HP OpenVMS Systems Documentation

This chapter describes the licensing of OpenVMS guests on Integrity VM, which differs from licensing physical OpenVMS Integrity server systems in a few ways. Key differences are described in the following sections:

• License Distribution
• Standalone System Licensing Requirements
• Cluster Licensing Requirements
• Compliance Checking and Reporting

OpenVMS PCL licenses for the Integrity VM environment are distributed based on the number of host machine cores that can be used for any OpenVMS guest instance. Any OpenVMS guest number may use virtual CPUs up to the number of host machine cores that are licensed.

4.2 Standalone System Licensing Requirements

If the OpenVMS guest system that you are running is not a member of a cluster, there is no special licensing operation that you need to perform. You can run as many standalone OpenVMS guests on a host system that are physically possible. Each guest loads its own copy of the license database.

If you plan to add your OpenVMS guest system to a cluster in the future, HP recommends that you modify the PCL licenses with the /VIRTUAL qualifier option described in Appendix A.

4.3 Cluster Licensing Requirements

Licensing on OpenVMS guests allows the running guests to consume more units than are available on the OpenVMS PCL licenses issued for the host system. As long as the OpenVMS guest system is running with a number of virtual CPUs less than or equal to the number of physical cores licensed on the host system, the guest is licensed. LMF allows as many OpenVMS Guests that can be physically created on the host system to run. To support the new unlimited usage virtual licensing, a new license option; VIRTUAL is required for all PCL licenses that you want to use on OpenVMS guests in an OpenVMS Cluster. The VIRTUAL option is not required for Activity licenses.

4.3.1 New License Modify Qualifier /[NO]VIRTUAL Required for OpenVMS Guest Systems

Prior to adding your OpenVMS guest system to a cluster, you must modify all PCL licenses you want to load on OpenVMS guests with the LICENSE MODIFY /VIRTUAL command. If you are using a common LMF$LICENSE database, load your HOST system licenses into the database and modify them with the /VIRTUAL qualifier. OpenVMS guests in clusters only load licenses that are tagged with the VIRTUAL option. If you use private LMF databases for each guest, you must modify the licenses with the virtual flag prior to adding the OpenVMS guest to a cluster. You can do this from the "Execute DCL Command" option of the OpenVMS Installation Menu or by booting the system standalone prior to adding it to an OpenVMS Cluster.

As previously required by LMF, if you use multiple LMF$LICENSE.LDB databases, ensure that you register all licenses in every LMF$LICENSE.LDB database used in the cluster. Additionally, modify all licenses intended to run on OpenVMS guests with the /VIRTUAL qualifier in all the databases.

4.3.2 Virtual License Loading

Loading the licenses with the Virtual option in a cluster is restricted as follows:

• OpenVMS guest cluster members can only load licenses with the VIRTUAL option. Use the /LOG qualifier with the LICENSE LOAD command to log the licenses that are ignored when loading on an OpenVMS guest.
• Non-guest OpenVMS Version 8.4 systems cannot load licenses with the VIRTUAL option. Use the /LOG qualifier with the LICENSE LOAD command to log the virtual licenses that are ignored when loading on a physical OpenVMS system.

To facilitate the ease of use and migration to OpenVMS guests, the initial implementation of guest licensing is not restrictive. Compatible OpenVMS PCL licenses can be shared among OpenVMS guests from different host systems. After the OpenVMS Version 8.4 release, LMF may be changed to restrict the usage of issued licenses to the host system, which loads the license first.

To ensure that your licenses load on the OpenVMS guest cluster members you intend to load in the future, it is recommended you use /INCLUDE or /EXCLUDE lists to define which OpenVMS node must load the license. This is similar to modifying licenses with the /HARDWARE_ID=SOCKETS=n with include or exclude lists to ensure that the licenses load on the intended systems.

4.4 Compliance Checking and Reporting

Licenses for OpenVMS guests must have sufficient units to license all of the virtual CPUs running on the guest system. Unlike physical machines, you are not allowed to run in a non-compliant mode, where the number of units on the license is less than the number of active cores. The compliance check is performed during the license load.

Issuing the SHOW LICENSE/USAGE command from an OpenVMS guest cluster member displays Virtual Machine guest, no usage information for PCL licenses loaded on the system. There is essentially no usage charge against the license units for OpenVMS guest nodes since multiple guests can run on the same host using the same license units.

