TASKING products are protected with license management software (FLEXlm). To use a TASKING product, you must install the license key provided by TASKING for the type of license purchased.
You can run TASKING products with a node-locked license or with a floating license. When you order a TASKING product, first decide which type of license you need (UNIX products only have a floating license type).
Node-locked license (PC only)
This license type locks the software to one specific PC so you can use the product on that particular PC only.
Floating license
This license type manages the use of TASKING product licenses among users at one site. This license type does not lock the software to one specific PC or workstation but it requires a network. The software can then be used on any computer in the network. The license specifies the number of users who can use the software simultaneously. A system allocating floating licenses is called a license server. A license manager running on the license server keeps track of the number of users.
Obtaining License Information
Before you can install a software license, you must have a "License Key" containing the license information for your software product. If you have not received such a license key, follow the steps below to obtain one. Otherwise, you can install the license.
Windows
- Run the License Administrator during installation and follow the steps to Request a license key from Altium by E-mail.
- E-mail the license request to your local TASKING sales representative. The license key will be sent to you by E-mail.
UNIX
- If you need a floating license on UNIX, you must determine the host ID and host name of the computer where you want to use the license manager. Also decide how many users will be using the product. See "How to determine the host ID" and "How to determine the host name".
- When you order a TASKING product, provide the host ID, host name and number of users to your local TASKING sales representative. The license key will be sent to you by E-mail.
Installing Node-Locked Licenses
If you did not receive your license key, see "Obtaining License Information" before you continue.
- Install the TASKING software product if you have not done this already.
- Create a license file by importing a license key or create one manually.
- The software product and license file are now properly installed.
Import a license key
During installation you will be asked to run the License Administrator. Otherwise, start the License Administrator (licadmin.exe) manually.
In the License Administrator follow the steps to Import a license key received from Altium by E-mail. The License Administrator creates a license file for you.
Create a license file manually
If you prefer to create a license file manually, create a file called "license.dat" in the c:\flexlm directory, using an
ASCII editor and insert the license key information received by E-mail in this file. This file is called the "license file".
If the directory c:\flexlm does not exist, create the directory.
If you wish to install the license file in a different directory, see "Modifying the License File Location".
If you already have a license file, add the license key information to the existing license file. If the license file already contains any SERVER lines, you must use another license file. See "Modifying the License File Location" for additional information.
Installing Floating Licenses
If you did not receive your license key, see "Obtaining License Information" before you continue.
- Install the TASKING software product on each computer or workstation where you will use the software product.
- On each PC or workstation where you will use the TASKING software product the location of a license file must be known, containing the information of all licenses. Either create a local license file or point to a license file on a server.
- If you already have installed FLEXlm v8.4 or higher (for example as part of another product) you can skip this step and
continue with step 4. Otherwise, install SW000098, the Flexible License Manager (FLEXlm), on the license server where you
want to use the license manager.
It is recommended not to run a license manager on a Windows 95 or Windows 98 machine. Use Windows XP, 2000, or NT instead, or use UNIX or Linux. - If FLEXlm has already been installed as part of a non-TASKING product you have to make sure that the bin directory of the FLEXlm product contains a copy of the Tasking daemon. This file (Tasking.exe or Tasking) is part of the TASKING product installation and is present in the flexlm subdirectory of the toolchain. This file is also on every product CD that includes FLEXlm, in directory licensing.
- On the license server also add the license key to the license file. Follow the same instructions as with "Add a license key to a local license file" in step 2. After you have done this, let the license manager reread the modified license file by executing lmreread.
See also the FLEXlm PDF manual delivered with SW000098, which is present on each TASKING product CD.
Add a licence key to a local license file
On Windows, you can follow the same steps to import a license key or create a license file manually, as explained here.
On UNIX, you have to insert the license key manually in the license file. The default location of the license file license.dat is in directory /usr/local/flexlm/licenses for UNIX.
If you wish to install the license file in a different directory, see "Modifying the License File Location".
If you already have a license file, add the license key information to the existing license file. If the license file already contains any SERVER lines, make sure that the number of SERVER lines and their contents match, otherwise you must use another license file. See "Modifying the License File Location" for additional information.
Point to a license file on the server
Set the environment variable LM_LICENSE_FILE to "port@host", where host and port come from the SERVER line in the license file. On Windows, you can use the License Administrator to do this for you. In the License Administrator follow the steps to Point to a FLEXlm License Server to get your licenses.
Modifying the License File Location
The default location for the license file on Windows is: c:\flexlm\license.dat
On UNIX this is: /usr/local/flexlm/licenses/license.dat
If you want to use another name or directory for the license file, each user must define the environment variable LM_LICENSE_FILE.
If you have more than one product using the FLEXlm license manager you can specify multiple license files to the LM_LICENSE_FILE environment variable by separating each pathname (lfpath) with a semicolon ';' (on Windows), or colon ':' (on UNIX):
Example Windows:
Example UNIX:
If the license file is not available on these hosts, you must set LM_LICENSE_FILE to port@host where host is the host name of the system which runs the FLEXlm license manager and port is the TCP/IP port number on which the license manager listens.
To obtain the port number, look in the license file at host for a line starting with "SERVER". The fourth field on this line specifies the TCP/IP port number on which the license server listens. For example:
See also the FLEXlm PDF manual delivered with SW000098, which is present on each TASKING product CD.
How to Determine the Host ID
The host ID depends on the platform of the machine. Please use one of the methods listed below to determine the host ID.
| Platform | Tool to retrieve host ID | Example host ID |
|---|---|---|
| HP-UX | lanscan (use the station address without leading '0x') | 0000F0050185 |
| Linux | /sbin/ifconfig eth0 (Use HWaddr without the colons) | 00400516E5 |
| SunOS/Solaris | hostid | 170a3472 |
| Windows | licadmin (License Administrator) | 0060084dfbe9 |
On Windows, the License Administrator (licadmin) helps you in the process of obtaining your license key.
Note: When using a laptop and connected to the network, disconnect from the network first, before starting the License Administrator. Otherwise your license will not work when disconnected from the network.
How to Determine the Host name
To retrieve the host name of a machine, use one of the following methods.
| Platform | Method |
|---|---|
| UNIX | hostname |
| Windows NT | licadmin (License Administrator) or:Go to the Control Panel, open "Network". On the "Identification" tab, look for "Computer name". |
| Windows 2000/XP | licadmin (License Administrator) or:Go to the Control Panel, open "System". On the "Network Identification" tab (Windows 2000), or "Computer Name" tab (Windows XP). Look for "Full computer name". |
Note: The hostname is only necessary for floating licenses.