Application Note 1019: Monitoring an IBM LUM License server using OpenLM Utilizer

General

The OpenLM Utilizer supports the IBM LUM license server. IBM LUM licenses are used by various software vendors, the main being Dassault Systems (Catia software). In order for OpenLM to support the LUM License server it has to be able to access the LUM License server remotely or locally. Different configuration options are supported by OpenLM that allows system managers to configure license servers located on LAN and WAN networks.

Table of contents

General
System Configurations Options
IBM LUM and OpenLM on the same machine
IBM LUM and OpenLM on separate machines
Configuring the OpenLM Broker to push usage information to the OpenLM Server
Configuring the OpenLM Server machine to query usage on the IBM LUM License server
Adding an IBM LUM license server in the OpenLM server configuration form
IBM LUM Support Level
Summary

System Configurations Options

OpenLM Supports flexible configurations for LAN or WAN networks. This section elaborates these configurations. Most of the information in this section is also relevant to other license servers such as SafeNet RMS, SafeNet HASP, FLEXlm, FLEXnet, RLM and others.

IBM LUM license server and OpenLM on the same machine

This is the most simple configuration but not a very realistic one. Most companies have more than one license server and because of that, they install OpenLM on a separate machine. When OpenLM server is installed on the same machine as the IBM LUM License server, there is no additional configuration steps; just add the server name and port to the configuration.

IBM LUM license server and OpenLM on separate machines

In this scenario, the OpenLM Server is installed on one machine and the license server is installed on another. The problem we have to solve is how to enable the OpenLM Server to access the LUM License Server. There are two possible solutions:

• Employ the OpenLM Broker to send IBM LUM usage data to the OpenLM Server.
• Configure the OpenLM Server machine to be able to query usage on the IBM LUM License server.

Configuring the OpenLM Broker to push usage information to the OpenLM Server

This is the most simple solution but it requires access to the license server machine for installation. OpenLM Broker software is reading the license usage locally and pushing the information to OpenLM Server.
Installation of the OpenLM Broker requires Java JRE. It can run on any operating system supported by Java; hence OpenLM supports Linux, Windows and UNIX license servers. Please refer to the OpenLM Broker quick start Application Note for further information.

OpenLM supplies an updated version of the IBM LUM executable file i4blt.exe. On occasion, this file may be non-compliant by version to the one that runs the IBM LUM license manager. If this occurs, please change the path fo IBM LUM commands in the OpenLM Broker, as elaborated in this trouble – shoot article.

Configuring the  OpenLM Server machine to query usage on the IBM LUM License server.

The IBM LUM Server enables other machines to query license usage and perform other actions remotely. For a full install procedure please consult the IBM LUM documentation. The following list is a short overview of this procedure.

1. Install Java JRE on the OpenLM Server machine.
2. Make sure that you have IIS installed and configured on the OpenLM Server Machine.
3. Install the LUM software on the OpenLM Server machine. There is no need to configure the OpenLM server machine as an LUM server.
4. Add a reference to the OpenLM Server on the IBM LUM License server.
5. After installing the LUM software on the OpenLM Server machine, the i4ls.ini file is created. For Windows versions Vista and beyond, copy this file from

C:Users<Username>AppDataLocalVirtualStoreProgramDataIBMLUM  to C:ProgramDataIBMLUM.

For pre-Vista versions, copy this file from

C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataIBMLUM to

C:UsersAll UsersIBMLUM

Note that if you use the Server’s IP instead of its name (for instance if the servers  are located on different DNS domains so that DNS resolution does not work), a ‘#’ symbol must precede the IP.

Adding an IBM LUM license server in the OpenLM server configuration form

Like the configuration of FLEXlm and SafeNet RMS Services, the configuration of an IBM LUM is simple and straight forward:

1. Open the OpenLM Server Configuration, on the License Servers tab.
2. Click the ‘Add’ button. Type in the License Server name (e.g.: olm_test_lum2) and port number (e.g.: 9999).
3. Select ‘LUM’ in the license server ‘Type’ drop down menu.
4. Type in a verbal Description in the ‘Description’ text box (e.g.: new LUM license manager)
5. Click the ‘Apply’ button. A restart notification appears.
6. Click the ‘Restart now’ button. That’s it: the OpenLM Utilizer is set to monitor the LUM license server.

 

IBM LUM Support Level

The main functionality of the OpenLM Utilizer is also applicable to IBM LUM licenses. In addition, the OpenLM Utilizer facilitates unique IBM LUM features, such as feature versions.

The main OpenLM supported features for IBM LUM include:

• License inventory reporting.
• License expiration alerts (from OpenLM v1.8).
• Current license usage.
• Usage reports and charts.
• License billing for groups or projects.

Summary

IBM LUM (License Use Management) is the IBM product for technical software license management (analogous to FLEXnet, being Flexera’s  license management product). The OpenLM Utilizer fully supports the IBM LUM software, and provides a flexible architecture for complex configurations.

OpenLM supports unique features of IBM LUM such as versions for features. Advanced OpenLM features such as License Usage Billing, Usage Reports and Usage Charts are supported for IBM LUM.