Port 1422: Autodesk License Manager — A registered port that time left behind

Port 1422 sits in the registered ports range (1024-49151), officially assigned to Autodesk License Manager. But there's a catch: if you're running Autodesk's Network License Manager today, you probably won't find anything listening on port 1422.

What This Port Was For

Port 1422 was registered for autodesk-lm—the Autodesk License Manager service that validates software licenses for Autodesk products like AutoCAD, Revit, and Maya.¹ Both TCP and UDP port 1422 were designated for this purpose.

The service handled license validation, allowing organizations to manage licenses centrally rather than installing individual licenses on every workstation.

Where Autodesk Licensing Actually Happens Now

Modern Autodesk Network License Manager doesn't use port 1422. Instead, it communicates over:²

• Port 27000-27009 — Used by lmgrd.exe (the FLEXlm license daemon)
• Port 2080 — Used by adskflex.exe (the Autodesk vendor daemon)

Port 1422 may have been used in legacy Autodesk licensing systems or specific older products, but current installations operate on these different ports entirely.

Why This Matters

Port 1422 represents a common pattern in the port registry: official assignments that become historical artifacts as software evolves. The port is still registered to Autodesk License Manager in IANA's database, but the actual service has moved on.

This isn't unusual. Software vendors sometimes register ports early in development, then change their architecture. Or they consolidate multiple services onto newer ports. The old registration remains—partly for backward compatibility, partly because no one bothers to formally de-register it.

Checking What's Actually Using Port 1422

If you find something listening on port 1422, it's worth investigating:

On Linux/macOS:

sudo lsof -i :1422

On Windows:

netstat -ano | findstr :1422

You might find:

• Nothing at all (most common)
• An older Autodesk service (on legacy installations)
• Something completely unrelated using the port for internal purposes
• In rare cases, malicious software (port 1422 has been associated with trojans in the past)³

The Registered Ports Range

Port 1422 belongs to the registered ports range (1024-49151). Unlike well-known ports (0-1023), which require special privileges to bind to, registered ports can be used by regular user applications.

IANA assigns these ports to specific services upon request, but enforcement is voluntary. Any application can technically use port 1422 if nothing else is. The registration is more like a reservation system than a strict rule.

This flexibility is both useful and confusing. It means port 1422 could be running Autodesk License Manager, something else entirely, or nothing at all—depending on what's installed on that specific system.

Related Ports

• Port 27000-27009 — Modern Autodesk Network License Manager (lmgrd)
• Port 2080 — Autodesk vendor daemon (adskflex)
• Port 1381 — Another legacy Autodesk-related port
• Port 7279 — Older FLEXlm license manager servers