FlexNet licensing
FlexNet Publisher (formerly FLEXlm) is a software-based licensing system which does not need any hardware device such as a dongle. Instead, licenses are stored on either your machine or on a server to which you have network access, in a protected area of storage known as trusted storage. FlexNet licensing is available for OrcaFlex from version 11.0 onwards.
FlexNet license administration is performed with our utility program OrcaLicense.
To enable your FlexNet licenses, we send you an activation ID. You enter this into OrcaLicense’s activation form to download (automatically and securely) the corresponding license information and have it saved it to your own machine or server, thus activating your licenses.
Once activated, the licenses are tied to the machine or machines where they have been activated. These licenses in trusted storage are in essence what you have purchased or leased from us, and should be treated with due care and security. We cannot replace lost active licenses. In particular, if you wish to decommission a server, or relocate a VM or replace hardware etc, you must deactivate your licenses first and then reactivate them after making the changes when you are again ready to use them.
FlexNet licenses come in two different sorts: floating (on a network) and local (commonly known as node-locked). You cannot switch your license type yourself: you will be asked which type you require before we set up your license(s). If you later wish to change it you must contact us to arrange to exchange it for the other type.
Floating FlexNet licenses
Floating licenses float on a network, and can be used by any client machine on the network which is set up to access them. They can also be borrowed from the server in order to have a license available without network access (for a trip offshore, for example).
Local FlexNet licenses
Local licenses (also known as node-locked licenses) may only be used on the machine on which they have been activated – they are locked to that node. You would usually activate your local license on the machine on which your Orcina software (such as OrcaFlex) is installed.