IBM Support

How to restrict license usage for specific host machines

Question & Answer


Question

How are license restrictions implemented on specific host machines for IBM Rational® software products?  

Answer

In order to implement restrictions on host machines for Rational® products, you can make use of the options file, ibmratl.opt. Use the HOST_GROUP syntax just the same way the GROUP syntax is used for specifying users.

This process is applicable for all Rational® products that use FLEXlm / FLEXnet license keys.

A typical host-based option file would look similar to the following:

 


HOST_GROUP <group_name> host1 host2 host3

INCLUDE <PRODUCT_NAME>:VERSION=<version details from license file> HOST_GROUP <group_name>

 

 

  1. After the options file has been edited, the association to this file needs to be mentioned in the license file (.dat file) by adding OPTIONS=<path_to_options_file> right next to the VENDOR ibmratl line, for example:
    SERVER license_server_name host_id 
    VENDOR ibmratl OPTIONS=path_to_options_file
    If a firewall is in use between server and clients, the SERVER and VENDOR lines would look like:
    SERVER license_server_name host host_id <port number reserved for the lmgrd daemon>
    VENDOR ibmratl port=<port number reserved for ibmratl daemon> OPTIONS=path_to_options_file

  2. Save the license file, restart the license server, and reread the license file


The host machines specified in the options file would be able to fetch a license, while the other hosts would be denied.
For more information about the options file and the various commands see the IBM Knowledge Center:
Configuring the options file

Note: Check for errors in the lmgrd log file in case the specific host is not able to use the Rational® product. Use the IBM Cognitive Support Portal to search for solutions, or to create a support case.

[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU053","label":"Cloud & Data Platform"},"Product":{"code":"SSTMW6","label":"Rational License Key Server"},"ARM Category":[],"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":"8.1.0;8.1.1;8.1.2;8.1.4;8.1.5","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB45","label":"Automation"}}]

Product Synonym

IBM Common Licensing; IBM License Key Server

Document Information

Modified date:
22 June 2020

UID

swg21426781