For example:

$ SHOW LICENSE/USAGE 
 
View of loaded licenses from node HOVMS2                20-DEC-2009 08:38:17.13 
 
------- Product ID --------   ---- Unit usage information ---------------- 
Product            Producer       Loaded  Allocated  Available  Compliance 
OPENVMS-I64-HAOE   HP         Virtual Machine guest, no usage information 

This chapter provides details about the tasks involved in managing software licenses. Topics covered include:

• Preparing for license registration (see Section 5.1)
• Managing the License Database (see Section 5.2)
• Getting a Product Authorization Key (PAK) (see Section 5.3)
• Registering licenses (see Section 5.4)
• Loading a license (see Section 5.5)
• Managing licenses after registration (see Section 5.6)

In addition, this chapter contains a clarification about using logical name LMF$DISPLAY_OPCOM_MESSAGE (see Section 5.7).

5.1 Preparing for License Registration

To license and use many software products on the OpenVMS operating system, follow at least these four steps:

1. Obtain a PAK for your product.
   This is usually a hardcopy or electronic document containing information similar to that shown in Example 5-1. Order it from the software license issuer or software product producer.
2. Register information from the PAK into the License Database.
   Use command procedure VMSLICENSE.COM to prompt for license registration information or enter the LICENSE REGISTER command directly. Example 5-3, produced with a LICENSE LIST command, shows a license registered in the License Database. In this manual the PAK information registered in the License Database is called a license.
3. Ensure that the system loads the registered license.
   LMF requires that a registered license be loaded before you can use the product. When you register a license with VMSLICENSE.COM, you can confirm an option to load the license automatically. If you register a license with the LICENSE REGISTER command, you must also load it with a LICENSE LOAD command in order to use the product. At system startup, LMF automatically loads registered licenses.
4. Install the product that corresponds to the license.
   Although the terms and conditions of license contracts vary, generally a license correlates with a particular release of a product. Because there are multiple factors that can affect the use of a license, such as the product release date, a version check, or a termination date, and because LMF allows products to check the License Database for properly registered licenses, you must match the license to the product.

After performing these steps, you can modify the license for a system or involve multiple systems in a licensing scheme (if your license agreement allows it).

For example, you want to restrict a license used in an OpenVMS Cluster environment to a specific node. If you register a license that uses the NO_SHARE option (an OpenVMS operating system license, for instance), assign the license to a specific node. Either enter a LICENSE MODIFY/INCLUDE=node-name command or respond to the prompt for a System Communications Services (SCS) node name in VMSLICENSE.COM (see Section 5.6.2 for details).

5.2 Managing the License Database

LMF stores all information about licenses in the License Database. By default, LICENSE commands refer to the default license database, and you usually do not need to know the name and location of the database. However, for system management reasons, you may need to move the database. This section describes techniques for accessing license information and moving the license database.

Most of the data fields in the License Database correspond to either the LICENSE qualifiers or to responses to command procedure prompts. For example, the authorization field contains the data entered with the following command:

$ LICENSE REGISTER /AUTHORIZATION=string product-name 

If you enter USA1234 for the string, USA1234 becomes the data in that field.

When you first register a license, you create the first record with data matching your PAK. When you enter other LICENSE commands, LMF creates new records to include any changes you make. For example, when you enter a LICENSE MODIFY command, LMF creates a new record marked with the new information, including a notation that the license was modified.

For performance reasons, License Database information is duplicated in memory while your system is running. LICENSE commands impact the database stored on disk. To update the License Database information in memory, use the LICENSE LOAD or LICENSE UNLOAD commands.

5.2.1 Database Location

If you move the database to another directory or disk, or rename the database file, you must either define the logical name LMF$LICENSE at the system level to point to the new database, or you must use the /DATABASE=filespec qualifier with all LICENSE commands. Place permanent systemwide logical name definitions in the file SYS$COMMON:[SYSMGR]SYSLOGICALS.COM.

If you have multiple system disks in an OpenVMS Cluster environment where all the systems can access one of the system disks, put your common License Database on the readable disk. For any systems that boot from a separate system disk, you must redirect LMF to the License Database. Define the logical name LMF$LICENSE to be the disk where the database exists.

If you have multiple system disks in an OpenVMS Cluster environment where some systems cannot access one of the system disks, you must keep separate identical License Databases. Whenever one database is modified, you must copy it to update the other databases.

HP recommends you back up the License Databases after every modification.

5.2.2 History Records

Your system maintains history records. Each history record contains an exact copy of the license record before modification, the LICENSE command used to modify the record, the issuing username, and the date and time of modification.

History records accumulate over time and provide a comprehensive audit trail of all modifications you make to the License Database. Most software issuers, including HP, require that you retain this information to demonstrate that you are complying with license terms and conditions.

To display history information, enter the following command:

$  LICENSE LIST /HISTORY

To create a hard copy, enter the following command:

$  LICENSE LIST /HISTORY /OUTPUT=LICENSE.LIS
$  PRINT LICENSE.LIS

Over time, LICENSE commands, including the LICENSE START command issued automatically during system startup, might take longer than usual to execute. This could be due to an accumulation of license history records in the License Database.

