Application Note 2011: Quick Installation guide for the OpenLM license management system v1.8

Posted on April 23, 2013 by orik

The OpenLM Floating license monitoring and Usage optimization tool interfaces an ever growing variety of license managers, such as Flexera FlexLM (Flexnet publisher), Beta LM, IBM LUM, DSLS, Sentinel HASP, Sentinel RMS, Reprise RLM, MathLM, LM-X and Easycopy.

Step 1: Installation

The OpenLM System components are available for download on the OpenLM site. After filling in your name and email, you would be directed to the download section. Select the OpenLM Version 1.8 section:

And start by downloading the server:

When downloading is complete, double click the downloaded *.msi file and follow the standard installation instructions.

Step 2: Configuring License Servers

When the installation is complete, click:

Windows’ Start → All Programs → OpenLM → Server → OpenLM Server Configuration

The OpenLM Server configuration window opens.

1. Add in your license servers:

Click the ‘Add’ button,
Type in the License server’s host name or IP (e.g. lm10) and Port number (e.g. 27000)
Select the new License server’s type (e.g. FlexLM)
Type in an informative name (e.g. “lm10 – ArcGis server”)
Select the license server’s time zone (e.g. UTC+1)

The image below demonstrates this configuration:

2. Select a license server and click the check button in order to ensure that OpenLM can retrieve information from that license server. This information is the input received from the License manager.

3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 for all license servers.

4. Click ‘Apply’, and “Restart now”.

Step 3: The OpenLM EasyAdmin Interface

The EasyAdmin web application is the main OpenLM Administrative and user interface.

You can find it on:

Windows’ Start → All Programs → OpenLM → OpenLM EasyAdmin2.

The OpenLM EasyAdmin opens. Click the EasyAdmin start button to explore this application’s features.

The image above is an example of an EasyAdmin workspace. It features Administrative tools, License data, License usage data, Graphic usage representation, Roles and permissions’ assignment, and Active Agent capabilities.

For more information on the OpenLM EasyAdmin web interface, please refer to this document.

Congratulations!

You now have an up and running OpenLM system.

For further information regarding the installation and preliminary configuration of the OpenLM system components, please refer to the “Application Note 2010: OpenLM license management system Complete Installation guide v1.8” document.

Revision table

Revision	Author	Date	Remarks
0.1	Orik	Apr 23, 2013	Preliminary

Get more out of your floating licenses

Posted on October 16, 2012 by orik

The OpenLM Utilizer is a complete floating license management solution designed to optimize the use of licensed software: more production for lower cost.
OpenLM is made to harvest idle licenses, and improve license utilization of any organization: big or small.

Who was the OpenLM Utilizer Designed For?

Unlike other license management systems that only offer administration and license monitoring statistics, the OpenLM Utilizer optimizes license usage in a unique manner that provides all personnel with useful license-related functions.

Organization managers:

Know what you have: Inventory.
Plan license maintenance and procurement of expensive licenses.
Charge projects or business units for software usage time.
Cut costs by dropping maintenance for licenses that are no longer in use.

Administrator view:

Real time license usage management
Alerts – Real time troubleshooting
Extract usage statistics information and patterns as reports or charts.
Roles and Permissions: Grant licenses according to specific Users’ permissions. Enforce concurrent License restriction.

End User View:

End users are not kept in the dark. They are informed about the status of denied licenses.
Receive a License availability notification when a license becomes vacant.
Who is using the license I need?
What is this person’s contact details?

Supported features

License managers:

OpenLM interfaces a wide variety of license managers, e.g.: FLEXlm / Flexnet, IBM LUM, Sentinel RMS, Sentinel HASP, RLM, DSLS and other leading license managers.
OpenLM supports Concurrent monitoring of multiple license servers on multiple time zones.
OpenLM supports management of Floating, Node-locked and Borrowed licenses.

