License Server and Features of Its Use

A license server functions in Microsoft Windows OS, starting from Windows 7, and also in Linux OS.

Startup, stop and setup of the license server requires administrator permissions.

NOTE. It is not recommended to use a virtual machine to install a license server.

A license server can work in VPN networks, but this feature is not officially supported. If there are any problems with working in VPN networks, execute the following actions:

1. Enable packet fragmentation in the firewall.

2. Change MTU value on the license back end, firstly set 1500 bytes, then 8000 bytes.

Recommended System Requirements

Processor: Pentium III, 550MHz.

RAM: 128 Mb.

Free disc space: 10 Mb.

A license server works on UDP protocol, opens port 5093 for communication "client-server", and port 5099 for communication "server-server". The "server-server" communication is used in case of license server cascade, that is, Redundant Licensing.

To change a license server port, at its startup use the port <port number> parameter, or use the system environment variable LSPORT on the license server workstation.

A client determines license server location by a broadcast request. The client directly sends further requests to the server.

To avoid broadcast requests, select one of the solutions:

• Specify name of the workstation, at which a license server is installed, in license search settings.

• Create the LSHOST or LSFORCEHOST system environment variable at a client.

To install a license server in Windows OS, execute the following actions:

1. Start Sentinel RMS License Manager Installer.

NOTE. It is recommended to install Sentinel RMS License Manager with default settings.

By default, a license server as the Sentinel RMS License Manager service is installed to the folder:

• In 32-bit Windows OS: C:\Program Files\Common Files\SafeNet Sentinel\Sentinel RMS License Manager\WinNT.

• In 64-bit Windows OS: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\SafeNet Sentinel\Sentinel RMS License Manager\WinNT.

The Sentinel RMS License Manager service automatically starts after installation, and on each further workstation startup. Check if the service is installed in the Administration > Services section on the Windows control panel.

TIP. The Services section can be quickly accessed by executing the services.msc command in the command line:

2. Get computer locking code and send a request to get a network license by the email support@fsight.ru. A license is sent in the response email.

3. Place the obtained license to the folder with installed license server. Make sure that the license file is named "lservrc" without extension. If the current license needs to be updated, replace the lservrc license file in this folder with the new one.

4. Restart Sentinel RMS License Manager.

5. Check license server performance.

To install license server in Linux OS, execute the following actions:

1. At the server in local network create a folder to install license server and copy the following files to it.

Archive contents:

• echoid — a utility used to get license locking code (similar to the wechoid.exe Windows application).

• echoid.dat — a text file with selector for locking code, it is used by the echoid utility.

• lserv — license server.

• lsmon — a utility used to check license server performance.

2. Get computer locking code and send a request to get a network license by the email support@fsight.ru. A license is sent in the response email.

3. Place the checked out license in the created folder with the lserv application. Make sure that the license file is named "lservrc" without extension. If the current license needs to be updated, replace the lservrc license file in this folder with the new one.

4. Make the license server (lserv) executable by executing the command in the console:

chmod +x lserv

5. Start license server. To do this, execute the command under the "root" user from the folder with lserv:

sudo ./lserv

NOTE. If a 64-bit version of operating system is used, the "Command not found" error may occur on starting the license server. In this case install the set of 32-bit libraries. The libraries in DEB-based distribution files are installed by means of the sudo apt-get install ia32-libs command.
Starting a license server in RPM-based distribution files may require installation of 32-bit glibc library: sudo yum install glibc.i686.

6. Set up automatic server startup on computer startup by adding a start command for lserv to Linux autorun scripts.

To update a license at the license server, execute the following actions:

1. Replace the lservrc license file with the new one:

2. In Windows OS restart the Sentinel RMS License Manager service. In Linux OS restart the lserv application under the root user.

After that a new license is used.

Use a common license server for Prognoz Platform and Foresight Analytics Platform.

To do this, merge license files for different platform versions into one file by executing the following actions:

1. Open license files in a text editor, copy their contents to one file and save and name it "lservrc" without extension.

2. Replace the lservrc license file with the merged one:

3. In Windows OS restart the Sentinel RMS License Manager service. In Linux OS restart the lserv application under the root user.

After that the merged license is used.

To add activation codes for additional features to the current license, execute the following steps:

1. Open the lservrc license file at the license server in a text editor, add lines for additional licenses and save the file.
   The lservrc license file is located in the license server installation folder. Default license server install paths are given above.

2. In Windows OS restart the Sentinel RMS License Manager service. In Linux OS restart the lserv application under the root user.

After that the updated license is used.

The Windows lsmon.exe utility is used to check correctness of license server work.

The utility returns the information:

• About the current license at the license server.

• About users connected to the server.

• About errors if the license server is incorrectly installed, is not running or cannot check out a license.

