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Systems Management: Software License Use Management (XSLM)
Copyright © 1999 The Open Group
Implementation Guidelines
The following sections give examples of the interrelationships between
a license management enabled application and a license server. The
Named, Concurrent, and Consumptive license types and the Demo terms and
conditions are used as examples to illustrate how the data, process and
the license entitlement interrelate to affect the behavior of the
application. The requests and responses are similar, but they are
clearly not identical and their relationship depends largely on the
license type. The logic to challenge the XSLM license server and to
interpret its response is implementation specific. The application
behaviors based on the possible responses are summarized in the last
paragraph.
Named License
The following are assumed to exist:
-
A license certificate specifying the unique identity of the licensed
processor
-
The application with (implicit) access to the identification of its
run-time processor
-
Logic both to challenge the XSLM license server and to interpret its
response.
After loading, the application would determine the identification of
its current host and issue a query to XSLM requesting authorization to
execute. Possible responses would be:
-
Both the license ID and the run-time processor's host
identifications are the same.
-
No license certificate could be found (the license server is not
aware of this product or its
entitlement).
-
A license exists for the application but the host processor's ID
does not match that of the
certificate.
Concurrent License
The following are assumed to exist:
-
A license certificate specifying the number of concurrent users in
accordance with the
entitlement
-
The check-in time within which the application re-states its need to
be in execution
-
The application with logic to challenge the XSLM license server and
to interpret its response.
After loading, the application program would issue a query to XSLM
requesting authorization to execute. Possible responses would be:
-
A concurrent use is available.(the count of use requests is less
than the entitlement)
-
No license certificate could be found (the license server is not
aware of this product or its
entitlement)
-
A concurrent use is not available (the count of use requests has
equaled or exceeded the
entitlement).
Assuming the application goes into execution, from time to
time the application confirms to the license server the fact that the
application program is still in operation. When that condition is no
longer valid, the authorization at that time assigned to this instance
of use of the application is returned to the license server, and
becomes available as a positive response to another program-use
request.
Consumptive License
The following are assumed to exist:
-
A license certificate specifying the number of uses in accordance
with the entitlement
-
The application, with logic to challenge the XSLM license server and
to interpret its response.
After loading, the application program would issue a query to XSLM,
requesting authorization to execute. Possible responses would be:
-
A license is available (the count of use requests is less than the
entitlement)
-
No license certificate could be found (the license server is not
aware of this product or its
entitlement)
-
A license is not available (the count of use requests has equaled or
exceeded the entitlement).
Continued checking of operation by the licensing system in conjunction
with the application and the license client is not required because the
authorization, once granted, cannot be returned for reuse.
Demo License
The following are assumed to exist:
-
A license certificate specifying the duration of the license
-
Licensed code with access to the duration (specified time period )
of the license
-
Logic to challenge the demo license and to interpret the response.
After loading, the program would periodically request authorization to
start or to continue executing by issuing a query to XSLM. Possible
responses could be:
-
The program is within the specified duration of the license
-
No license certificate could be found
-
A license exists for the program but the time period allowed for
running the period has ended.
Summary
In all of the above examples there is a relationship between the
response and the application behavior. For the first response in each
example, the application will execute its intended functions, the terms
of the license agreement having been met. In the other two responses,
the application will cause the appropriate messages and logs and
initiate actions that support the license terms and conditions. For
instance, the application will not go into execution or the application
will go into execution but will inform the licensing system of that
fact and cause a logging of the excess of entitlement execution.
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