Monitoring capabilities:

Easily review license inventory in real time.
Extract license activity reports, with configurable resolution.
Receive FLEXlm reports, statistics and charting (FLEXnet reports).
Receive Billing reports for any time period, per user or software (FLEXbill capabilities).

Infrastructure:

OpenLM may work over WAN and LAN networks.
OpenLM employs a web-based user interface that works with any supported browser.
A Mobile interface application enhances monitoring abilities for system administrators.
OpenLM may interface license managers that run on UNIX, Linux, or Windows’ Operating systems
OpenLM supports both external and embedded databases.

Proactive capabilities:

Release orphan licenses with a single mouse click.
Query users and licenses from any workstation.

Other features

A customizable alert system
An open, detailed API

Vendors

OpenLM Supports software from the following vendors: Autodesk, Borland, Cadence, EDS, Macromedia, Mathsoft, Mathworks, PTC, Rational, Softimage, Solidworks, Sybase, Synopsys, Unigraphics, WindRiver, FreeScale, ICS, Foundry, VSNi,Tri-Pacific Software and many more.
Some examples of software systems: Autodesk Autocad, ESRI ArcGIS, Mathsoft MathCAD, CADopia IntelliCAD, Mathworks Matlab, VSNi GenStat, Foundary Forge, PTC Pro-Engineer, Rasterx RxView, and more.

OpenLM Utilizer Architecture

OpenLM’s basic software package includes the core OpenLM Server module and its user interface; the OpenLM EasyAdmin module. In addition to these core components, the OpenLM Broker, OpenLM Alerts module and the OpenLM Utilizer Agent modules are also incorporated in the basic software package.

The OpenLM Server

is the core element of the OpenLM system. It integrates the functionality of all other peripheral system components, such as the OpenLM EasyAdmin, OpenLM Agent, OpenLM Alerts, and OpenLM Broker. The OpenLM Server is implemented as a Windows service and could be installed on any network machine.

OpenLM EasyAdmin

An HTTP based application that can run on any machine in your network. EasyAdmin is the reporting and management interface of OpenLM. It facilitates extraction of lisence usage statistics, and usage repots, as well as the control and optimization of license usage.

OpenLM Agent

An optional component that can be installed on any machine on the network. The Agent enables end users to query license availability and find who is using the license they need at any point in time.

OpenLM Alerts

is a dedicated alerting service for the OpenLM system. This module alerts system administrators when predefined conditions are met.

OpenLM Broker

is an optional server component that runs on the license server machine. The Broker performs tasks as dictated by OpenLM Server, and is required in order to provide advanced licensing information and sophisticated abilities.

OpenLM Screenshots

Watch the OpenLM EasyAdmin screenshots on the OpenLM site.

Want to evaluate the software ?

You can get the most updated version of OpenLM Utilizer from our OpenLM downloads area. After filling in your name and email – you’d be directed to the Downloads section. The Installation process is easy and straightforward, but if you still need any assistance – Please send an email to support@openlm.com, and we’ll be glad to help.

OpenLM fits in the US Federal “Shared First” policy.

Posted on April 10, 2012 by orik

US Federal Budget cuts have produced a new policy of software procurement within government agencies. This strategy is nicknamed the “Shared First” policy, and is at the base of some major changes in Federal software license procurement and maintenance.

The “Shared First” policy requires agencies to share IT systems, acquisition and expertise. US Government agencies are required to consider using existing software, both inside their agencies and across government before turning to further purchase of software. This policy has manifested in enormous cuts in IT expenditure.

Increased sharing of software assets is one of the central pillars of this policy. Federal agencies have reported saving many millions of Dollars by using enterprise-wide (“floating”) license agreements over the passed two years. Being a software that specializes in the monitoring of floating licenses, OpenLM fits in this capacity perfectly. It is ideal for monitoring enterprise-wide licenses over WAN or LAN networks, and over different time zones.

