Chapter 5

Administering Licenses

When you buy Rational Rose for UNIX/Linux, you purchase some number of floating or node-locked licenses. Floating licenses allow anyone on your network to use Rose as long as a license is available. Thus, the number of licenses that you purchase determines the maximum number of users who can use Rose concurrently. Node-locked licenses limit your use of Rose for UNIX/Linux to a specific host.

This chapter describes the following topics related to Rational software licensing services:


How Licenses Work

Licenses are controlled by a license manager (FLEXlm software delivered as part of Rose) that runs on a license server (one of your workstations). The license manager monitors license access, simultaneous usage, idle time, and so on.

When you start Rose, you are initially unlicensed. If a license is available, the license manager gives you a license and you retain it as long as you keep using Rose. When you exit Rose, your license is returned to the license manager and becomes available for another user.

If no license is available, you are unable to use Rose until a license is returned by another user.


The License Manager

Rose for UNIX/Linux uses the Flexible License Manager, FLEXlm, from Globetrotter Software, Inc. Rose requires FLEXlm 6.0i or greater (7.0f or greater for Linux). The license manager includes the following components:

Once the license file is in place and the license daemons are running, the server computer needs to be set up to automatically restart the license server when it reboots. You will be instructed by rs_install or license_setup how to do this. These commands cannot do this because this step requires root permissions. The commands to do are as follows:

On HP-UX:

% su

# cp rational_dir/config/start_lmgrd_on_server-name \
/sbin/init.d/SlmRational.sh

# ln -s /sbin/init.d/SlmRational.sh/sbin/rc2.d/SlmRational.sh

On Solaris:

$ su

# cp rational_dir/config/start_lmgrd_on_server-name \
/etc/rc2.d/SlmRational.sh

On Tru64 Unix:

cp rational_dir/config/start_lmgrd_on_server_name \
/sbin/init.d/SlmRational.sh

ln -s /sbin/init.d/SlmRational.sh /sbin/rc2.d/SlmRational.sh

On SGI:

cp rational_dir/config/start_lmgrd_on_server_name \
/etc/init.d/SlmRational.sh

ln -s /etc/init.d/SlmRational.sh /etc/rc2.d/SlmRational.sh

On AIX:

Edit /etc/inittab and add the line:

lmgr:234:once:/bin/sh rational_dir/config/start_lmgrd_on_server_name

On Linux x86:

cp rational_dir/config/start_lmgrd_on_server_name \
/etc/rc.d/rc*.d/S98Rational

Rose provides installation scripts to guide you through this setup. They are described in Installation Quick Start .


License Manager Commands

To verify that your license manager is operational, you can enter these commands on your license server to see if it's daemons are running:

or

Their output should include lines similar to the following (your pathnames may vary):

538 ?? S 0:03.50 /rational/base/cots/flexlm.6.0i/platform/lmgrd
  -c /rational/config/servername.dat
  -l /rational/config/servername.log

539 ?? I 0:00.90 rational -T brazil 6.0 3 -c ...

The license manager supports several system-administration commands.

Command
Description
lmdiag

Allows you to diagnose problems when you cannot checkout a license.

lmdown

Shuts down license and vendor daemons

lmhostid

Reports license manager host ID of workstation

lmreread

Rereads license file, starts new vendor daemons

lmstat

Reports status on daemons and feature usage

exinstal

Reports on licenses in license file you specify on the command line.

For more information on these commands, you can view the FLEXlm online documentation in the rational_dir/releases/rose.I.J.K/docs/html/FLEXlm_End-User_Manual directory. This documentation is provided in HTML. These commands are documented in the "License Administration Tools" chapter.


The License File

The default Rational license file is either:

or

The Temporary.dat file is used for startup and evaluation licenses while the server-name.dat file is used for permanent licenses.

When users start Rose, the environment variable LM_LICENSE_FILE is automatically defined for them. FLEXlm uses this variable to locate the license file. The LM_LICENSE_FILE environment variable can contain other non-Rational products, but Rational recommends that you keep the licenses in separate files.

Format

The license file is a text file that is set up by the rs_install or license_setup programs. Your license file will contain a SERVER line, a VENDOR line, and one or more INCREMENT or FEATURE lines.

Detailed information about the license file and licensing can be found in the FLEXlm End User Manual that is included online with this release and at http://www.globetrotter.com/manual.htm.


Types of Licenses

Node-locked and Floating Licenses

Node-locked licenses are created only for a specific system.

Floating licenses are licenses that can be shared by multiple users on multiple systems. A Rational license server controls use of the floating licenses.

Floating licenses allow anyone on your network to use Rational Rose for UNIX/Linux as long as a license is available. Thus, the number of licenses that you purchase determines the maximum number of users who can use Rational Rose for UNIX/Linux concurrently.

Permanent Licenses and Temporary License Keys

When you register Rational products to specific systems (license server or client) in AccountLink, Rational generates license keys and e-mails these permanent license keys in a license file to you. The permanent keys let you use the Rational products for an indefinite period of time. However, Rational assigns an expiration date to the license keys if your company has negotiated a Term License Agreement (TLA). Technically, TLA keys are not permanent, but Rational groups TLA licenses in the permanent license key category.

To use Rational products for an evaluation period or if you expect a delay in receiving your permanent keys, you can install the temporary license key provided in your Rational License Key Certificate. Because Rational has not generated the temporary key for a specific system, you can use it on any system until the specified expiration date.

