NetKey License Server (NKLS) is a service application for the network
licensing solution. Through the IP network, the NKLS allows the application on
the clients to access a pool of network licenses on a centralized server. The solution
supports both floating licenses and roaming licenses. With floating licenses,
the NKLS functions to allocate available licenses from the pool, allowing
concurrent users within the network to use the application. With roaming
licenses, the NKLS functions to administer licenses, allowing the user to check
out (or borrow) a license from the pool and temporarily use the application
while disconnected from the network. The NKLS is typically deployed to a
customer site as a local license server, which can be on an intranet, a virtual
private network, or the Internet. It also supports network licenses for the
application running on a Windows or Citrix Terminal Server.
Besides the main functions, the NKLS includes several license
management features. The NKLS supports fault tolerance, up to 4 redundant
servers. The NKLS provides user authorization that can allow the clients based
on physical (MAC) address, IP address, and NAT IP address. The NKLS monitors
and displays the active clients running the application with the details,
including username, IP address, start time, usage duration, etc. The NKLS saves
the activity and connection information to the history log for 7 days.
NetKey License Server (NKLS) is a TCP/IP based service application for
the network licensing solution. The NKLS can be installed on a Windows server
(or computer), intended as a centralized license server for the clients running
the application. In addition, the server must have the Network Key installed,
which can be on the hard drive (Machine License) or the USB dongle (USB
License) attached to the server. The NKLS provides the communication via the IP
network, allowing the application running on the clients to connect and access
the network license on the server. With the max-user property defined in the
Network Key, the NKLS also functions to manage a pool of network licenses and
administer available licenses to the clients. The NKLS provides the network
licensing support for both floating licenses and roaming licenses.
Floating licenses are also known as concurrent licenses. The NKLS
functions to allocate available network licenses from the pool to the clients.
In this approach, the application does not need a license on the local machine.
Instead, when a client runs the application, it requests a network license
on-demand automatically from the NKLS. Hence, the network licenses can be
floating within the network. They can be shared among a larger number of users,
but not more than the maximum number of concurrent users allowed. While the
application is running, it periodically connects to the NKLS (e.g. every 20
seconds) in background process to maintain its active license. In case the
connection is lost, the license will be released and the application will terminate
itself. Similarly, closing the application will release the license and make it
available for other users.
With floating licenses, the clients must be within the network
accessing to the NKLS in order to maintain the activate license. Roaming
licenses provide greater flexibility and convenience, allowing the user to
check out a license from the pool, disconnect from the network, and temporarily
use the application off-site (e.g. for 15 days). Using the provided Roam
utility, the user can check out (or borrow) a license from and return it to the
NKLS. The NKLS functions to administer the roaming licenses, which are deducted
from the pool of available network licenses. At the end of the borrowing
period, the roaming license is automatically returned to the pool, even if the
user is still disconnected from the NKLS. During the borrowing period, if the
user runs the application and has access to the NKLS, the roaming license is
restarted automatically. In other words, a new borrowing period is extended.
This helps to facilitate commuter users who often use the application between
on/off-site, home/office, etc. So they don’t need to check out the license
frequently
See Also
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NKLS Graphical User Interface