Moreover, Following President Obama’s executive order from last November to take inventory of Federal agencies’ software assets, there has been a growing need for monitoring license usage and pointing out weak spots in software license utilization. These weak spots are non-compliance with license agreements and under-utilization of existing software licenses. Again: circling out such weak spots is what OpenLM is for. OpenLM may be configured to alert for such conditions, and actively improve license utilization.

OpenLM Newsletter 2012 #01

Posted on February 12, 2012 by orik

Dear valued OpenLM users,

On this first edition of the OpenLM 2012 Newsletter I would like to greet you all, and wish you a happy and successful new year. 2011 has been very good for us here at OpenLM, all thanks to your support. Our team has grown bigger, and is now able to provide better support to our improved product.

We are proud to introduce the OpenLM Mobile touch interface. This interface may run on any mobile device operating system; e.g.: IOs, Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile etc. With the help of some of our faithful customers, we have managed to perform a successful Beta trial for this interface. The OpenLM Mobile Touch interface is available to all customers under a valid maintenance agreement with no additional cost.

Based upon requests from our customers, and following Dassault Systemes migration from IBM-LUM to their proprietary DSLS license manager, OpenLM has quickly adapted to provide support to DSLS. We look forward to receiving further customer requests, in order to meet our users’ needs.

We have recently launched a new and enhanced company website. This site is clearer, more informative, useful and generally – nicer than our old one. Among other things, It features a new introductory animated video on OpenLM. We hope that you will like it.

Best Regards,

Oren Gabay, CEO

OpenLM updates

OpenLM goes mobile !

The OpenLM EasyAdmin Mobile application enables system administrators to keep track of the license management systems, while being out of office. This document describes the essentials of the OpenLM EasyAdmin for mobile application; installing the application, and running it on a Mobile set.Read more…

OpenLM Live Webinars

OpenLM is now hosting a couple of Online Webex Webinars each week. This Webinars give an overview of the OpenLM system; its components and capabilities, and is intended for newbies as well as for experienced users. Please check out the date for the next webex Webinar on OpenLM’s site.

OpenLM resources

OpenLM introductory video

OpenLM Video tutorials: OpenLM server configuration – License server tab

OpenLM Video tutorials: Active Directory Synchronization

Monthly Articles

Get more out of your floating licenses

Being this our first edition of the OpenLM Newsletter for 2012, We found it adequate to give a brief summary of what the OpenLM utilizer actually is. This is good reading material for Newbees, and nice to remember for more experienced users. Read more…

OpenLM system structure

Another important article for first timers, this one elaborates all about the OpenLM system structure; Where should every module be installed, and what are the interconnections between them. Read more…

Products and Packaged licenses in OpenLMs EasyAdmin web application

This Article deals with two adjacent subjects: Renaming features as products, and gathering these features into licensed packages in the OpenLM EasyAdmin web application. Read more…

Configuring FLEXlm FLEXnet Option File Using OpenLM Easy Admin

FLEXlm (Flexera FLEXnet) option files grant license administrators close control over various operating parameters within the constraints of the license model. Licensed features can be dedicated, denied or reserved to users or groups of users, according to the option files setting.

The OpenLM solution incorporates synchronization of License administration tools with the organizations LDAP (Active Directory), keeping the FLEXlm option file up-to-date as users leave or join the organization, or move between groups. Read more…

Points of interest

IBM Rational – FlexNet Token based licensing:

The IBM Rational License Server uses FLEXnet for licensing IBM Rational products. This article presents the main characteristics of FlexNet Token based licensing, and the benefits of this method. Read more…

Autodesk cascade licensing and the PLIST

Cascade Licensing allows a product to obtain a license from a network license manager pool when that license manager is servicing more than one product. Cascading was implemented primarily to address mixed-product environments where both suite and base products co-exist.

FlexNet Producer Suite Is Distinguished by the Frost & Sullivan 2011 Market Share Leadership Award for Software-Enforced License Management

The Frost & Sullivan Award for Market Share Leadership is presented to the company that has demonstrated excellence in capturing the highest market share within a segment of its industry. Read more…

Application Note 1010: OpenLM license management system Complete Installation guide.

