License Borrowing

The borrow interval can be used to specify an early expiration date for a feature. In other words, the borrow interval is the maximum amount of time that a client can borrow a feature from the license server. Once the borrow interval expires, the feature is no longer available for acquisition on the client. The client must send another capability request to the license server to borrow the feature again. By setting a borrow interval, a license administrator or producer can control the use of licenses more efficiently and ensure that unused licenses are returned to the license pool so that they are available to users who need them.

A borrow interval can be set at different levels:

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In the back office—By default, the producer specifies the borrow interval at feature-level. This borrow interval is also referred to in this documentation as the feature borrow interval.

Note:All current versions of FlexNet Operations require the feature borrow interval to be set.

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In producer-settings.xml—The property licensing.borrowInterval specifies the default borrow interval. The default interval is one week (1w). This value is only editable by the producer. This borrow interval is also referred to in this documentation as the server borrow interval.

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In a client request—The end user can define a borrow interval that is included in capability requests that a client sends to the license server. This borrow interval is also referred to in this documentation as the client borrow interval.

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In a configuration parameter—The license administrator can specify the configuration parameter licensing.borrowIntervalMax to restrict the borrow period of the clients and make more efficient use of their licenses where clients are significantly shorter lived than the borrow interval set at any of the levels mentioned in the preceding bullet points. This borrow interval is also referred to in this documentation as the admin borrow interval.

Note:The configuration parameter licensing.borrowIntervalMax cannot be used for metered features.

A feature’s current borrow expiration can never exceed the final expiration time for that feature. Should the borrow expiration be greater than the feature’s final expiration, the borrow interval is shortened to the final expiration time (including grace period, where applicable). In addition, a borrow-interval granularity is applied to the effective borrow interval. For more information, see Borrow Granularity.