User guide

Chapter 8 - Mobile Licensing
Node-Locked to a FLEXid with FLOAT_OK (Windows Only)
94 FLEXnet Licensing End User Guide
Node-Locked to a FLEXid with FLOAT_OK (Windows Only)
This method of license mobility has an advantage over simply using a license node-locked to a
FLEXid, because the FLEXid is attached to a license server machine and its license floats on
the network. Licenses with a FLOAT_OK keyword that are node-locked to a FLEXid are
supported only where both the FLEXenabled application and the license server are running on
Windows.
A vendor issues a license file with a FEATURE line node-locked to a FLEXid and containing
the FLOAT_OK keyword and a FLEXid for that FEATURE line. One FEATURE line
containing the FLOAT_OK keyword and one FLEXid is needed for each instance of a license
that is mobile. When the FLEXid is attached to a license server, the license floats on the
network. When the FLEXid is removed from the license server, the license is available only on
the standalone computer.
This method supports parallel or USB FLEXids. Because it is simpler to attach multiple USB
dongles to a computer, USB FLEXids may be preferable.
Initiating FLEXid with FLOAT_OK
A vendor issues the end user a FLEXid, a FLEXid driver installer, and a license file that
contains a FEATURE line node-locked to that FLEXid containing the FLOAT_OK keyword.
An end user then:
1. Installs the license file on the license server machine
2. Attaches all of the FLEXids to the license server machine
3. Installs the FLEXid driver on the license server machine
4. Starts the license server or rereads the license file
While the FLEXids are attached to the license server machine, the node-locked licenses
associated with them float on the network. Each of the FLOAT_OK uncounted node-locked
FEATURE lines has a count of one while it is available on the network.
To transfer a license from the pool of floating licenses to a disconnected computer, the end user:
1. Copies the license file containing the FLOAT_OK node-locked FEATURE line from the
license file on the license server machine to a license file on the client computer in the
location where the FLEXenabled application expects to find its license file.
2. Moves the FLEXid matching the node-locked FEATURE line from the license server
machine to the client computer. When the FLEXid is removed from the license server
machine, this license is unavailable on the network.
3. Installs the FLEXid drivers on the client computer, if they are not already installed.
4. Disconnects the client computer from the network. Now the license is available on the
computer with the FLEXid, even though that computer is disconnected from the network.