Posted on October 30, 2011 by orik

General:

This guide describes the process of Installing the OpenLM license management system version 1.7, and applying its basic configurations to get it running in a client company’s work environment. The setup process consists of the following stages:

Selecting the system’s components according to the system’s requirements
Installing the OpenLM components
Configuring the OpenLM components
Setting up the OpenLM database
Running OpenLM 1.7, checking its proper functionality

Components of the OpenLM system

OpenLM’s basic software package includes the core OpenLM Server module and its user interface; the OpenLM EasyAdmin module. In addition to those, further optional components are available. These optional components are:

OpenLM Broker
OpenLM Agent
OpenLM Alerts
Log file Uploader

The OpenLM software package also includes extensions, which provide additional functionality such as:

OpenLM Active Agent
External DB support
Groups and projects management
Role base security
Option file management

The image below depicts a generalized block diagram of OpenLM’s license management solution:

OpenLM Server

The OpenLM Server is the core element of the OpenLM system. It integrates the functionality of all other peripheral system components, such as the OpenLM EasyAdmin, OpenLM Agent, OpenLM Alerts, and OpenLM Broker.

OpenLM EasyAdmin

OpenLM’s EasyAdmin is the administrative interface of the OpenLM system. EasyAdmin’s control panel features a desktop interface that facilitates:

Configuration of the OpenLM Server, OpenLM’s core component
Management of license servers
License usage data extraction for Investigative and statistics purposes.

OpenLM Broker

The OpenLM Broker is an optional server component that runs on the license server machine. The Broker performs tasks as dictated by OpenLM Server, and is required in order to provide advanced licensing information and sophisticated abilities.

OpenLM Alert

The OpenLM Alert is a dedicated alerting service for the OpenLM system. This module alerts system administrators when predefined conditions are met.

OpenLM Utilizer Agent

The OpenLM Utilitzer Agent is the end user tool of the OpenLM system.

OpenLM Active Agent

OpenLM’s Active Agent extension allows system administrators to define a timeout policy. In this manner, system administrators can save, close or suspend idle applications, in order to make more efficient use of licenses.

OpenLM External Data Base (DB) Support

This extension enables OpenLM to save license usage information on an external database such as an Oracle or MS SQL Server. By default, OpenLM uses an embedded DB. External DB support is recommended for management of large licensing systems.

OpenLM Groups & Projects

This extension enables OpenLM to collect license usage information from groups of users or projects. The Groups & Projects extension synchronizes users’ data with its LDAP database (Active Directory), keeping the data collection process fully automatic.

OpenLM Role Based Security

The OpenLM Server supports a role-based security feature that enables it to implement customized access to OpenLM tools by setting access roles.

OpenLM Option File Management

The OpenLM Option File Management extension enables system administrators to manage Option Files easily from the EasyAdmin web based interface.

OpenLM Logs Uploader

The OpenLM Logs Uploader extension enables loading historical FLEXlm debug log files. This extension is essential for investigating historical license usage.

System Requirements

OpenLM has published the system requirements for the new version 1.7. Please observe these requirements and ensure the system is compliant to it.

http://www.openlm.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=26

You may also find this OpenLM FAQ guide useful.

Installing the system components

The OpenLM System components are available for download on the OpenLM site. After filling in your name and email, you would be directed to the download section. Select the OpenLM Version 1.7 section:

OpenLM Server

Start the installation process by installing the latest OpenLM server version.

If this is not a new installation, the production database file must first be backed up: Copy the “OPENLM_DB.GDB” file (typically located under “C:\Program Files\OpenLM\OpenLM Server\db”) onto a different directory.

Continue the installation process:

1. Download the OpenLM Server package to its designated machine.

2. Read the license agreement and the subsequent information page.

3. Follow the standard installation instructions. The OpenLM Server configuration tool opens on the “License Servers” tab.

