HP OpenVMS Systems

HP Advanced Server for OpenVMS
Guide to Managing Advanced Server Licenses

If the file server offers server-based licensing, and a sufficient number of server-based licenses are available, the client computer needs no special software for requesting and storing the Advanced Server license. However, if the licenses are managed as client-based licenses, the client computer must have PATHWORKS client licensing software to request and store Advanced Server licenses.

The PATHWORKS client licensing software is automatically installed and configured as part of the PATHWORKS client software installation procedure. Therefore, if the client is running HP PATHWORKS 32, no additional client licensing software is needed.

If the client computer is not running PATHWORKS client software (for example, on a retail Windows XP workstation), the PATHWORKS client licensing software components (Client License Requester and Client License Transponder) must be loaded and set up on the client computer to request and store Advanced Server client-based licenses.

These client components are available on the file server system after you install the file server software. For information about loading and customizing the client software for client-based licensing, refer to the README.TXT file provided with the Advanced Server PWLICENSE share on the file server.

No special upgrading procedures are required for installing a new version of the License Server.

• If the system is running the integrated License Server, it is automatically upgraded when you configure the new version of the file server.
• If the system is running the standalone License Server, you can install the new version of the License Server. You need not upgrade the file server. Upgrade the License Server by simply installing and configuring it as described in the Server Installation and Configuration Guide for your Advanced Server product. No additional upgrade procedures are required for standalone License Servers.

The file server requires that clients accessing file and print services be appropriately licensed. To meet this requirement, one of the following must be true:

• The client must have acquired a client-based license previous to establishing a session with the file server.
• A server-based license must be available for each client establishing a session with a file server without a client-based license.

In either case, the license required to access each version of the file server is listed in Table 1-1, File Server Licenses.

These licenses can be configured to be used as either client-based licenses, as server-based licenses, or as a combination of both.

Clients currently using client-based licenses to access PATHWORKS V6 for OpenVMS (Advanced Server) servers need not be changed. These clients will continue to access PATHWORKS for OpenVMS (Advanced Server) servers using their client-based license. However, to access the Advanced Server for OpenVMS, they must obtain a new client-based license or a server-based license must be available for them on the file server system.

1.2.1 Server-Based License Management

Server-based licensing grants a specific number of clients connected to a file server (on a first-come, first-served basis) the right to use server software on a single server and allows clients access to file and print services resident on the server.

1.2.1.1 When to Use Server-Based License Management

Server-based licensing is best suited for clients that need access to file and print services on a single server, or for a large number of clients that need occasional access to file and print services. Server-based licenses:

• Are consumed only for the duration of the session
• Are consumed only by clients without appropriate client-based licenses
• Require no license software on the client
• Use one server-based license for each server session

On a file server that is not running the License Server, Client Access licenses loaded into LMF are automatically used as server-based licenses. From a license management point of view, this is the simplest form of management and does not require use of the PATHWORKS client licensing software, or performing management tasks with the License Manager. License management consists of loading the appropriate Client Access PAKs information into LMF on the file server node.

When a client connects to the file server, one server-based license is consumed and the client is granted access to the file server. If there are no server-based licenses available when the client requests a connection to the file server, the connection request is denied.

After a server-based license has been used to grant a client access to a file server, the client is licensed to access resources on that server until the client disconnects from the file server.

When the client disconnects from the file server, the license assigned to that client is released (except with Windows clients, as noted below), the number of available server-based licenses is incremented, and the license becomes available for another client.

CLOSE SESSION computer-name

When using server-based licenses for access to file and print services in an OpenVMS Cluster environment, HP recommends that clients connect to the cluster using the Advanced Server cluster alias, if this option is available. Clients connecting using the alias consume one server-based license. Clients connecting directly to specific cluster members consume one server-based license for each connection to a different cluster member.

A client can map multiple drives and printers to a single server while consuming a single server-based license.

1.2.2 Client-Based License Management

A client-based license is assigned on a per-workstation basis. A client-based license for accessing OpenVMS file servers allows a client to access multiple file servers with the single license. Client-based licenses are managed using LMF, the License Server, and the License Manager.

After a client-based license has been assigned to a client, the license applies only to that client until it is revoked or released. After a license has been revoked, it is available for assignment by the License Server. To revoke a client license, use the License Manager.

A license PAK is loaded in the LMF database on the system running the License Server. The License Server assigns a client-based license upon request for a license by a client. After the client receives the license, it is stored on the client.

1.2.2.1 How Client-Based License Management Operates

License management for client-based licenses consists of these types of client activities:

• Obtaining licenses from a License Server when first started after configuring Advanced Server license management
• Verifying licenses with the License Server each time the client boots after the license has been assigned
• Presenting license information during the process of accessing file servers

These interactions require no specific actions on the part of a user once a client is configured to use client-based license management.

