License Use Management

IBM License Use Management: Technical Summary

This page contains a summary of the technical options available to the developers (and customers) and all the possible combinations between license management enabling models, available license types and policies.

The product vendor can create license-enabled products that use nodelocked or network licenses.

• Nodelocked license-enabled products (non-runtime-based);

  If the vendor chose nodelocked non-runtime-based enabling, the product does not make use of License Use Management Runtime on the workstation where the product runs. Following the vendor's installation instructions, you may be required to store the password for such a product in a vendor-selected nodelock file. When you start the application, it checks the nodelock file to ensure that you have a valid license. It is not necessary for the nodelocked license server to be running for the license to be granted. Information about use of the product is not logged, and you cannot use the basic license tool to view information or get reports about the product and its usage.

• Nodelocked license-enabled products (runtime-based);

  If the vendor chose runtime-based enabling for a product with nodelocked licenses, the product makes use of License Use Management Runtime on the workstation where the product runs. It does not require configuration unless the end user has special requirements. The password for such a product is stored in the nodelocked license database. When you start the application, it contacts the nodelocked license server, which checks its database to ensure you have a valid license. Information about use of the product is logged. You can use the basic license tool to view information or get reports about the product and its usage.

• Network license-enabled products (non-runtime-based);

  A non-runtime-based network license-enabled product does not make use of License Use Management Runtime on the workstation where the product runs and requires manual configuration on that workstation. The licenses are stored on one or more network license servers. When the user at a client starts a licensed program, the license server determines whether or not a license is available.

• Network license-enabled products (runtime based);

  A runtime-based network license-enabled product makes use of License Use Management Runtime on the workstation where the product runs and requires some limited configuration on that workstation. The licenses are stored on one or more network license servers. When the user at a client starts a licensed program, License Use Management Runtime at the license server determines whether or not a license is available.

Table 1 summarizes the license-enabling models, license types, and license policies.