Local License Server Overview
The Local License Server provides a central location for client devices to access and return required GE software licenses.
The Local License Server software is small and lightweight, and can be run on any existing computer in the network. You can run the software on an existing production computer, a dedicated computer, or a virtual machine (VM).
You can use the Local License Server Administration Tool to manage the licenses on a server and perform server operations, such as changing the server connection.
You can also use the Server Console Tool commands to activate and remove multiple license codes on the Local License Server.
Communication Requirements
The Local License Server computer requires a port (default is 3333) to communicate with client computers. It does not require continuous internet connectivity to operate. Internet connectivity may be required to activate or return licensing information to the cloud. You can perform license activation and license recover using an offline activation process.
The Local License Server computer must be reachable by all computers requiring GE software licenses. Intermittent connections are not supported. The expectation is that a production computer communicate with a Local License Server computer at boot time and then approximately every four hours to verify licenses and extend leases. It is recommended that a Local License Server computer be local to its client computers (in other words, one Local License Server per location).
Although you can run one or more Local License Servers on a single network, each client computer can only communicate with one Local License Server at a time for its licenses.
If a single computer hosts both the Local License Server and its clients, the client software must communicate with the Local License Server through an open TCP port.
Lease Guidelines
The Local License Server holds a pool of licenses that are leased to client computers that have GE products requiring licenses. Licenses are allocated to a pool using the Local License Server Administration Tool. The License Client then activates a license on each production client by choosing a license from the pool.
A license remains leased to a client until one of the following conditions is met:
- The client returns it using the License Client tool.
- The client does not extend the license for a period of 20 consecutive days.
- The license is revoked at the server and returned to the pool (for example, if a client computer becomes non-functional and the licenses need to be moved to a replacement computer).
Licenses are leased from the Local License Server to the clients for a 21 days. Every time a client successfully communicates with the server, the timer is reset and that lease is extended for 21 days from the date of the last successful communication.
If a client does not communicate with the Local License Server for more than ten days, you receive warnings as the lease expiration of 21 days approaches. Make sure the client computer can communicate with the Local License Server on a regular basis.
An administrator can use the Local License Server Settings Tool to adjust the lease expiry period, set up email notifications for license expiry reports, device expiry reports, and license instance count reports, and check or reset the NIC MAC address settings.