BuildForge Help

Installing the License Server

You must have a license server running and licenses installed in order to run Build Forge® components. It is preferable to set up licensing before you install Build Forge® so you can immediately test the installation.

This section includes the following topics:

Installing a License Server

If you do not have an existing license server available, install and start a license server on a host that is accessible from all hosts where you intend to install a Management Console. You can download the Rational License Server from the IBM Rational support site, http://www-306.ibm.com/software/rational/support/
Important: Configure the license server to start automatically on system boot. On Windows you must manually set the service to Auto. It is not done by default. For example, use Control Panel > Administrative Programs > Services to make that setting in Windows XP.

Installing Licenses

To install licenses, perform the following steps:

  1. Obtain the licenses. Put the license files in a temporary directory on the host where the license server runs.
    Important: The minimum you need is both a server license and user licenses. You also need license keys for optional licensed components, such as the Adaptor Toolkit and API. Your account representative can assist you with obtaining licenses. You may also get licenses from the IBM Rational support site. See How to Get Your Rational License Keys at http://www-306.ibm.com/software/rational/support/licensing/.
  2. Import the license keys to the server. Use the IBM Rational tools:
    • Windows: use the License Key Administrator (LKAD)
    • UNIX or Linux: use the license_update script.

    See Rational License Management Guide for instructions that apply to your host type and license type(s).

  3. Configure the Management Console to use the license server.
    • Windows: provide the license server name when prompted during installation.
    • UNIX or Linux: put the license server name in <bf-install>/Platform/bfkey.txt. When you start the Management Console for the first time, The console reads bfkey.txt, connects to the license server, and then deletes bfkey.txt.

Changing the License Server to Use

If you need to change the license server after you have installed the Management Console, you need to make manual changes to Management Console and to license server settings.
  1. In each running Management Console, go to Administration > System and change the License Server setting. Set it to the name of the host to use as the license server host.
  2. Stop the Management Console engine
  3. Change the value of the RATIONAL_LICENSE_FILE variable where it is set in your operating system. Set it to the name of the host to use as the license server host, using the format port@hostname.
    • Windows: the variable is stored in the registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Flexlm License Manager
    • UNIX or Linux: the variable is set in the .flexlmrc file.
  4. Start the Management Console engine.
  5. Open the Management Console to test that the engine was able to obtain a license from the new license server.