Permanent and temporary license keys can be floating or node-locked. The difference is that a temporary key is not generated for a specific system and a permanent key is generated for a specific system.

Emergency and Evaluation Keys

Emergency and evaluation license keys are temporary license keys. They can be floating or node-locked. They are short-term licenses that are not generated for a specific system.

Suite Licenses and Point Product Licenses

A Rational license key indicates whether it is a Rational Suite license, such as Rational Rose for UNIX/Linux, or a point-product license, such as Rational Rose. A Rational license file can contain multiple floating or node-locked suite and point-product license keys.

Returning License Keys

You may need to replace an old system or decide another system should act as the new Rational license server. Because permanent license keys are tied to a system's host ID, Rational products will not work on another system until you import new license keys that are tied to the new system's host ID.

To get your new license key, you need to "return" the existing license key back to your Rational account and then "get" or order a license key for the other system. You could also call this task moving the license key from one system to another or removing the license key from the old system.

When you return a license key, you do not physically give the license key back to Rational. Instead, the return transaction updates Rational's records to indicate that you are no longer using the software on that system. This adjusts the count of registered products in your account and allows you to get the license key for the other system.

To comply with the Rational License Agreement, Rational sends you a license key file that contains updated license keys for the old system. If you have returned all the license keys for that system, Rational will send you a license file that is empty.

Upgrading Licenses

If you are upgrading from an earlier version of a Rational Rose or point-product, you can reuse your current Rational Suite and Rational Roselicense keys.

Adding Point-Products to Licenses

If you are adding a new product to your system, you have to request a new license file that includes the new point-product license key. You cannot use the suite license for individual point product installations.

Using Your Rational License Key Certificate

To get your permanent or TLA license keys, you need to supply information from your Rational License Key Certificate. This certificate is enclosed in a large green envelope in your shipment. The information, especially the Rational Account Number, on this certificate verifies that your company has purchased licenses to run Rational products.

Using "Getting Started with Rational Software"

The "Getting Started with Rational Software" web pages provide step-by-step instructions, examples, and graphics for obtaining and installing Rational license keys. Find "Getting Started with Rational Software" at www.rational.com. Click Support > Support Services > Getting Started.


Obtaining Licenses

If you are installing Rose for UNIX/Linux for the first time, or are adding licenses, contact Rational to obtain the encryption code for your installation. Instructions for doing this can be found in Startup Licenses and Requesting License Keys .

Startup Licenses

Your media kit comes with a license certificate containing a startup license key that will be good for approximately two to four weeks. This allows you enough time to contact Rational and get your permanent license keys configured.

You will need to select the product that matches your license certificate, the expiration date on the certificate, and the hexadecimal license code.

A temporary license file will be set up by the rs_install or license_setup command. You will not need a license server for these keys.

Requesting License Keys

AccountLink (http://www.rational.com/accountlink) is a Web tool that you can use to manage your permanent (or Term License Agreement) license keys. To use AccountLink, you need the License Key Certificate to order and install your license keys. AccountLink's interface offers three license transactions:

With these three transactions, you can order and return permanent license keys for Windows and UNIX products from single or multiple Rational accounts.


Note:
AccountLink does not support temporary license key transactions.

AccountLink requires you to register your Rational software to specific systems using the system's host ID or ethernet address. You can register:

Prior to accessing AccountLink to request permanent license(s) you will need the following information:

Access AccountLink at http://www.rational.com/accountlink and follow the instructions provided by license_setup or rs_install to complete permanent license setup.

If you do not have access to the internet you may also request licenses by completing the appropriate HTML fax license request located in the CD-ROM license_request_forms directory:

The Rational Licensing Support Fax Number information is provided at the bottom of each form.

Receiving and Importing License Keys

After you register your Rational products to a specific system with AccountLink, Rational generates a license key file that contains the license key. The file is e-mailed to the contact e-mail address that you designate in AccountLink's License Contact page.

You need to save the file to a known directory location as you will need to provide this information when you install the Rational software.


Note:
If AccountLink is unavailable, see
Requesting License Keys by FAX or call Rational Licensing Support. See Contacting Rational Licensing Technical Support on page x for Support phone numbers.

Requesting License Keys by FAX

This section summarizes the steps for getting a node-locked or floating permanent license key when you do not have an internet connection or when Rational AccountLink is unavailable.

Although this section gives customers instructions for obtaining license keys by fax, Rational recommends that you use Rational AccountLink (www.rational.com/accountlink) to request permanent license keys.

  1. Find your License Key Certificate in your Rational product shipment.

  2. Print the license request form.

  3. Use the License Key Certificate to fill out the form. Make sure that the contact, Rational account number, product, licensing, and host information are correct. Any errors will cause delays in receiving your license keys.

  4. Fax the request to Rational. See Contacting Rational Licensing Technical Support on page x for fax and phone numbers.

Call Rational Licensing Support if you cannot use Rational AccountLink or the fax form to order your permanent license keys. See Contacting Rational Licensing Technical Support on page x for phone numbers.


User-Based Licenses

User-based licenses are not supported in this release.


Frequently Asked Questions


FLEXlm User Guide

An HTML version of the FLEXlm User Guide is provided in the docs directory and at http://www.globetrotter.com/manual.htm.

Additional information on FLEXlm can be found at http://www.globetrotter.com/lmfaq.htm.


      

Rational Support

techpubs@rational.com
Copyright © 2001, Rational Software Corporation. All rights reserved.