License types

IBM Rational Common Licensing (powered by FLEXlm software) provides different license types: floating, named-user floating, and authorized user license keys.

Table 1 explains the license types.

Table 1. License types
License type Products Description
Floating All products included in IBM Rational Common Licensing.
  • A license administrator installs the IBM Rational® license server software on single, multiple, or redundant servers. The administrator then installs the floating licenses on the license servers. These floating licenses are created for the specific license server.
  • Client users obtain licenses from the license server when they start the software. One license is granted per client per product, except performance testing products. Performance testing products can check out multiple licenses.
  • Floating licenses allow anyone on your network to use IBM Rational products if a license is available. The number of licenses that you purchase and register in the IBM Rational License Key Center determines the maximum number of users who can use Rational products concurrently.
Named-User Floating
  • IBM Rational PureCoverage
  • IBM Rational Purify
  • IBM Rational Quantify
  • Similar to a floating license, except the license administrator assigns licenses to specific users. That is, only specific users can request floating license keys from the license server.
  • A named-user floating license requires a license administrator to create a list of authorized users.
Authorized user All products included in Rational Common Licensing.
  • An authorized user license key (formerly called a node-locked license) is created for a specific client. It allows a user to use a Rational product only on that specified client.
  • The user may start multiple sessions of a product concurrently on the specified computer using a single license key.
  • Because authorized user license key are uncounted licenses, no license server is needed to manage them.
Authorized user fixed term license (FTL) Available for many IBM Rational software products
  • A license administrator installs the Rational license server software on single, multiple, or redundant servers. The administrator then installs the floating licenses on the license servers. These floating licenses are created for the specific license server.
  • Client users obtain licenses from the license server when they start the software. One license is granted per client per product, except performance testing products. Performance testing products can check out multiple licenses.
  • Floating licenses allow anyone on your network to use Rational products while a license is available. The number of licenses that you purchase and register in License Key Center determines the maximum number of users who can use Rational products concurrently.