Fix Matlab network license authorization

June 18, 2018

Matlab should generally be installed NOT using sudo. Upon upgrading operating system, or if you installed Matlab on a laptop using a docking station, and then run off the docking station, Matlab may complain about a changed host ID.

If Matlab is already installed, but won’t open the desktop due to a licensing error,reactivate Matlab:

$(dirname $(realpath $(which matlab)))/activate_matlab.sh

Matlab activation reference
Matlab Host ID

Get the host ID (MAC address) by:

ip a

look for the WiFi link/ether hexadecimal value. If connected to the internet via WiFi, you can confirm the correct device by comparing the value for inet or inet6 vs. https://ident.me

Install to the home directory and do NOT use sudo. Make a directory for Matlab installs:

mkdir ~/.local/matlab

Start the Matlab install NOT as root or sudo

./install

Install to directory like “~/matlab/” Activate via Internet and sign in to select the license key.