HP OpenVMS Systems

HP Advanced Server for OpenVMS
Guide to Managing Advanced Server Licenses

After a license database update occurs, the new numbers you see in the License Manager screens may indicate that you must make some adjustments to your group license allocations.

Changes made to the number of available client-based licenses impact the License Server and clients in the following ways:

• If you add client-based licenses to the License Server database, the License Server automatically adds them to the Default group.
• If you remove client-based licenses, the License Server checks the Default group and each of the other groups and automatically removes unassigned licenses from the groups to match the number of licenses lost.
• When the number of licenses removed is greater than the number of unassigned licenses, the License Server revokes one or more assigned licenses to satisfy the count. The selection of which licenses to remove is completely arbitrary. Clients with their licenses revoked have to request new ones.

When licenses have been unloaded or deleted, use one of the following strategies to accommodate client needs:

• Redistribute license allocations among the groups.
  If, after an LMF database synchronization, some groups still have extra licenses, consider moving the licenses to groups that need additional licenses to cover client needs.
• Redirect clients to other groups.
  If you do not want to change the license allocation for a group, consider redirecting some clients to a group that has available licenses.
• Obtain additional licenses.
  If the overall number of licenses is no longer equal to or greater than the number of clients, purchase additional licenses and enter them into the LMF database. You can then allocate them where needed.

LMF synchronization occurs when the License Server database is updated to reflect the system's LMF database. You can schedule the LMF synchronization to occur when it is most convenient for your system. By default, the synchronization operation occurs at 00:01 system time. To specify a different time for the synchronization to occur, define the logical name PWRK$LSLMFSYNCHMINUTES in the system logical name table equal to the number of minutes past midnight that the LMF synchronization occurs.

For example, if you want the LMF synchronization to occur at 4:15 A.M., compute the number of minutes after midnight:

4:15 AM = (4 hours x 60 minutes/hour) + 15 minutes
        = 255 minutes past midnight

Then add the following line to the system's startup command procedure:

$ DEFINE/SYSTEM PWRK$LSLMFSYNCHMINUTES 255

New synchronization times take effect only after the file server is restarted after the new value is established.

This chapter describes how to configure, start up, and use the License Manager to manage client licenses from an OpenVMS server. It discusses the following topics:

• Section 4.1, Getting Started with the License Manager, describes the privileges required to run the License Manager and the command used to start the License Manager.
• Section 4.2, Configuring the License Server, describes the errors that occur when the License Server is not configured, or when you attempt to run the License Manager on a node that is not running the License Server.
• Section 4.3, Navigating in the License Manager, describes how to navigate, with a mouse or keyboard, in the License Manager screens.
• Section 4.4, Performing License Server Tasks, describes how to start and stop the License Server and how to manage the License Server log files.
• Section 4.5, Performing License Product Tasks, describes tasks you perform to manage license products.
• Section 4.6, Performing License Group Tasks, describes tasks you perform to manage license groups.
• Section 4.7, Performing Client License Tasks, describes tasks you perform to manage client licenses.

The OpenVMS account used to run the License Manager must have the following privileges:

• SYSLCK
• TMPMBX
• NETMBX

To start the License Manager, enter the following command from the system where the License Server is running:

$ ADMINISTER/LICENSE_MANAGER

When you start the License Manager, the screen shown in Figure 4-1, Main Menu Screen, appears.

Figure 4-1 Main Menu Screen

The menu toolbar contains the following menu items:

• View menu---allows you to select the item you will manipulate with the License Manager:
  • Products
  • Groups
  • Client Licenses
  
  To perform management functions on a product, you choose Products from the View menu, and then you choose the function you want to perform from the Actions menu. The same process is used when performing management functions on Groups or Client Licenses.
• Actions menu---provides functions that you perform on Products, Groups, or Client Licenses depending upon the view you selected.
• Options menu---allows you to enable and disable the License Server and to perform Log File options.
• Help menu---provides information about using the License Manager.

To select a menu, press F10 or PF1 and PF1 again. The system displays the View menu as shown in Figure 4-2, Main Menu with View Menu Displayed.