If you notice delays, HP recommends that you purge the history records in your active License Databases, but only after first preserving this information in one or more backup locations. Use the DCL command COPY or the Backup utility to make a copy of the License Database, thereby preserving the current version of the License Database, including history records.

To purge history records, enter the following command:

$  LICENSE DELETE /STATUS=EXTINCT *

LICENSE DELETE deletes all history records, making them invisible to subsequent LICENSE commands.

Creating a new, compressed version of the License Database reclaims the disk space formerly occupied by the now deleted history records. To create a compressed License Database, use the DCL Convert utility (CONVERT).

5.3 Getting a Product Authorization Key (PAK)

Generally, you obtain both a PAK and the product from a representative of a company that distributes software. You order a PAK just as you order another product from HP or another company. HP provides PAKs on paper certificates, traditional media, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), or by telephone or network so that you can register product data in the License Database. LMF needs specific values from a PAK to identify the source of the PAK and the source of a product.

A PAK comes from a PAK issuer---the LMF name for the entity that supplies the PAK. Currently, licenses for Alpha and VAX systems specify DEC for the PAK issuer, and currently DEC is the default character string when you register a PAK with VMSLICENSE.COM. A PAK issuer string can also be DEC-USA or DEC-EUROPE to differentiate regions or departments within HP. For Integrity server systems, licenses specify HP for the PAK issuer. Other software vendors provide their own PAK issuer strings with their licenses. LMF uses the string to differentiate between different sources of licenses.

HP may distribute and issue a PAK for a product that it does not produce. Thus, LMF also uses a string that identifies a software producer. A producer is the company that supplies the software product. Generally, a producer and a PAK issuer are the same. The current default producer name when you register a PAK with VMSLICENSE.COM is DEC.

The OpenVMS operating system and LMF use PAKs to authorize most products for use. For example, after you install OpenVMS, you may have all the software required to use the System Integrated Products (SIPs) such as networking, RMS Journaling, and Volume Shadowing. To enable a SIP, register its PAK and load the license (there is no separate installation media). Even when you receive multiple software products on one HP CD-ROM, register a PAK for each product to enable the software.

Some products follow the older product distribution and license approach, providing installation kits that include distribution media and documentation. If a kit does not include the PAK, order it separately.

Figure 5-1 illustrates the PAK transfer process.

Figure 5-1 PAK Transfer Methods

5.4 Registering Licenses

Section 5.1 describes the registration options and presents examples of registration. Figure 5-2 illustrates the routes from a PAK to the License Database.

Figure 5-2 From a PAK to the License Database

Most HP software that runs on OpenVMS systems and many third-party software layered products use LMF. To check a product's licensing requirements, see its installation manual or release notes. These documents explain which products use LMF registration.

If a product uses LMF, you must obtain a PAK, which includes the appropriate data for you to enter. Example 5-1 show a typical PAK for an Alpha system.

                         ISSUER: DEC 
           AUTHORIZATION NUMBER: USA126087 
                   PRODUCT NAME: CRYPTICALMENT 
                       PRODUCER: DEC 
                NUMBER OF UNITS: 460 
                        VERSION: 8.2 
           PRODUCT RELEASE DATE: 
           KEY TERMINATION DATE: 31-DEC-2004 
        AVAILABILITY TABLE CODE: E 
            ACTIVITY TABLE CODE: 
                    KEY OPTIONS: MOD_UNITS 
                  PRODUCT TOKEN: 
                  HARDWARE I.D.: 
                       CHECKSUM: 1-BGON-IAMA-GNOL-AIKO 

Follow the licensing and installation procedure provided with each product. You can save time if you consider the following variations and consequences for product installation and license registration:

• If you register a license before you install a product, the product installation can be somewhat faster. You should register the license first, even though some products may allow installation first.
• If you start to install a product and realize you need to register a license for it first, you can register the product from another session while the installation session waits at the "Is there a license PAK registered for this product?" After you register and load the license, you can use the product. Be sure to reply correctly to any licensing questions during the product installation. Check your product installation guide for specific restrictions.
• To add a new node to an OpenVMS Cluster, you can register the new OpenVMS license before you add the node. You do not usually have to install the product again, unless the new node uses a new system disk.
• If you are upgrading an OpenVMS Cluster environment, you may want to register all the OpenVMS licenses at one time after one node is operating. This eliminates some messages when the other nodes start up and keeps your nodes more available for interactive use. Typically, on Alpha and VAX systems you assign licenses by processor type. For example, you should not assign a license intended for an Alphaserver 8400 system to a VAX 6000 system.

