For Flux 3D, Skew and PEEC: 12 GB of RAM