Network Licensing

Network licensing allows you to maintain a central store of licences that can be used by users on the network concurrently (up to a defined limit).

A Network Licence Server is used to manage and control access to the licences. This software can be installed on any suitable server or PC. You will need a licence file and a hardware lock (usually a dongle) to install and run the Network Licence Server.

Note: For network licensing, add the licence file supplied by Cadcorp to the licence service using WLMADMIN, see alao Adding Licences to a Network Server.

 

Network licensing primarily uses a dongle as the hardware lock. This must be present on the machine for the licence to run.

The exceptions to a dongle are:

  • A time limited licence. Available for a specified number of days from installation and includes an expiry date. This type of licence is usually issued for evaluations.
  • A dongle-free licence. Locked to a feature of the hardware. Both the licence file and defined hardware must be present on the machine.
    If the associated hardware feature is removed or altered, the licence file will not work.
  1. Select a suitable machine. This should be accessible to all machines which require network licensing.
  2. If using a dongle, install the latest Sentinel SuperPro drivers, otherwise continue to step 4. (To access the latest drivers, seek support from Sentinel )
  3. Installing the SuperPro drivers creates a folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\SafeNet Sentinel.
  4. Locate the installation folders and navigate to:
    \Licensing\Cadcorp Tools\Network Licence Server
  5. Copy this entire folder to:
    C:\Program Files(x86)\Common Files\SafeNet Sentinel\Network Licence Server.
  6. Open this folder and locate loadls.exe. Double click this EXE.
  7. Use the Add button on the form that appears to initiate the service.
  8. Ensure your anti-virus software or firewalls are not preventing the service from broadcasting. The Network Licence Server is now running (but will not be broadcasting any licences).
  9. Use WLMADMIN to add licences to licence service,

TIP: For more on WLMADMIN, see Adding Licences to a Network Server.

To use the Network Licence Server, begin by Installing the correct version of Cadcorp SIS Desktop.

During installation, please specify:

Server name (or IP address) – Enter the machine name or IP address of the server on which the network licence is installed.

Server port – Enter the port number on which this client will communicate with the network licence server. The default port number is 5093.

You can change this port number anytime inside WLMADMIN > Edit > Preferences.

Server timeout (in seconds) – Enter the required time-out interval for all direct application/licence server communication. The default time-out value is 30 seconds.

Setting these options during the Network Installation will configure the shortcut for starting the SIS product. The shortcut can also be set manually.

These enhancements in recent versions of SIS make managing network licences easier and quicker.

This is also known as ‘checking out’ a licence and allows the user to commute a licence for a defined period of time.

TIP: See also Commuter Licensing.

This makes the licensing for the chosen machine standalone, whilst reducing the licence count on the network licence server by one.

The licence will automatically expire on the standalone machine and become available again on the network licence server after the defined expiry time.

Cadcorp recommend the licence is checked back in before the expiry time. If the checked out licence does expire remove it from the standalone machine (see also Remove expired commuted licence option)

This allows licences to be assigned on the network server to specific groups.

So from a corporate ‘pool’ of 20 licences, 5 could be assigned to a Planning group, 10 could be assigned to an Infrastructure group and 5 for general use. The total number of licences assigned to groups cannot be greater than the total licence pool”.

WLMADMIN will not keep track of the number of licences being reserved, if the number is exceeded, reservation groups lower down the order will never get licences. For example if there are 10 licences, Group1 has 6, Group2 has 4 and Group3 has 2, then Group3 will never get a licence, (even if Groups 1 and 2 are not fully used).