The utility is started in the command line mode, allowing to use parameters:

lsmon.exe [Server-host] [> “filename”]

The "Server-host" parameter determines, which license server must be tested, the "filename" parameter determines the file, to which information received from the license server is saved. If the utility is started without parameters, license server is searched by means of a broadcast request.

Output information into the file if multiple users are connected to the license server. Example of command:

lsmon.exe > “c:\License.log”

If the utility returns information about license server functioning problems, check if the below conditions are satisfied:

• License server 9.1.0 is installed (Sentinel RMS License Manager).

• A license is generated exactly with computer locking code, for this check a license server locking code.

• The license file is located in the folder with installed license server.

• The license file is named "lservrc" without extension.

• The Sentinel RMS License Manager service is restarted after the license file is updated.

• License server performance is checked from the computer located in the same subnetwork with the license server, broadcast requests are allowed in the network, required ports are opened.

The lsmon utility is used to check license server health in Linux.

The utility returns the information:

• About the current license at the license server.

• About users connected to the server.

• About errors if the license server is incorrectly installed, is not running or cannot check out a license.

To be able to work with the utility, make it executable by executing the command in the console:

chmod +x lsmon

To start the utility, execute the command in the console:

./lsmon [Server-host] [> “filename”]

The "Server-host" parameter determines, which license server must be tested, the "filename" parameter determines the file path where information received from the license server is saved. It is recommended to output information into the file if multiple users are connected to the license server. If the utility is started without parameters, license server is searched by means of a broadcast request.

Example of command:

./lsmon > License.log

The file will be created next to the lsmon utility.

If the utility returns information about license server functioning problems, check if the below conditions are satisfied:

• License server 9.1.0 is installed.

• A license is generated exactly with computer locking code, for this check a license server locking code.

• The license file is located in the folder with installed license server (lserv).

• The license file is named "lservrc" without extension.

• The license server (lserv) is running under the root user.

• The license server (lserv) is restarted after the license file is updated.

• License server performance is checked from the computer located in the same subnetwork with the license server, broadcast requests are allowed in the network, required ports are opened.

To avoid broadcast network requests when searching for a license, and when the license server and clients are located in different subnetworks, use:

• LSFORCEHOST system variable. If the LSFORCEHOST variable is set, the application requests a license only from one license server, which name is specified in the variable value. If this server is not found, a message appears that license is not available. If one license server is used, it is recommended to use the LSFORCEHOST variable. To search for a stand-alone license, set NO-NET value in the variable. If this license is not found, an appropriate message appears.
  The LSFORCEHOST variable overlaps value of the LSHOST variable and license server settings determined via the registry.

• LSHOST system variable. Specify a list of workstation names in the LSHOST system variable values, which are requested on by one whether they contain a license server. Workstation names are separated with ~ character without spaces. If the specified servers are not found, a stand-alone license is searched.
  To search only for a stand-alone license, set NO-NET value in the variable. If a stand-alone license is not found, a license server is searched by means of a broadcast network request.

IMPORTANT. Earlier versions of Prognoz Platform 8.0 and 7, and also PROGNOZ 5 used semicolon to separate workstation names in LSHOST. To provide simultaneous work of older (Prognoz Platform 8.0, 7.2, 7.0 and PROGNOZ 5) and newer (Prognoz Platform 8.2, 8.1 and Foresight Analytics Platform):
 1. Set license server names in LSHOST separated with semicolon and without spaces.
 2. Set license server names via the registry.

• Setting license server names via the registry. The registry enables the user to set a list of license servers that are requested one by one whether they contain licenses. Create string parameters named ServerName<N> in the License folder in the registry, where N is a license server number, for example: ServerName1, ServerName2, and so on. Specify license server name in the parameter value. License server settings are searched in the registry one by one at the following paths:

1. [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Foresight\Foresight Analytics Platform\9.0\9.2\License]

2. [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Foresight\Foresight Analytics Platform\9.0\License]

3. [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Foresight\Foresight Analytics Platform\9.0\9.2\License]

4. [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Foresight\Foresight Analytics Platform\9.0\9.2\License]

If the specified license servers are not found, they are searched by means of a broadcast network request.
License server setup via the registry has higher priority than the LSHOST variable value.

NOTE. In Linux OS, registry settings are stored in the registry.reg file. The file location depends on, which registry branch is selected for settings export. For details see the Installing Web Application on Linux OS article.

License search settings determined via system variables and registry have higher priority than the Automatically option in the License Search Settings dialog box.

IMPORTANT. For correct license search at BI server use one of the options:
1. Determine license search settings in the License Search Settings dialog box and select the Anyone Who Uses This Computer radio button, because BI server process may be started under other users. If the Only For Me radio button is selected, that may cause application activation issues when starting under different users.
2. Determine license search settings by means of the LSHOST and LSFORCEHOST system variables or via the registry.