Figure 4-2 Main Menu with View Menu Displayed

If you want to display one of the other menus, use the arrow key to move the cursor to that menu, or use your mouse.

4.1.2 Getting Help with the License Manager

To display information about using the License Manager, choose Help from the menu bar. The Help menu displays two options:

• General Help
• Help with this screen

Select the appropriate help option. To exit the help screen, press Return. To exit the list of topics, press F10.

4.1.3 Exiting the License Manager

To exit from the License Manager, follow these steps:

1. From the menu bar, choose View.
2. From the View menu, choose Exit.

If you attempt to start the License Manager when the License Server is not running on the system, the message shown in Figure 4-3, License Server Error Message, appears.

Figure 4-3 License Server Error Message

If the License Server has not been configured to run, you must reconfigure the file server. Run the initial configuration procedure (PWRK$CONFIG.COM) and specify that you want to run the License Server. For information about configuring the file server, and additional information about the PWRK$CONFIG.COM command procedure, refer to the Server Installation and Configuration Guide for your Advanced Server product.

In an OpenVMS Cluster, if you attempt to start the License Manager on a node that is not running on the active License Server and the License Server is active on another member of the cluster, the error message in Figure 4-4, License Server Startup Error Message, appears.

Figure 4-4 License Server Startup Error Message

To run the License Manager, issue the ADMINISTER/LICENSE_MANAGER command on the node that is running the active License Server (defined as ALPHA in the License Server Startup Error Message).

4.3 Navigating in the License Manager

The following tables describe the keys and buttons you use to navigate within and between the License Manager screens. You can control the License Manager using a mouse or using keys on the keyboard. Using the mouse, you can navigate through the License Manager screens by pointing and clicking on the desired item to select (highlight) items in the menus, scroll boxes, or dialog boxes. This discussion assumes you are using a DECterm window or an equivalent emulator.

When you enter values in a dialog box that has several fields, use the up and down arrow keys to navigate back and forth between the fields. You can back up through the fields in this way to change a value as long as you have not pressed Return to commit the values.

4.4 Performing License Server Tasks

License Server tasks include managing the License Server log files and enabling and disabling the License Server. These tasks are performed through the following Options menu items:

• Log File Options...
• Server Enable/Disable...

In most cases, invoking the License Manager enables the License Server. HP recommends that you disable the License Server before you use the License Manager to add, move, or remove any licenses within license groups. However, it is not necessary to disable the License Server before performing other operations. If the License Server is enabled while you manage licenses, it can assign the same licenses you are managing, causing unpredictable results.

Whenever you exit the License Manager, the License Server is automatically reenabled.

In certain circumstances, if the License Server finds no License Server state file in the PWRK$LICENSE: directory, the License Server disables itself, logs a message in the License Server log file and operator console, creates the default License Server state file, and remains disabled until the License Manager enables it. For additional information about the License Server state file, see Section 3.1, License Server State Files.

To disable or enable a License Server, follow these steps:

1. From the Main menu bar, choose Options.
2. From the Options menu, choose Server Enable/Disable ...
   The screen shown in Figure 4-5, Server Enable/Disable Screen, appears.

   Figure 4-5 Server Enable/Disable Screen

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3. Choose either Enable Server or Disable Server. An asterisk next to the option means that the option is selected.
4. Press Return or choose the OK button to complete the operation and return to the Main menu.

You can perform the following log file tasks using the License Manager:

• Choose which License Server events to record in the License Server log file.
• Create a new version of the server log file.

You can read or purge old versions of the server log file as you would any OpenVMS file. The file name and location is:

PWRK$LOGS:PWRK$LICENSE_SERVER_servername.LOG

PWRK$LOGS is defined in the system logical name table when the License Server is started. The servername is usually the OpenVMS Cluster alias or the node name of the system the License Server is running on. For example, if your node is NASCAR, the file name and location is:

PWRK$LOGS:PWRK$LICENSE_SERVER_NASCAR.LOG

You can enable logging for events associated with the following operations:

• Successful license requests
• Failed license requests¹
• License verifications
• Verification requests denied¹
• Licenses released
• Server startup¹ (Note that you cannot change this.)
• License alert event¹
• Client address changes¹
• Client ID changes¹
• Server enable/disable actions
• Licenses revoked¹
• Fatal server error¹ (Note that you cannot change this.)

