After reading the previous threads "running on a laptop disconnected from the network" and "DOORS 9.2 Licenses Change and Bug", I wanted to contribute my experiences with License Borrowing.
License Borrowing is definitely a plus for anyone needing to run a local database while disconnected from the network.
However, if it is abused it can hurt your license utilization. For example, we typically have a 4 to 1 license utilization throughout a day; meaning that 4 users will come and go for each license; also meaning that, 100 concurrent licenses suffice the needs of 400 users in a day. Now if 100 users learn how to borrow a license (for a day or more), the other 300 will be left out of DOORS.
I wanted to minimize this possibility without resorting to disabling license borrowing. Because we package the DOORS client setup program we were able to add a post-installation step of removing the “License Borrower” link in the Start Menu under “IBM Rational Tools”. If needed, I can give that link to a user who travels and tell them why not to share it.
This issue was discovered when one of our 9.2 testers checked out a license for 3 months. Which leads me to my biggest complaints of the “License Borrower” utility; I have not found a way to force that license to be checked back in as well the user cannot check it back in. If anyone has figured out how to check a license back in, please respond to this thread.
(I’m hoping it’s just us Admins here – I’d hate to be giving crazy users any ideas for abuse)
Regards,
Brian
SystemAdmin - Wed Nov 11 16:16:02 EST 2009 |
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Re: DOORS 9.2 License Borrowing pro and con
SystemAdmin - Thu Nov 12 22:24:33 EST 2009
Hi Brian,
The DOORS tool uses a 3rd party license server product originally known as FlexLM but now known as FlexNet - this product has had many owners over the years, Globetrotter, Macrovision and now Flexera.
I don't know what version of this product you are using but this license server has a number of options available for you to control how users can borrow licenses, but as far as I know, you cannot do a forced check-in. It uses a so called "Options" file to alter it's default settings and this includes how it manages license borrowing. If you really want to get medieval, you can set it up so that no-one can borrow at all, or a maybe set up a reserved pool of licenses available for borrowing so that you don't run too low on available floating licenses.
The extent of options available to you will depend on what version you're using. To find out the version, locate where the license server is installed and look for the lmgrd.exe file - RH mouse click this file, select Properties, look for the version tab and this will give you the version.
You will need to get a copy of the User Guide that fits your version. I have a User Guide for version 9.5 which will give you some idea of what is possible, look for section 5 covering the optio files and section 8.4 which covers borrowing.
Good luck.
Paul Miller
Attachments
attachment_14347231_FLEXLmUserGuide_9v5.pdf
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Re: DOORS 9.2 License Borrowing pro and con
AnuMohanCP - Thu Nov 03 06:14:35 EDT 2011 SystemAdmin - Thu Nov 12 22:24:33 EST 2009
Hi Brian,
The DOORS tool uses a 3rd party license server product originally known as FlexLM but now known as FlexNet - this product has had many owners over the years, Globetrotter, Macrovision and now Flexera.
I don't know what version of this product you are using but this license server has a number of options available for you to control how users can borrow licenses, but as far as I know, you cannot do a forced check-in. It uses a so called "Options" file to alter it's default settings and this includes how it manages license borrowing. If you really want to get medieval, you can set it up so that no-one can borrow at all, or a maybe set up a reserved pool of licenses available for borrowing so that you don't run too low on available floating licenses.
The extent of options available to you will depend on what version you're using. To find out the version, locate where the license server is installed and look for the lmgrd.exe file - RH mouse click this file, select Properties, look for the version tab and this will give you the version.
You will need to get a copy of the User Guide that fits your version. I have a User Guide for version 9.5 which will give you some idea of what is possible, look for section 5 covering the optio files and section 8.4 which covers borrowing.
Good luck.
Paul Miller
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=255&context=SW7Z0&uid=swg21422181
The following whitepaper also should be of help:
https://www-304.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg27020507
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