License Borrowing with Flexlm

1. License Borrowingwith Flexlm Alan Minsky Macrovision Corporation Software Technology Group

2. Vendor and Customer Options • Vendor Control of the Borrowing Process • Borrowing must be activated by the ISV • Early return must be enabled in the vendor daemon • Customer control of license borrowing • LMBORROW utility • Vendor provided application interface • Environment variable LM_BORROW • Options file administration

3. Borrowing • The borrowed license state persists in a borrow-data cache managed by the license server. • Cache is used to refresh the license server on restart • Persistent state DOES NOT transfer to other servers in a three redundant server configuration • ISV’s will have security concerns since a customer can restart only the TWO backup servers and recapture borrowed licenses • Supported via INCREMENT lines only

4. Early limitations constraining ISV implementation • Server restart lost persistent state of borrowed licenses • Resolved in version 8.3 • No support for early return of borrowed licenses • Resolved in version 8.3 • Borrowed license is uncounted • Continues to be the model for license borrowing • Reduces applicability of borrowing to some ISV’s whose licensing model is capacity based

5. The License File • sample application ‘draw’ • ISV establishes Maximum borrow time in hours • 168 hours (one week) is the default • Limits on borrow quantity are implement by separate INCREMENT lines • BORROW keyword applies to the entire INCREMENT quantity • INCREMENT draw … 10 … BORROW=72 … SIGN= …. • Some common borrowing error messages: • -67 No licenses available to borrow • -68 Borrow support not enabled • -104 Cannot borrow that long

6. Customers’ View of Borrowing • Utilities • Lmborrow • Lmstat • Lmdown – force • Options File • BORROW_LOWWATER • INCLUDE_BORROW • EXCLUDE_BORROW

7. Options File Administration • end user guide chapter 5 • BORROW_LOWWATER • Set the number of Borrow licenses that CANNOT be borrowed • INCREMENT draw …10…BORROW…sign=… • BORROW_LOWWATER draw 6 • Only 4 can be borrowed (10 minus 6) • ISV may control quantities eligible for borrowing by issuing multiple Increment lines • Only some with borrowing • Exclude_Borrow/Include_Borrow • Deny/Allow a user/group the ability to borrow licenses • EXCLUDE_BORROW draw USER alanm • INCLUDE_BORROW draw USER lauras

8. End-User Borrowing • License administration Tools (end user guide) • lmborrow • Run on the machine BORROWING the license • Initiate borrowing • Set the borrow period • lmborrow gsi (all) 15-jun-2003 • Clear the borrow period • Terminate the borrowing process to run other applications • Determine the borrow status • From any connected session • Return the borrowed license early (introduced in Flexlm v8.3) • Must be enabled in the vendor daemon by the ISV • lmborrow –return draw • Borrowing system must be connected to the network (obvious)

9. Administration & Borrowing • Results of lmborrow • No duplicate licenses are borrowed with multiple checkouts of the same application • Borrowing only occurs on the date lmborrow is first run, (i.e. should you run the application the next day connected to the license server)

10. Administration & Borrowing • LMDOWN • Can only be run from the license server machine • IF there are borrowed licenses outstanding • Requires –force • LMSTAT • Includes BORROW information

11. 9.0 Enhancement • Early return of a borrowed license via an API function • From an ISV’s proprietary interface using • lc_borrow_return • Note: Via lmborrow utility as/of version 8.3 • Requires no vendor programming