You can disable the logging of all events except server startup and fatal server errors.

If you are experiencing any problems with the license management software, HP recommends that you enable the logging of all types of License Server events. This will provide you with a comprehensive log file that provides information to assist in troubleshooting licensing problems.

4.4.2.2 Selecting Events for Logging

To select the events you want to log, follow these steps:

1. From the Main menu bar, choose Options.
2. From the Options menu, choose Log File Options...
   A screen similar to the one shown in Figure 4-6, Log File Options Screen, appears.

   Figure 4-6 Log File Options Screen

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3. Select the events for which you want to enable or disable logging.
   Using the space bar or the mouse, toggle the event to either enabled or disabled. A mark (X) next to the event indicates that the event is enabled. You cannot disable server startup events or fatal server error events.
4. Choose OK to confirm or one of the following options:

   Option	Description
   Cancel	Cancel your selections.
   Clear All	Clear all settings.
   Select All	Select all settings.
   Help	Get help on log file options.
   Start New Logfile	Create a new log file instead of continuing to append information to the existing log file. The log file can become long. This option allows you to start a log file from today.

A log file can grow quickly when tracking many events. When a log file becomes too large, you can create a new version of the file.

To create a new version of the log file, follow these steps:

1. From the Main menu bar, choose Options.
2. From the Options menu, choose Log File Options...
3. From the Log File Options screen, choose Start New Logfile.
4. Choose OK in the Confirmation screen.
5. Choose OK in the Log File Options screen.

4.5 Performing License Product Tasks

You can use the License Manager to perform the following product license tasks:

• Add product licenses to the License Server
• Remove product licenses from the License Server
• Display the groups that have licenses allocated from a specific product
• Set alert levels for product licenses
• Generate product reports
• Sort the display of products in the License Manager

To add new or additional product licenses to the License Server, follow these steps:

1. From the View menu, choose Products.
2. From the Main menu bar, choose Actions.
3. From the Actions menu, choose Add...
   The screen shown in Figure 4-7, Add License Product Screen, appears.

   Figure 4-7 Add License Product Screen

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4. Enter the license product name in the text entry field, for example, PWLMXXXCA07.03.
5. Choose OK.

You can use the same procedure to add additional product licenses later.

4.5.2 Removing Product Licenses

When a product is no longer needed, remove its licenses. You cannot remove a single license for the product with the License Manager; you must remove the product, which in turn removes all licenses.

Removing all licenses for a product from the License Manager and the LMF database prevents clients from acquiring a license the next time they try. If removed licenses are currently assigned to clients, those licenses are revoked and the client is informed that the license was revoked the next time the client attempts to verify the license.

To remove all licenses for a product, follow these steps:

1. Remove the licenses from the LMF database as described in the HP OpenVMS License Management Utility Manual.
2. From the View menu, choose Products.
3. From the List of License Products screen, choose the product you want to remove.
4. From the Actions menu, choose Remove.
   A dialog box appears in which you can confirm or cancel the removal.
5. Choose Yes to confirm the removal.

To display the groups that have licenses allocated from a specific product, perform the following steps:

1. From the View menu, choose Products.
2. From the List of License Products screen, choose the product you want to display allocation details for.
3. From the Actions menu, choose Show Details (or double-click on the product).
   The system displays a list of groups that have allocations of the selected product.
4. Choose OK to confirm and return to the Main menu.

You can sort the display of the products in the List of License Products screen. You can sort by:

• Product name
• Licenses available
• Licenses in use

By default, the list of products are displayed by product name. Perform the following steps to specify a different sort option:

1. From the View menu, choose Products.
2. From the Actions menu, choose Sort By...
   The screen shown in Figure 4-8, Sort Options for Products Screen, appears.
3. Choose the sort option you want.
4. Choose OK.

The selected sort option also effects the sort order for any product reports generated. (See Section 4.5.6, Generating Product Reports.)

Figure 4-8 Sort Options for Products Screen