1.2.3 Combining Server-Based and Client-Based License Management

You can use both server-based and client-based license management together on one file server, allowing you greater flexibility.

Appropriate client-based licensing assures access to file servers. Clients that do not have client-based licenses may access a file server if sufficient server-based license capacity exists.

1.2.3.1 How Combined License Management Operates

In a combined-license environment, licenses are loaded in the LMF database on the system running the file server and the License Server. Client Access licenses loaded into LMF are automatically loaded by the License Server. When the licenses are first loaded by the License Server, they are allocated to the Default license group to be used as client-based licenses. The License Manager allows you to allocate any number of these licenses to the Server-Based license group so that they can be used for server-based licensing. The remaining licenses, those in the Default group, or allocated to other license groups, are managed as client-based licenses.

1.3 License Management Tasks

The Advanced Server licensing software includes the License Manager. This software provides a user interface for system administrators to manage licenses.

If the licensing environment consists of only server-based licensing, it is not necessary to use the License Manager. When the licensing environment includes client-based licensing, or a combination of client-based and server based licensing, the License Manager is an invaluable tool for managing the licensing software.

The tasks you perform with the License Manager include:

• Manage PATHWORKS client software licenses, as well as Advanced Server client-based licenses.
• Create and manage license groups that allow you to organize client-based licenses into subsets called license groups, or simply groups. After you organize licenses into separate groups, licenses in a particular group are provided only to clients that identify themselves as members of the designated groups.
  For example, you could define three groups called Finance, Engineering, and Sales. You could then place the number of licenses issued to a specific organization into the groups bearing the organization's name. This ensures that their members can always acquire the licenses issued to them.

• Set alert levels that provide log entries in the License Server log file when your supply of available client-based licenses goes below the set level. Use this feature on a per-product basis and/or per-group basis.
• View the status of the client-based licenses that have been assigned.
• Revoke client licenses.
• Specify which License Server events to log in the License Server log file so that you can obtain a better understanding of client license related activity.
• Add and remove product licenses from the license services database.
• Enable and disable the License Server.
• Generate reports of licenses assigned to clients.

License management can be nearly transparent to both system administrators and users. However, the License Manager provides optional capabilities that allow you to configure your server in a way that best supports your computing environment. This configuration may include client-based licensing, or a combination of client-based and server-based licensing.

This chapter describes how to set up the Advanced Server for server-based licensing, for client-based licensing, and for a combination of client-based and server-based licensing. It also provides a set of examples of licensing setup. In addition, this chapter includes information about configuration parameter values in effect when the License Server and License Registrar are running. All this information is presented in the following sections:

• Section 2.1, Setting Up Server-Based License Management, describes how to configure server-based licensing.
• Section 2.2, Setting Up Client-Based License Management, describes how to configure client-based licensing.
• Section 2.3, Setting Up Combined Client-Based and Server-Based License Management, describes how to configure the license management to support both server-based and client-based licensing.
• Section 2.4, Examples of Advanced Server License Management, provides examples of license management configurations.
• Section 2.5, Upgrading Client Licenses, describes procedures for upgrading client licenses.
• Section 2.6, License Server and License Registrar Configuration Parameters, describes the License Server and License Registrar configuration parameters.

The simplest form of license management is a configuration that supports only server-based licenses. Use the following steps to configure your Advanced Server to support server-based licensing:

1. Acquire the appropriate license PAK --- PWLMXXXCA06.00 or later for PATHWORKS for OpenVMS (Advanced Server), or PWLMXXXCA07.03 for Advanced Server for OpenVMS.
2. Register and load the license PAKs using the License Management Facility (LMF) on the system where you will also be installing and running the file server software. For information on the LMF database, refer to the HP OpenVMS License Management Utility Manual.
3. Install, configure, and run the file server software. When you configure the file server software, do not configure the file server to run the License Server. In other words, follow these steps:
   1. When you run the initial configuration procedure (PWRK$CONFIG.COM), do not configure the Advanced Server to run the License Server.
   2. Start the Advanced Server.

When the License Server is not configured to run with your file server, the file server assumes that any Client Access licenses found on the system are to be used as server-based licenses for licensing client access. After you start the file server, unlicensed clients connecting to the file server will be licensed without any further setup or configuration.

