Resolving Sm@rtServer License Transfer Error on TP1200 Comfort

Problem Description

The Sm@rtServer option on SIMATIC HMI Comfort Panels (TP1200 Comfort, TP1500 Comfort, TP1900 Comfort, TP2200 Comfort) requires a runtime license to enable remote control, remote monitoring, and Web-based diagnostics. After purchasing a valid Sm@rtServer license, attempts to transfer the license key to the HMI panel via the Automation License Manager (ALM) over a remote VPN tunnel (for example, Secomea SiteManager, OpenVPN, or routed IP connection) fail with the error message:

The error occurs in TIA Portal V13 SP1 and later versions when ALM attempts to write the license container directory directly to the panel's internal CompactFlash or SD card storage over a non-local link. The license key container folder (typically \flash\SystemFolder\LICENSES or \storage\SystemFolder\LICENSES depending on panel generation) cannot be created by ALM over the remote channel due to file-handle restrictions, write-permission conflicts, or path-mapping inconsistencies introduced by the routing layer.

Affected Hardware and Software

Root Cause Analysis

The "Error while creating license key folder" condition arises from one of three underlying causes when the HMI panel is reached over a routed/remote connection rather than a direct local Ethernet link:

1. Write-permission denial on the SystemFolder: ALM opens the panel as a network share (SMB/CIFS) at \\<panel_ip>\flash or \\<panel_ip>\storage. The Sm@rtServer runtime locks the SystemFolder while the Web server is active, preventing ALM from creating a sub-folder.
2. Path translation across VPN tunnel: Routers (Secomea SiteManager in particular) sometimes map the backslash UNC path separator or limit SMB dialect to SMB1, which is incompatible with the panel's embedded Windows CE / Windows Embedded Compact 7 file system.
3. Concurrent transfer sessions: ALM uses a temporary lock file (.alm.tmp) on the target. If a previous aborted transfer left a stale lock, the next attempt fails when the panel returns a generic folder-creation error rather than a specific file-locked error.

Field experience shows that the workaround of transferring the license first to the local engineering PC, then to the HMI panel bypasses the issue because ALM writes the license to a local path (C:\ProgramData\Siemens\Automation\Licenses or C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Siemens\Automation\Licenses) where the license is staged in a cascading folder structure, after which a direct panel-to-panel or local-network transfer to the HMI succeeds without triggering the folder-creation error.

Prerequisites

• Sm@rtServer license certificate received from Siemens license server (CoL, License Key USB stick, or online certificate file)
• Automation License Manager installed on the engineering PC (included in TIA Portal installation; standalone installer available on the TIA Portal Setup DVD under Support\Automation License Manager)
• Local Ethernet connection (direct or via switch on the same subnet) to the TP1200 Comfort panel for the final transfer step
• Admin or power-user rights on the engineering PC
• TP1200 Comfort panel powered up, HMI runtime stopped or in transfer mode (Settings > Service > Transfer)
• Panel's SMB/CIFS file share enabled (default in Comfort Panels; verify under Control Panel > Security > File Share)

Step-by-Step Resolution Procedure

Step 1 — Stop the Sm@rtServer Runtime on the Panel

1. On the TP1200 Comfort, navigate to Start > Settings > Service > Transfer.
2. Disable "Sm@rtServer" if currently running, or set the runtime to "Stop" before transfer.
3. Note the panel's IP address (e.g., 192.168.0.10) and the storage path displayed (\flash or \storage).

Step 2 — Stage the License on the Local Engineering PC

1. Open Automation License Manager from the Windows Start menu (Siemens Automation > Automation License Manager).
2. Connect to the HMI panel over the remote link (the failing path): Edit > Connect Target System > HMI Device > Enter IP.
3. When prompted with the folder-creation error, dismiss it and switch to a local operation.
4. Select the panel in the left-hand navigation tree. The ALM view shows the license container on the panel.
5. Drag the purchased Sm@rtServer license key from the local license repository (right pane) onto the local PC license destination, not the panel. This forces ALM to validate and stage the license in the cascading folder structure under C:\ProgramData\Siemens\Automation\Licenses\<family>\<vendor>.

Step 3 — Verify the Staged License

1. In ALM, right-click the local PC license destination and select View License.
2. Confirm the Sm@rtServer license appears with status "Valid" and target "TP1200 Comfort / WinCC Comfort" or "WinCC Advanced".
3. Close the license view.

Step 4 — Connect to the Panel on the Local Network

1. Establish a direct Ethernet link between the engineering PC and the TP1200 Comfort panel (same subnet, no VPN tunnel in the path).
2. If the panel is still accessed through Secomea SiteManager, perform a local direct connection for the transfer phase only.
3. Open ALM and select Edit > Connect Target System > HMI Device and enter the panel's local IP address.