Creating LSHOST and LSFORCEHOST Variables in Windows OS

Execute the following operations in Windows OS to create LSHOST and LSFORCEHOST variables:

1. Open advanced system settings using the Start button context menu: System > Advanced System Settings.

2. On the Advanced tab in the System Properties section click the Environment Variables button.

3. In the System Variables section of the Environment Variables dialog box click the Create button.

After executing the operations set variable name and value in the New System Variable dialog box, for example:

Creating LSHOST and LSFORCEHOST Variables in Linux OS

In Linux OS the LSFORCEHOST and LSHOST variables are specified at the operating system level in the file /etc/environment. The settings are applied after BI server restart.

The example of the LSHOST variable when license servers are used:

export LSHOST=LicenseTest1~LicenseTest2

where LicenseTest1 and LicenseTest2 - license server names.

The example of setting the LSFORCEHOST variable when a stand-alone license is used:

export LSFORCEHOST=NO-NET

NOTE. If it is required to set the variables that differ from the whole system variables for BI server, specify them in the file /etc/opt/Foresight/fp9.2-biserver/envvars.

Specific features reservation is required in case if license with a limit on the number of users is in use on license server.

Reservation of features guarantees to specific users that they have access to functionality. The users will be always provided with free concurrent sessions for the specified features.

Reserving Features for Windows OS

To determine a list of users and features that are reserved at the license server, execute the following operations:

1. Start the WlsGrmgr.exe utility:

2. Create a new reservation file by selecting the main menu item: File > New.

3. Open the feature reservation wizard by selecting the main menu item: Feature > Add.

4. Set reservation options in the Feature Version Capacity dialog box:

Fill in mandatory boxes:

• Feature Name. Determine name of reserved feature.

• Feature Version. Determine the value "9" - version of Foresight Analytics Platform license.

The Capacity and No limit parameters should stay unchanged.

To continue, click the Next button.

5. Set options for a group of users in the Group dialog box:

To reserve concurrent sessions for specific feature, determine a group of users where one or several users can be included:

• If there is one user in the group, the reserved concurrent session for the feature guarantees access to functionality to the user.

• If there are several users in the group and one concurrent session for feature is reserved, this concurrent session can be used only by one user from the group.

• If there are several users in the group and more than one concurrent session for feature is reserved, any user from the group can take all concurrent sessions, for example, open several repositories, and other group users cannot be guaranteed with the access to functionality.

Fill in the boxes:

• Group Name. Set name of user group in English.

• Tokens. Set number of reserved concurrent sessions for feature for user group.

To continue, click the Next button.

6. Click the Add button in the Members dialog box to add user names to the group:

The Member dialog box opens:

Enter user name that is used to login to repository in the Name of the Member box.
On entering user name, consider the authentication type in use. If domain authentication type is used, specify name of domain user without domain. If password authentication type is used, specify DBMS user name.

Do not change radio buttons selection.

NOTE. User names in groups for one feature should not coincide.

7. Click the OK button in the Member dialog box.

8. Click the Finish button in the Members dialog box after all user names have been added.

9. Repeat actions from the step 3 to add reservation of several features.

10. Save the reservation file using the File > Save As main menu item under the lsreserv name in the folder with installed license server:

• In 32-bit Windows OS: C:\Program Files\Common Files\SafeNet Sentinel\Sentinel RMS License Manager\WinNT

• In 64-bit Windows OS: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\SafeNet Sentinel\Sentinel RMS License Manager\WinNT.

11. Restart Sentinel RMS License Manager.

After executing the actions, the license server will use the lservrc license file and additionally reserve licenses according to the settings specified in the lsreserv file.

For a group consisting of one user, the access to functionality by reserved concurrent session will be guaranteed. In the group including several users, all reserved concurrent sessions can be taken by the first connected user, then other group users will not be guaranteed with the access to functionality.

Reserving Features for Linux OS

To reserve specific features in Linux OS:

1. Create reservation file using any text editor or save it with the lsreserv name without extension.

2. Determine file contents in the following format:

Feature,FeatureVersion:GroupName:TokensCount:UserName
<Empty string>

where:

• Feature. The name of reserved feature.

• FeatureVersion. Value of version of Foresight Analytics Platform license - "9".

• GroupName. Group name.

• TokensCount. The number of reserved licenses for a group of users.

• UserName. User name. Depending on the number of users, use the space to divide user names, for example: UserName1 UserName2 UserName3.

3. Repeat step 2 to add reservation for several features.

4. Add an empty string after license reservation.

5. Save the lsreserv file with the lserv application.

6. Restart the lserv application under the root user.

Example of reservation file:

ForesightAnalyticsPlatform,9:GroupMorozov:1:Morozov
PP_OLAP,9:GroupUsers:1:Ivanov Petrov Sidorov
<Empty string>