4. Add a new license server:

Click the ‘Add’ button.
Type in the License server’s host name or IP (e.g. lm10) and Port number (e.g. 27000) Default Port numbers per license server type are elaborated here.
Select the new License server’s type (e.g. FlexLM) Please also refer to Server type respective Application Note: FlexLM, Reprise RLM / IBM LUM / Sentinel RMS / Sentinel HASP / DSLS.
Type in an informative name (e.g. “lm10 – ArcGis server”)

Select the license server’s time zone (e.g. UTC+1)
Check the “Is Triad” according to the License managers redundancy layout.and whether

Check the ‘Enabled’ check box.

5. Click the “Check” button, to check connectivity with the license server.

The image below demonstrates a configuration of four license servers.

Repeat steps 4 & 5 for all license servers.

6. Click ‘Apply’ and close the configuration window. Changes and additional configurations can be made at any stage in the OpenLM Server configuration window.

You could find it on

Windows’ Start button → All Programs → OpenLM → Server → OpenLM Server Configuration

7. Register the OpenLM server tool, and finish the installation.

The EasyAdmin Interface

The EasyAdmin web application is the main OpenLM users interface.

You could find it on:

Windows’ Start button → All Programs → OpenLM → OpenLM EasyAdmin2.

The OpenLM EasyAdmin opens. Click the start EasyAdmin start button to explore this application’s features.

OpenLM Broker

Download the OpenLM Broker and install it on each license manager machine in the system. Select the download version according to the operating system that runs on the License manager machine: Windows or Unix/Linux.

Please refer to the “OpenLM Broker Quick start guide – Application note 1004” document for detailed information regarding the installation and configuration of the OpenLM Broker.

OpenLM Utilizer Agent (Windows)

Download the OpenLM Utilizer Agent tool, and install it on each end – user workstation that would run applications managed by the OpenLM Server.

Please refer to the Agent Installation Guide for more information. A silent installation option is available for the Utilizer Agent. Please read about this option here.

OpenLM Active Agent (Windows)

Download the OpenLM Active Agent tool, and install it on each end – user station that would run applications managed by the OpenLM Server.

Please refer to the “Agent Troubleshooting Guide – Application note 1002” for more information on Agent installation and further OpenLM extensions’ capabilities.

OpenLM Java Agent (Unix/Linu)

The OpenLM Java Agent is the equivalent of the OpenLM Utilizer Agent for Linux / Unix systems.

OpenLM Alerts system

Download the OpenLM Alerts tool, and install it on the OpenLM server machine. Please refer to the “OpenLM Alerts: Application note 1013” document for more information on OpenLM’s Alerts installation and configuration.

Setting up the OpenLM database

OpenLM uses a relational database in order to store its configuration information and license usage information. Please read this document for more details regarding OpenLM data storage. Configuring the database is done via a designated form. Please read the OpenLM Database Configuration Form document for more information on that.

Revision table

Revision	Author	Date	Remarks
0.1 – Preliminary	Orik	Oct 17, 2011	Preliminary
1.0	Orik	Oct 30, 2011	Revised.
1.1	Orik	Jun28, 2012	Revised.

How Does OpenLM TIMEOUT for ESRI ArcGIS works

Posted on October 31, 2010 by oren

Background

OpenLM for ESRI ArcGIS implements a TIMEOUT feature for ESRI ArcGIS software that uses FLEXlm software for licensing. The activity of the TIMEOUT feature is based on two parameters, maximum idle time and threshold.

Maximum idle time (minutes) – Set the maximum time that ESRI ArcGIS software will not be closed, even if the software is not in use (idle). The software may be closed after that time, if the usage is above a set level (threshold).

Threshold (percent) – The usage level that above it OpenLM will start to release ESRI ArcGIS FLEXlm licenses.

How does it works?

OpenLM monitors the usage level of each FLEXlm feature and once the usage level is above the set threshold, OpenLM will gracefully close sessions, starting with the ones that are idling longer. Once the usage level drops below the set threshold, OpenLM Server will not close more idling sessions.

