Terms

Mathematical programming solver

A mathematical programming solver is a type of Optimization Solver. For example, a linear programming (LP) solver is used for problems where the variables are continuous and both the objective function and constraints are linear. Other common types of mathematical programming problems include mixed-integer programming (MIP) and nonlinear programming (NLP). Capabilities for simulation optimization and online optimization are also available. Contact us for more information.

Local version

The local version runs the solver on your computer. It connects to the Alibaba Cloud authentication service over the network for permission verification, but does not upload problem data to the cloud, which reduces data transfer time. The SDK provided with this version is for standalone use. The required memory depends on the scale of your problem.

This differs from the client/server (C/S) version, which is used by the online free trial in our tutorials. Although the computing kernel is the same, the C/S version uploads problems to a server where they are queued for solving, allowing multiple users to share a computing device. For the C/S version, you must configure the server endpoint, upload the problem, and asynchronously pull the results. These steps are not required for the local version.

Cloud authentication

The authentication method that uses the fl_client.ini file. This method connects to the network for authentication when the solver runs. It only verifies authentication information and does not upload any problem data.

This differs from the fixed authentication method that uses the mindopt.lic file bound to a machine ID. Both methods can be used at the same time, but the system checks for the mindopt.lic file first.

Concurrency

When you make a purchase, you must select the number of concurrent processes, which determines the maximum number of solver tasks that can run simultaneously. You can adjust this number after your purchase by upgrading or downgrading your service.

LicenseKey

After you purchase the service, you can find the LicenseKey in your list of purchased services. Enter this key into the authentication configuration file on the device where the solver is installed. For more information, see Quick Start (Activation and usage).

Solver SDK

The software package for the Optimization Solver, used to solve optimization problems.

Console SDK and API reference

An SDK for interacting with the console through API calls to retrieve console information.