Flexcom > Installation > Network Licensing

Introduction

A single-user version of Flexcom, without network licensing, requires a local software protection device (dongle) attached directly to the computer. The Flexcom licence may be shared around an office only by physically transferring the software protection device from one machine to another.

Network licensing allows multiple users of Flexcom on a network to share a pool of licenses. There are two possible modes of network licensing:

1.A NetHASP hardware dongle, programmed to permit a fixed number of users, is placed on a network PC that then becomes the License Server for the network. Users may get a network license from this server to run Flexcom and release it once finished, freeing the license for another user. The hardware dongle does not need to be connected to a dedicated server machine, although this approach is recommended. It may be connected to any PC on the network, including one used to run Flexcom.

2.Web hosted licensing which is similar to option 2 except that the licence server is on the cloud removing the additional requirement on the user to host and maintain the licence server. A consistent network connection is necessary for the web hosted licensing system. In the case of Ownership, Annual Subscription & Monthly Rental licences, if the connection to the license server is interrupted, a grace period of one hour is allowed for re-connection. Token-based licensing cannot work without a network connection.

Further Information

Further information is contained in the following sections:

•Network Licensing Client describes the Network Licensing Client applet, which allows users to obtain and release Flexcom network licenses.

•How Licensing Works describes how licensing works internally, including the licensing client's automatic and manual modes.

•NetHASP Hardware Dongle describes the NetHASP (physical dongle) approach to network licensing, and contains information on the Network License Manager software, the NetHASP Monitor module and a section on NetHASP License Troubleshooting.

•Web Hosted Licensing describes the new "Licensing as a Service" (LaaS) offered to users from Flexcom 8.10.1 onwards.

•Licence Monitoring allows you to check how many licenses are currently in use and which computers they have been assigned to.