2.1.1 Setting Up Server-Based Licensing Only, for Performance Gains

Optionally, you can configure server-based licensing only, for performance purposes. To do so, uncomment the following line in the PWRK$LICENSE_R_START.COM file if it is commented as:

$! Define_sys   PWRK$Lr_Disable_Client_Ping   1    ! Disable Client
license checking

If this logical is not defined or given the default value of 0, even if only server-based licensing is configured, the License Registrar first checks whether a client attempting to connect to the file server has a valid client-based license. Defining this logical with a nonzero value, as in the example, prevents the License Registrar from checking for a client-based license. Instead, it attempts immediately to assign a server-based license. This can improve performance.

This logical does not affect or change the number of licenses assigned to the server-based group, the default client-based license group, or any user-defined license groups.

For a configuration that supports client-based licensing, there are additional steps required for setting up the system. This configuration requires the use of the License Server and loading client software. If you decide to configure the OpenVMS system to run the License Server, the default is to allocate all Client Access licenses on the system as client-based licenses.

Follow these steps to support client-based licenses:

1. Acquire the appropriate license PAK --- PWLMXXXCA06.00 or later for PATHWORKS for OpenVMS (Advanced Server), or PWLMXXXCA07.03 for Advanced Server for OpenVMS.
2. Identify the system to be used as the License Server system.
3. Register and load the related PAKs in the LMF database on any License Server on the network. For information on the LMF database, refer to the HP OpenVMS License Management Utility Manual.
4. Install and configure the License Server software using the normal installation and configuration process for the server. You can install the License Server software on the same system as a file server, or you can install it as a standalone License Server on a different system. The License Server normally puts only a very small additional load on a system. For more information on how to load and configure License Servers, refer to the Server Installation and Configuration Guide for your Advanced Server product.
5. Start the License Server. (If your License Server is configured on the same system where your file server is configured, the License Server starts when you start the file server.) For information about how to enable the License Server to start when the file server starts, refer to the Server Installation and Configuration Guide for your Advanced Server product.
6. Invoke the new License Manager user interface using the following command:

   $ ADMINISTER/LICENSE

   
   Using the License Manager, create any desired user-defined license groups and allocate licenses to these license groups. (For information about using License Manager to perform these tasks, see Section 4.6, Performing License Group Tasks.) By default, all Client Access licenses will be client-based licenses in the Default group.
   Allocate the number of licenses you want to use as server-based licenses to the Server-Based group. This reserves the specified number of licenses for use by the file server as server-based licenses. The number you allocate to the Server-Based license group will not be available as client-based licenses.
7. Install and configure the PATHWORKS client licensing software on clients that will be using client-based licenses:
   • For clients using PATHWORKS client software (for example, PATHWORKS 32), the client configuration procedure includes all the software and components necessary for clients to fully participate in the Advanced Server license management process.
     Depending on configuration or licensing needs, additional configuration steps might be required. Refer to your PATHWORKS client product documentation for more information.
   • For non-PATHWORKS clients using client-based licensing, the PATHWORKS client licensing software must be loaded on the client before it can participate in the license management process. For details, refer to the README.TXT file provided in the PWLICENSE share on the file server.
8. Restart the client. During the restart, the client searches for a License Server to acquire the required license.

2.3 Setting Up Combined Client-Based and Server-Based License Management

Follow these steps to configure the License Server to support both client-based and server-based licensing:

1. Identify the file server system to be used as the License Server.
2. Register and load the related PAKs in the LMF database on the system chosen as the License Server. For more information about how to load PAKs in the LMF database, refer to the HP OpenVMS License Management Utility Manual.
3. Install and configure the Advanced Server software using the normal installation and configuration process for the server. For more information about how to install and configure License Servers, refer to the Server Installation and Configuration Guide for your Advanced Server product.
4. Start the file server. For information about how to start the server, refer to the Server Installation and Configuration Guide for your Advanced Server product. By default, all licenses will be client-based licenses.
5. Use the License Manager to configure the server-based licenses required. Use the License Manager to allocate the desired number of server-based licenses from the Default group to the Server-Based group. Licenses allocated to the Server-Based license group are reserved for use as server-based licenses and cannot be assigned to clients by the License Server.
   For more information on how to configure server-based licenses, see Section 4.6, Performing License Group Tasks.
6. Install and configure the client software on clients that will be using client-based licenses:
   • For clients using PATHWORKS client software (for example, PATHWORKS 32), the client configuration procedure includes all the software and components necessary for clients to fully participate in the license management process.
     Depending on configuration or licensing needs, additional configuration steps might be required. Refer to your PATHWORKS client product documentation for information.
   • For non-PATHWORKS clients, license management software must be loaded on the client before it can participate in the Advanced Server license management process. For details, refer to the README.TXT file provided in the Advanced Server PWLICENSE share on the file server.