Step 5 — Transfer the Staged License to the Panel

1. Navigate the ALM left tree to the local PC license destination; locate the staged Sm@rtServer license in the cascading folder structure.
2. Drag and drop the license from the local destination onto the HMI panel node.
3. ALM creates the LICENSES sub-folder under \flash\SystemFolder (or \storage\SystemFolder) and writes the license key file.
4. A progress bar appears; the transfer typically completes within 5-15 seconds for a single Sm@rtServer license key.

Step 6 — Restart the HMI Runtime and Verify

1. On the TP1200 Comfort, navigate to Start > Settings > Service > Transfer.
2. Re-enable Sm@rtServer.
3. Restart the HMI runtime or reboot the panel.
4. Verify the Sm@rtServer option is operational by accessing the panel's Web interface (http://<panel_ip>) or starting Sm@rtClient from TIA Portal.

Alternative Transfer Method — Manual File Copy

If ALM continues to fail even on the local network, perform a manual transfer via the panel's SMB file share:

1. Open Windows Explorer on the engineering PC.
2. Enter \\<panel_ip>\flash (or \\<panel_ip>\storage) in the address bar.
3. Authenticate with the panel's SMB credentials (default: user Administrator, password from project).
4. Create the folder SystemFolder\LICENSES manually if it does not exist.
5. Copy the staged license file from C:\ProgramData\Siemens\Automation\Licenses\<family>\<vendor> into the newly created LICENSES folder on the panel.
6. Reboot the HMI panel to register the license.

Verification Checklist

Additional Diagnostic Steps

If the error persists after applying the workaround, perform the following diagnostics:

1. Check SMB protocol version: Comfort Panels use SMB1/CIFS. Ensure the engineering PC and any intermediate router do not force SMB2/SMB3-only. On Windows, disable SMB signing requirements on the connection if the panel fails to negotiate.
2. Verify write permission on the SystemFolder: The Sm@rtServer runtime opens the SystemFolder with exclusive read locks while active. Stop the runtime before transfer, as documented in Step 1.
3. Check storage medium health: Open Control Panel > System > Storage on the panel. If the storage medium reports "Critical" or "Degraded", license writes will fail. Replace the SD card or CompactFlash card (Siemens catalog 6AV2 181-1AX50-0AA0 for SD card TP Comfort).
4. Disable Windows Firewall temporarily on the engineering PC to rule out blocked SMB ports (TCP 445, 139).
5. Enable ALM trace logging: Launch ALM with ALM.exe -tracelevel 4 from the installation directory (C:\Program Files\Siemens\Automation\License Manager\bin) to capture detailed error logs in %TEMP%\Siemens\ALM\trace.log.

Firmware and Software Compatibility

Upgrading the engineering PC to a current TIA Portal version and a matching ALM is recommended for sites with frequent remote-license-transfer workflows. Refer to the TIA Portal V20 documentation for the latest transfer procedure.

Common Pitfalls and Field-Notes

• Transferring while Sm@rtServer is active: The single most common cause of folder-creation failure. The runtime holds an exclusive handle on SystemFolder.
• Secomea SiteManager SMB relay: SiteManager's built-in file-browser does not always translate SMB dialects correctly. Use the SiteManager as an IP-level tunnel only; let the engineering PC negotiate SMB directly with the panel.
• Multiple license transfer attempts: Repeated failed attempts leave stale .alm.lock files on the panel. Power-cycle the panel to clear locks if the issue persists after the workaround.
• Wrong license type: Ensure the license certificate is specifically for "Sm@rtServer for Comfort Panels", not the WinCC Runtime Advanced or WinCC Professional PC runtime. The license certificate's target system field must read "TP1200 Comfort / WinCC Comfort" or higher.
• Time/date mismatch: ALM validates license certificates against the engineering PC clock. If the PC clock is skewed more than 24 hours from real time, the staged license may be flagged as expired.

When to Contact Siemens Support

Escalate to official Siemens support if:

• The error persists on a direct local Ethernet connection (not via VPN tunnel)
• ALM trace logs show 0x80070005 (Access Denied) or 0x80070020 (Sharing Violation) errors after applying the workaround
• The storage medium health check reports "Critical"
• The license certificate is confirmed valid but does not appear in the ALM license repository after staging

Reference the official Siemens support entry 109479521 when opening a support request, and provide the panel's MLFB (catalog number), firmware version, ALM version, and the trace log captured with -tracelevel 4.

FAQ