Contents

FlexNet Embedded License Server Administration Guide
Local License Servers vs. License Servers Hosted in the Cloud
What’s in this Guide
Legal Information
Product Support Resources
Contact Us
FlexNet Embedded Local License Server Quick Start Reference
Installing and Running the License Server
Performing Other Service Maintenance Tasks
License Server Administrator Command-line Tool: Command Summary
Getting Started
About Getting Started with a CLS Instance
Requirements for the Local License Server
Hardware Requirements
Validated Platforms
Virtual Machine Support
Java Prerequisites
Overview: Administrator Experience on the Local License Server
Configuring, Installing, and Starting the Local License Server
Configure, Install, and Start on Windows
Running the Command-Based Installer
Running the InstallAnywhere-Based Installer
Configure, Install, and Start on Linux
Files Required for Installation Using systemd
Task Overview
Verify systemd-Enablement on Linux System
Run the Install Script
About the Install Script
Install and Start the Service with the Default Configuration
Install and Start the Service with a Modified Configuration
Configuration Values Editable from the Command Line
Manage the Service
Obtain the Service Status
Stop the Service
Start the Service
Restart the Service
Re-read All systemd Unit Files
Local License Server Components
In a Windows Installation
In a Linux Installation
Setting the Server Time Zone
Logging Functionality
Editing the Local Settings Post-Installation
Post-Installation Configuration on Windows
Edit “flexnetls.settings”
Edit “local-configuration.yaml” (Windows)
Post-Installation Configuration on Linux
Edit Settings in “flexnetls.conf”
Edit the DEFINES Setting
Edit “local-configuration.yaml” (Linux)
Define Command-Line Options for HTTPS Configuration Files
Configuring the Cipher Choice Mechanism
Upgrading the Local License Server
Upgrading the Local License Server on Windows
Upgrading the Local License Server on Linux
Important Information When Upgrading from Release 2020.12 to the Latest Version
Uninstalling the Local License Server
Uninstall on Windows
Uninstall on Linux
Understanding Hostids
Hostid Types
Specifying a Server Hostid
Selecting and Specifying a Local License Server Hostid
Specifying the Order of Hostid Types
Automatically Selecting the Built-In Ethernet Address
Manually Specifying a Hostid
Resilient Hostid Handling
Retrieving Server Hostids
Preparing to Use the FlexNet License Server Manager
Base URL for the License Server
Managing Administrative Security on a Local License Server or CLS Instance
Security Work Flow in the Enterprise
Secured Functionality on the License Server
User Roles Defining Administrative Privileges
Administrative Security Policies on the License Server
Credential Requirements
HTTPS Recommended
Next Steps
Using the FlexNet License Server Administrator Command-line Tool
Before You Start
License Server URL Designation
About the Example Commands
Using the Command-line Tool to Manage Administrative Security
Base URL for the Secured License Server
Reset Your Administrator Password
Determine Administrative Security Policies
Create and Manage Other Enterprise User Accounts
Creating an Enterprise User Account
Creating Another Administrator Account
Edit a User or Administrator Account
Deleting a User or Administrator Account
Viewing All User Accounts
Use Credentials to Access Operations
General Server Maintenance
Obtain the License Server Status
Show Version Information for the Administrator Command-line Tool
Show General Configuration Information for the License Server
Suspend or Resume the License Server
Activating License Rights on the Server
Online Activation
Offline Activation
Returning License Rights to the Server
Online Return
Offline Return
Viewing Features Installed on the License Server
Managing Named License Pools
Define a Model Definition
Upload the Model Definition
View the Model Definition
Delete the Model Definition
View License Pools
Managing Reservations
Add Reservations
Confirm Reservations Posting
View Reservations
Show a Summary of Reservation Groups
Show Reservation Details by Group
Back Up Reservation Information to a File
Delete Reservations
Delete All Reservations in a Group
Delete All Reservation Entries in a Given Reservation
Managing License Server Policy Settings
Review Policy Settings
Policy Settings for Licensing Operations
Synchronization Settings
Administrative Security Policies
Log Settings
Settings for Polling the Back Office for License Updates
Failover Settings
All Settings
Write Editable Policy Settings to a File
Override Policy Settings
Override Individual Settings
From an Input File
Reset Policy Settings
Monitoring License Distribution to Clients
View a Summary of Features and Active Clients
View License Details
Viewing Current Binding Status
Summary of flexnetlsadmin Commands
More About License Server Functionality
General Information
License Borrowing
Determining the Effective Borrow Interval
Setting the Admin Borrow Interval
Setting the Admin Borrow Interval Using flexnetlsadmin
Setting the Admin Borrow Interval Using the FlexNet License Server Manager
Borrow Granularity
Renew Interval
Allocating Licenses Using Named License Pools
Named License Pool Terminology
