OpenLM Version 1.6 – What is new in details
Version 1.6 of OpenLM is a major release with overall improvements in many aspects of the software. This document provides an overview of the new and improved functionality of in OpenLM software.
Support for additional license managers
OpenLM now supports many more license managers:
FLEXlm (FLEXnet)
IBM LUM
Sentinel RMS
Sentinel HASP
RLM
LM-X
The support level for each license manager vary but the basic functionality is supported for all license managers.
Support for different sample intervals for each license server
System administrator can now add license managers with different license sampling interval. Sampling interval is set in seconds and provides more functionality in the system configuration.
Halting/Starting license servers
A Halt/Start button for license servers was added to the license servers screen. This ability allows system administrators to temporally halt a server sampling without removing the server from the server list.
System settings were moved to OpenLM DB
By moving the system settings into the database OpenLM allows system administrators to easily move the system from one server to another without losing the system settings. Moving or duplicating the system to another server now involves a configuration of the DB connection which is done by using the new DB configuration tool.
Exporting and Importing OpenLM Server configuration
OpenLM Server configuration tool also allows system managers to export OpenLM Server settings to XML file. The settings can also be easily imported into another installation of OpenLM.
This functionality allows system administrators to easily build and configure OpenLM Servers for testing.
Integrated authorization and role based security was added to OpenLM
A new extension to OpenLM Software now adds the following functionality:
Authorization – Users logging into EasyAdmin need to provide a username and password.
Role based permissions – A specific set of permissions can be assigned to roles.
The new functionality allows organization to grant different access levels to OpenLM EasyAdmin, according to the user role. For example, a dedicated role can be created to helpdesk users. Helpdesk users will be able to access limited functionality that will allow them to assist floating license users.
The new extension allows the creation of very granular set of permission for each role. The permission starts at the level of logging, tabs, and all the way to fields and buttons.
Access permissions can also be granted to specific license managers. This way, limited access can be granted to local system managers or to power users.
Compliance with the German privacy laws
OpenLM is now compatible with the German privacy laws. When set, OpenLM won’t save user names for sessions. Even when German privacy laws are set, the system is still able to collect usage information for Groups and Projects.
OpenLM Server Configuration form also allows system administrators to “Fix” this setting. After fixing this option a future change of this setting will not be possible from the server configuration form.
Support for usernames with spaces
OpenLM now supports usernames with spaces, for example: “Jack Smith”. This is not a common methodology to use spaces in usernames but it’s supported by Microsoft.
Note: This option works only when Active directory synchronization is enabled.
Managing FLEXlm Option files from EasyAdmin Interface
OpenLM now allows users to edit their FLEXlm option file interface directly from OpenLM EasyAdmin interface. This revolutionary functionality creates integration between OpenLM and Active Directory (LDAP). Users can synchronize groups of users with Active Directory, set the desired limits in EasyAdmin and save the changes to their FLEXlm option file. All this can be done without accessing the server and without editing a single line in the option file.
FLEXlm users that maintained OpenLM in the past know what a tedious task it is to maintain such a file. OpenLM now provides a menu driven interface that can save organizations expensive work hours and a better usage of the available options.
Support for multiple domain in OpenLM Active Directory integration.
OpenLM is now able to synchronize Users and Groups with multiple domains. This provides better support for international organizations and complex LDAP forests.
We have also added the ability to limit synchronized users to the ones that use licenses. This important for large organization that has many users listed in AD.
Another group synchronization method was added, “Fixed”. This method is very useful for organizations with large AD forests (International companies with subsidiaries, for example).
More effective Active Directory (LDAP) synchronization
The synchronization process between OpenLM and Active Directory (LDAP) is much more effective. It now supports huge domains that keeps a 6 digits number of objects.
Controlling the frequency of notification from OpenLM Server
OpenLM Server now allows system administrators to limit the number of alerts they get when new version of OpenLM are available.
The user can now select one of these options: Once, Twice or Weekly frequency.
An enhanced menu for the configuration of license manager tools
OpenLM now provides and enhanced and easy to use configuration menu for license managers tools and settings.
User, Groups and Project management functionality is now available in EasyAdmin
Until version 1.6 the management of Users, Groups and Projects was done by using OpenLM Users Management software. In version 1.6 we moved this functionality to OpenLM EasyAdmin.
