Monitoring the Altair License Server with OpenLM

This document describes the steps required to interface OpenLM with the Altair License Server (ALS) in order to monitor license usage and obtain license statistics.

Requirements

To query the Altair License Server the following components must be installed:

1. OpenLM Server v21.x or higher installed on a machine in your organization or a Cloud account.
2. OpenLM Broker v21.x or higher installed on the same machine as the Altair License Server.

Monitoring capabilities and features

The current monitoring capabilities available for Altair License Server through the OpenLM Broker are as follows.

Additionally, using the Broker component allows for buffered communication and the ability to remotely start/stop the license manager service.

OpenLM Broker configuration

OpenLM’s integration with ALS is virtually identical to the integration with LMX. The only difference is in the command line utility (almutil) used to locally query the license manager for license usage data. Once the tool has been run and data has been collected, it is sent to OpenLM Server for processing.

Please note that OpenLM Broker must already be installed and configured to report to OpenLM Server before proceeding further.

Automatic OpenLM Broker configuration

OpenLM Broker supports the automatic configuration of the Altair License Server.

1. Click Detect in the bottom right corner of the Broker configuration tool window:

If the Altair License Server process or service is started, Broker will automatically create a port node with all required settings.

2. Click Apply to commit the changes.

3. Click Restart Broker to send the changes to OpenLM Server.

It is recommended to manually check that the automatic configuration is working by going to Commands → data_inquiry and clicking Execute.

Manual OpenLM Broker configuration

If auto-detect did not work, you can also add and configure the license manager manually. To do so:

1. Click Add Port.
2. Enter the Altair License Server port number (default: 6200).
3. Select Altair from the “License Manager Type” drop-down menu. Click Apply.
4. Select Commands. In the “Update path for commands,” field enter or browse to the folder where almutil.exe is installed (e.g.: C:Program FilesAltairlicensing13.3bin). Click Update then Apply.
5. Select “Vendor Name to Be Filled” under Vendors. Enter any descriptive text (e.g. Altair) in the “Vendor Name”. field then click Apply.
6. Click Apply.
7. Click Restart Broker.
8. Follow the steps in section 4 (“OpenLM Server configuration”), below.

OpenLM Server configuration

Automatic OpenLM Server configuration through EasyAdmin

If you have followed the steps in the section above, OpenLM Broker should now be transmitting data to OpenLM Server. The final step is to approve the configuration in EasyAdmin:

1. Open the EasyAdmin interface either by accessing http://<OpenLM Server FQDN>:5015 in your browser or through Windows Start → OpenLM → OpenLM EasyAdmin User Interface.
2. In the License Manager Servers window, at the top center license servers are listed which are pending approval.
3. Verify and approve the configured license manager.

At this point, the Altair License Server has been automatically added to OpenLM Server and configuration is complete.

Manual OpenLM Server configuration

If the automatic configuration has failed, you can manually configure OpenLM Server to connect to the OpenLM Broker installation located on the Altair License Server machine. This is done manually via the OpenLM EasyAdmin (Windows Start → OpenLM → OpenLM EasyAdmin → Administration → License Manager Servers → Add LM).

The hostname and port settings must match those that have been configured for OpenLM Broker.

Adding an Altair License Server

1. Give a Display name.
2. From the Type drop-down menu, select LMX.
3. Insert a description in the Description text box (e.g. “Altair License Server”)
4. Set the Time Zone to where the license server physically resides.
5. Enter the Hostname and Port number of the machine where the Altair License Server is installed. The Altair License Server default port is 6200.
6. Is Triad Configuration box: Toggle on if it is triad license servers.
7. Use Broker box: checked.
8. Click Save.

OpenLM Server is now configured to monitor the incoming data from OpenLM Broker.

How to verify Altair License Server monitoring

To check if the Altair License Server is being monitored correctly open the OpenLM EasyAdmin (Windows Start → OpenLM → OpenLM EasyAdmin → Start → Widgets → License Manager Servers).

Please note that sometimes it may take up to 3 minutes for the status indicator to change if this is a new connection.