Rational Software Corp.

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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 (FLEXlmTM 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, FLEXlmTM, from Globetrotter Software, Inc. Rose requires FLEXlm 7.0f or greater. The license manager includes the following components:

Note: Rational recommends that you use a single combined license file for all of our products.

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:

rm -f /etc/rc.d/*.d/S98Rational
cp rational_dir/config/start_lmgrd_on_server_name \
   /etc/rc.d/init.d/S98Rational
ln -s /etc/rc.d/init.d/S98Rational /etc/rc.d/rc3.d/S98Rational
ln -s /etc/rc.d/init.d/S98Rational /etc/rc.d/rc4.d/S98Rational
ln -s /etc/rc.d/init.d/S98Rational /etc/rc.d/rc5.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.7.0f/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.

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 Rose license 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

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 (included in your product shipment) to order and install your license keys. AccountLink's interface offers three license transactions:

1 . Get License Key(s) - Order your permanent license key by registering Rose to a specific system. To order a permanent license key, you need your Rational License Key Certificate and the hostid of the license server or client system.

    You can register :

    To order permanent license keys for a redundant server environment, specify the redundant server's hostids in the following order:

a . Primary license server

b . Secondary license server

c . Tertiary (Backup) license server

The client systems communicate with the redundant server's in that order.

Returning and Moving License Key(s) - Return the existing license key to your Rational account and then order a license key for the new system. This adjusts the count of registered products in your account and allows you to get the license key for the new system.

Returning License Keys

When you return a license key from a registered system, you do not physically give the license key back to Rational. Instead, you use the return transaction in AccountLink. This transaction updates Rationals records to indicate that you are no longer using Rose on that system. This adjusts the count of registered products in your account. After AccountLink makes the adjustments to your account, Rational sends you a license key file that contains updated license keys. If you have returned all the license keys for a system, the updated license file is empty. To comply with your License Agreement, import this updated license file (whether it is empty or not) on the system.

To return a license key:

1 . Use AccountLink to return the license keys to your Rational account.

2 . To complete the return process, import the license key update file that you receive from AccountLink on the license server or node-locked system from which you returned the license key.

Moving License Keys

If you want to move Rose to a new system, return the existing license keys from the old system to your Rational account. Then order license keys for the new system.

To move license keys from one system to another:

1 . Use AccountLink to return the license keys to your Rational account.

    Note: To help prevent you from confusing the license key update file for the old system with the license key file for the new system, you may want to complete the return process before you order license keys for the new system.

2 . Import the updated license key file that you receive from AccountLink on the old system.

3 . Remove Rose or license server software from the old system.

4 . Install Rose or license server software on the new system.

5 . Request new license keys for the new system in AccountLink.

6 . Import the license key file on the new system.

7 . If you moved the license keys to a new license server, give users the name of the new license server.

Request a Copy of a License File - Get a copy of a license key file for any system that has license keys already registered to it. You will need this transaction when, you need to restore the software on your system, or your license keys become corrupt. It does not require you to return or add license keys.

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

Note: AccountLink does not support temporary license key transactions.

If you are not at the computer for which you are requesting license keys, you must have the following information available: hostname and hostid. If you do not know the FLEXlm Host ID (lmhostid) of your license server, run the tool gethostinfo.sh located in the CD-ROM extras/license directory. This tool is also available (and, may be downloaded) from AccountLink.

Receiving and Importing License Keys

After you register Rose to a specific system with AccountLink, Rational generates a license key file that contains the license key. The file is sent in an e-mail message 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 Technical Support 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.

    The documentation browser can be used directly from the CD-ROM and from the installed product area. To view the form directly from the CD-ROM, run the command rs_help from the CD-ROM root directory.

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.

Note: If you are requesting a node-locked license, be sure to select NodeLocked UNIX.

4 . Fax the request to Rational. See Contacting Rational Licensing Technical Support 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 for phone numbers.

Receiving Permanent License Keys

If you request a new license using AccountLink, Rational will send you a license key file through e-mail. If you request a permanent license key by fax and you have specified an e-mail address in your contact information, you will receive a license key file through e-mail. You can copy the permanent license file from the e-mail enabled system and install it on the system that is not e-mail enabled. If you cannot provide an e-mail address, contact Rational Licensing Support. See Contacting Rational Licensing Technical Support for the phone numbers.

Converting a Temporary License to a Permanent License

If you initially used a temporary license (evaluation or startup) to install Rose, you can convert your license to a permanent license by using the license_setup command. The license_setup command allows you to run a subset of the install script, rs_install. The license_setup command allows you to set up license options and run the license check sequence. You may also do this by running rs_install; however, using license_setup will save you time as there is no need to run through a full product installation or any of the post product installation setup. You need to have a permanent or TLA license before you start. See Requesting License Keys by Fax .


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.


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support@rational.com
techpubs@rational.com
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