EasyAdmin interface is faster and integrated with the main interface that OpenLM provides.
Many additional conditions were added to OpenLM Alerts
OpenLM Alert is an extension to OpenLM that was first declared in version 1.5.4 of OpenLM. This module allows system administrators to define conditions and receive notification when these conditions are met.
For example, one can define a condition that checks if license usage rate is above a certain threshold. The notification can be written to OpenLM EasyAdmin Alerts window, email addresses, mobile phones by SMS or to the server event log.
Sending times of the alert can be limited by date and time using a sophisticated but friendly configuration tool.
The conditions available in version 1.6 of OpenLM Alerts:
- Feature Threshold.
- Duplicate license in use.
- OpenLM Server Down.
- Feature expiration.
- License server is down.
- Users without default group.
- Users without default project.
EasyAdmin quick charts for license denials
Quick charts tool was added to license denial tab. It allows the user to immediately generate charts, using the license denial information. The module supports any of the columns and three types of charts: line, bar or column.
The ability to chart the the license usage information in EasyAdmin provides a valuable tool to understanding the license usage.
EasyAdmin interface to manage packages and products names
In older versions of OpenLM packages and products name were managed in XML files. End users were able to edit these files in order to add packages or new products. Version 1.6 of OpenLM features a new menu driven interface integrated into OpenLM EasyAdmin ->Control Panel tab.
Integration of detailed user information in EasyAdmin
OpenLM now integrates detailed user information. The first name and last name columns can be added to most tabs.
This image shows how these fields are integrated in EasyAdmin->License TAB
EasyAdmin users can also click the user name and get additional user information:
Better Performance and improvements in EasyAdmin
OpenLM EasyAdmin performance is highly improved compared to version 1.5.6. Performance improvements include: better date retrieval time, faster queries and more.
OpenLM Server performance improvement
OpenLM server has undergone through a major performance tuning process. New algorithms were implemented and every DB query was tuned. The result is a very significant improvement in EasyAdmin performance. Many more license servers can be monitored while lowering the load on the server.
OpenLM Broker – new interface. New possibilities
OpenLM Broker is component we recommend to install on each monitored server. In older versions its functionality was limited to reading the FLEXlm debug log files and to sending usage information to OpenLM Server.
In version 1.6 OpenLM Broker is closely integrated into OpenLM Server and provides a wide range of services to the system.
The system now supports the following functionality:
- All FLEXlm commands such as: Starting, Stopping, Rereading and more.
- Fully controlling the FLEXlm option file.
- Reading log files.
- Support for multiple license servers (IBM LUM, Sentinel HASP, Sentinel RMS, RLM and more)
OpenLM Broker is a Java software, and as such, it can run on any platform running a supported license manager (Windows, Linux, UNIX or MAC OS). Previous version also required .NET Framework for the installation stage. This version is fully implemented using Java, including the software installer.
The setup of the the new version is easier. It also features an automatic license recognition system that saves administration time.
A graphical redesign of the software
The software also features a new design and graphics. New 3D icons are integrated and the software forms look better.
OpenLM Agent – General improvements and a better license status Window
OpenLM License Usage Information window now supports sorting according to each of the grid columns. The information can be sorted by each of the column.
General improvement to OpenLM Agent: graphics, functionality and security compatibility with Windows UAC (User Account Control).
OpenLM Software is now digitally signed
All OpenLM software files are digitally signed by Comodo. This provides a better security when implementing OpenLM Software in organizations.
New EasyAdmin Window – Feature Usage Status
The new Feature Usage Status window allows system administrator to select a set of important features and monitor them. The new window provides a quick view for the selected features with links to charts for immediate charting.
OpenLM Timeout support for Autodesk Software
OpenLM for Autodesk now supports OpenLM timeout functionality for Autodesk software such as: AutoCad, AutoCAD Archiecture, AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD MAP 3D, AutoCAD Mechanical, AutoCAD MEP, AutoCAD Inventor, AutoCAD Navisworks, AutoCAD Revit and more.
Previous versions of OpenLM provided this functionality to ESRI ArcGIS Desktop products such as ArcInfo, AecEditor and ArcView. The implementation of OpenLM timeout functionality in ESRI sites provided at least 40% more usage from same amount of licenses, a very significant saving.
This functionality is now available to organizations using Autodesk software.