From the end user’s point of view, his ESRI ArcGIS project will be saved and then closed. A pop-up message will announce that the project was closed and will allow the user to reopen the project in a single click. The user can also click OpenLM Agent located on the end user desktop and get the list of all recently closed projects.

Discussion

The combination of the threshold/maximum idle time is a simple system that assures that licenses will be available for users that need licenses while trying to minimize the number of closed sessions.

Since the act of closing idle sessions of ArcGIS Desktop can cause some inconvenience, OpenLM, is trying to minimize the number of closed sessions. If demand for Desktop ArcGIS licenses is low then users can keep idle session. When there is a demand for licenses OpenLM Server must assure that a sufficient number of licenses are available for new users that may try to access the software.

For example:
ESRI ArcView Licenses – 100
ESRI ArcInfo Licenses – 10
ESRI ArcGIS Spatial Analyst – 3

The default OpenLM Values are:

Threshold – 80%
Maximum idle time – 20 Minutes

Starting with the ArcView licenses, OpenLM will try to keep 20 licenses free for new users. Since 400 or more users can use a pool of 100 ESRI ArcGIS concurrent licenses. Keeping an amount of 20 free licenses available for new users makes sense.

With a total of 10 licenses available, OpenLM will try to keep two free licenses of ESRI ArcInfo ready for new users. Assuming that 8 licenses were already consumed, if more then two users try to access the ESRI ArcInfo licenses at the same time, some will get a FLEXlm denial. If two or less users request an ArcInfo license at the same time, their request will be fulfilled and then OpenLM will try to release idle sessions for more new users.

Because of the low number of Spatial Analyst licenses, OpenLM will only keep one floating license free for new users. This is because when two licenses are in use the usage rate is only 66% (less than 80%). Only when the third floating license is consumed the usage rate will be 100% and OpenLM will try to release one license for new users.

As shown above, the threshold mechanism works well for both high and low numbers of ESRI ArcGIS concurrent licenses.

Is there any benefit in applying different timeout values for different features?

We will try to address this issue by an example. Let us assume we have two FLEXlm features with different groups of users for each group: editing users that use ESRI ArcInfo and viewers the use ESRI ArcView.

Feature Licenses Users
ArcView 10 40
ArcInfo 10 20

With a threshold of 80% OpenLM will try to keep two (2) free licenses for each FLEXlm feature (ArcView and ArcInfo). Since there are less users that are sharing the ArcInfo FLEXlm feature (10 licenses for 20 users), there are more chances that less then 8 licenses will be concurrently in use. When the usage is bellow the set threshold, no sessions will be closed by OpenLM and by that, we actually extend the maximum idle time parameter.

If the usage rate of the FLEXlm ArcInfo feature is higher then the set threshold, 80%, a higher time out will not allow OpenLM to release idle licenses. The result is that we allowed idle users to hold licenses that are required by other users, and by that, avoided them from doing their work.

The conclusion is that timeout should be kept minimal and uniform to all features and user groups.

Summary

The timeout mechanism provided by OpenLM for ESRI ArcGIS is based on two parameters, “maximum idle time” and threshold. The combination of these two parameters provides a good solution for floating licenses (FLEXlm features) with both high and small number of licenses. The timeout value should be kept minimal (15-20 minutes) for all FLEXlm features and user groups.

Autocad for MAC!!!

Posted on October 16, 2010 by oren

Autodesk announce the release of Autocad 2011 for MAC. It runs natively on the OS X platform with a MAC style interface.

Check the announcement at Autodesk site.

This version does not yet supports network licensing (floating/concurrent licensing) such as the Windows version that uses FLEXlm (FLEXnet) floating licensing.

Another important point to consider is that this initial version of Autocad for MAC does not yet includes all the functionality included in the Windows version. I assume that will be solved very soon.

Is it another crack in the Microsoft dominance in the organizational market?