Introduction to the Model Definition
Model Definition Components
Model
Named License Pools
Rules of Access and Conditions
Syntax for Rules of Access
Condition Types
Advanced Keywords and Directives
Validating Model Definitions for Named License Pools
Server Behavior When Distributing Feature Counts to Named License Pools
When a New Model Definition Is Uploaded
When the Feature Count Changes on the License Server
When Clients Return or Renew Counts to the Server
Basic Redistribution Rules
Order of Redistributing Counts
Server Behavior when Assigning Features to Clients
Named License Pools vs. Reservations
Comparison of Named License Pools and Reservations
Impact of “Named License Pools” Functionality on Using Reservations
Transitioning from Reservations to Named License Pools
Returning to Reservations after Transitioning to Named License Pools
Limitations of Named License Pools
License Reservations
Overview of Reservation Types
Reservation Hierarchy
Managing Reservations
Definitions in JSON Format
Add a New Reservation Group
Add or Delete Reservations in an Existing Group
Disabled Reservations
License Allocation on the Server
When Adding a Reservation Group
When Feature Counts Change on the Server
Processing the Capability Request When Reservations Are Used
Basic Process for Granting Licenses
Example Scenarios of the Basic Process for Granting Licenses
Reservation Limitations
Online Synchronization to the Back Office
Enablement
Data Synchronized During Online Synchronization
Configuring the Synchronization
Offline Synchronization to the Back Office
Configuring Synchronization Page Size
Synchronization Tools
Offline Synchronization Process
Status of Synchronization to the Back Office
Synchronization From the Back Office
Enablement
Synchronization Process
Viewing Restored Data
Reviewing Synchronization Settings
License Server Failover
Configuring Server Failover
Editing Failover Configuration Settings
(Optional) Automatic Registration of the Failover Pair
Additional Failover Considerations
Outgoing HTTPS
Default Server Configuration
Server Configuration When Another Certificate Is Used
New Installations
Existing Installations
Incoming HTTPS
Configure HTTPS Connection for Incoming License Server Communication
Step 1: Obtain Certificate
Step 2: Enable Access to “server” Certificate
New Installations
Existing Installations
Step 3: Define Scope of HTTPS Communications
Self-Signed Certificate for the Local License Server
Proxy Support for Communication with the Back Office
Configuring the License Server for Proxy Support
Proxy Configuration Basics
Supported Proxy Parameters
Parameter Format
Obfuscating the Proxy Password
Trusted Storage Backup and Restoration
Overview of the Backup Process
Running a Trusted Storage Restoration
Public Key Upload
Managing a CLS Instance
Attributes of the CLS Instance
Searching for a CLS Instance
Working with CLS Instances
View the History of a License Server
View Served Clients of a CLS Instance
Map Entitlements to a CLS Instance
Remove Licenses from a CLS Instance
Move a CLS Instance
Creating a CLS Instance
Managing Administrative Security
Set Your Administrator Password
Create and Manage Other User Accounts
Manage the License Server
Reference: License Server Policy Settings
Model Definition Grammar for Named License Pools
Model Definition Grammar and Syntax—EBNF
Parser
Lexer
Use Case Examples and Their Model Definitions for Named License Pools
Background Information for Use Cases
Vendor Dictionary Data
Default Behavior If No Conditions Are Met
Use Case: Simple Allow List
Use Case: Simple Block List
Use Case: Sharing Counts Between Business Units
Use Case: Assigning Extra Counts To Business Unit
Use Case: Exclusive Use of Feature Counts for Business Unit
Use Case: Exclusive Use of Feature Counts for Business Unit With Exception of Specific Clients
Use Case: Exclusive Use of Feature Counts for Business Unit and Specified Clients from other Business Units
Use Case: Assigning Features Based on Combined hosttype and hostname Properties
Use Case: Assigning Features Based on Vendor String Property
Use Case: Device-specific Handling—Sharing Feature Counts Based On Hosttype
Use Case: Named License Pool Receiving Entire Remaining Feature Count
Use Case: Using Regular Expression to Allocate License Counts
Use Case: Making Feature Counts Available to Multiple Business Units
Use Case: Letting Server Specify Counts
Use Case: Accumulating Counts from Multiple Named License Pools (“Continue” Action)
Use Case: Restrict Access to a License Pool for a Specific User
Use Case: Allow Specified Users Access to Specified License Pool
Model Definition Examples for Reservations Converted to Named License Pools
Scenario: Counts Reserved By Hostid
Scenario: Server-specified Counts
Logging Functionality on the Local License Server
Logging Style
Custom Log Configurations
Integration of License Server Logging With External Systems
Graylog
Elastic Stack
logz.io
Example Configurations
Graylog Logging
Elastic Stack and Filebeat
Elastic Stack and GELF
Reference: Special Characters Allowed in User Password
Allowed General Special Characters for User Password
Special Characters on Windows
Special Characters on Linux
Combined Special Character Support (Windows + Linux)
Allowed Unicode Characters for User Name