Figure 5-3 illustrates the license registration and product installation route both for processors running the OpenVMS operating system and for layered products.

Figure 5-3 The PAK and Software Routes to a License

Before you install a product,¹ register licenses in the License Database by entering PAK information in one of the following ways:

• In response to prompts from SYS$UPDATE:VMSLICENSE.COM. This command procedure provides some default data and a menu-driven interface to help register the license.
• With a LICENSE REGISTER command. The qualifier descriptions for the LICENSE REGISTER command describe the meaning of the PAK information. Each piece of PAK data correlates to a LICENSE REGISTER command qualifier.

Some products register their licenses during their own installation procedure. Unless you have a special circumstance, choose the registration method you prefer or the one recommended by your installation guide.

After a license is registered, it must be loaded to make it known on the current system. Section 5.1 describes the primary methods for registering and loading your licenses.

5.4.4 Using VMSLICENSE.COM

The following steps show how to use the VMSLICENSE.COM procedure to register a license for a product called CRYPTICALMENT. The PAK information is shown in Example 5-1.

1. Log in to the system manager's account, SYSTEM.
2. Enter the following command and press Return:

   $ @SYS$UPDATE:VMSLICENSE

   
   The procedure displays the following menu:

   VMS License Management Utility Options: 1. REGISTER a Product Authorization Key 2. AMEND an existing Product Authorization Key 3. CANCEL an existing Product Authorization Key 4. LIST the Product Authorization Keys 5. MODIFY an existing Product Authorization Key 6. DISABLE an existing Product Authorization Key 7. DELETE an existing Product Authorization Key 8. COPY an existing Product Authorization Key 9. MOVE an existing Product Authorization Key 10. ENABLE an existing Product Authorization Key 11. SHOW the licenses loaded on this node 12. SHOW the unit requirements for this node 99. EXIT this procedure Type '?' at any prompt for a description of the information requested. Press Ctrl/Z at any prompt to return to this menu. Enter one of the above choices [1]

3. Enter 1. The procedure displays the following message:

   * Do you have your Product Authorization Key? [YES]:

   
   
4. Enter Y. The procedure displays the following information and prompts:

   Use the REGISTER option to add a new license to a license database. A Product Authorization Key (PAK) provides the product name and information you need to register the license. You must enter all the information provided by your PAK exactly as it appears.

   Issuer [DEC]: Authorization Number []:

5. Press Return to specify DEC¹
   Enter USA126087 for the authorization number that appears on the PAK. The procedure prompts for the product name:

   Product Name []:

6. Enter CRYPTICALMENT for the product name string that appears on the PAK. The procedure prompts for the producer:

   Producer [DEC]:

7. Press Return to specify DEC as the producer. If the product you are registering is for OpenVMS Integrity servers, your PAK will list HP as the producer. Type HP, then Return. The procedure prompts for the number of units:

   Number of Units []:

8. Enter 460 for the number of units. Note that you need to enter the number of units specified on your PAK. On Integrity server systems, the number of units will be much smaller as units are counted differently (as described in Chapter 3. The procedure prompts for the version:

   Version []:

9. Enter 8.2 for the version number from the PAK. The procedure prompts for the key termination date:

   Key Termination Date []:

10. Enter 31-DEC-2004 for the key termination date. The procedure prompts for the following information:

    Availability Table Code []: Activity Table Code []:

11. Enter E for the Availability Table Code. Press Return after the Activity Table Code prompt. The procedure prompts for the following information:

    Key Options []: Product Token []: Hardware-Id []:

12. Enter MOD_UNITS for the option after the Key Options prompt. Press Return after the Product Token Prompt and the Hardware-ID prompt. The procedure prompts for the checksum:

    Checksum []:

13. Enter 1-BGON-IAMA-GNOL-AIKO for the checksum.

    Note The checksum string always begins with a number. The other 16 characters are always alphabetic characters from A through P.

    
    The procedure displays the information you entered. For example:

    Here is a list of the license information just entered: Issuer: DEC Authorization: USA126087 Producer: DEC Product Name: CRYPTICALMENT Units: 460 Release Date: Version: 8.2 Termination Date: 31-DEC-2004 Availability: E Activity: Options: MOD_UNITS Token: Hardware ID: Checksum: 1-BGON-IAMA-GNOL-AIKO Is that correct? [YES]:

14. Compare the information on the screen with the information on the PAK. If the information is correct, enter Y.

    Note 1 With the OpenVMS operating system, you start the installation first. Although HP does not recommend it, you can install some software products first and license them later. See your software product's documentation for details. 1 Although the License Management Facility software is now produced by HP, DEC is still listed as the default issuer of the license on Alpha and VAX systems. On Integrity server systems, HP is listed as the default issuer.

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