License Manager Basics

A floating license allows copies of the software to be installed on numerous machines. The license manager, once installed on the network, keeps track of the number of copies of the software that can be run simultaneously. This same license manager can be used for ESRI floating software products such as ArcGIS Desktop, ArcInfo Workstation and ArcSDE.  

The number of floating seats in your license file determines the number of copies of each software product that can be run simultaneously.

You only need one license server per network to manage all of your ArcGIS software products. The license server can be either a UNIX or Windows server and will manage both UNIX and Windows ArcGIS software products.  For example, a Windows installation of ArcGIS 8.1 can obtain a license from either a Windows or UNIX 8.x license manager.

Once your license manager is running, any computer on the network can access the license manager to run the software applications.  

Your License File

When you purchase ESRI floating software products, you will receive a license file from ESRI Customer Service to install with your license manager. This file will contain the license keycodes you have purchased.  The license manager will read this file and unlock the software.  For Windows, you will also receive a SentinelPro Hardware Key to install and with your license manager.

The license file you receive contains a FEATURE line for each software product (ArcInfo, ArcView, ArcEditor) and extension (3D Analyst, Spatial Analyst, ArcPress, etc.) that you have purchased. Each FEATURE line defines the number of users that may access the software simultaneously. The FEATURE line also contains the license time-out date and a unique primary and secondary encryption keycode.

This following is an example of an ArcInfo FEATURE line:

FEATURE ARC/INFO ESRI 8.01 01-jan-00 1 3BFE809141F5AFA39454 vendor_info="8CDZLST7BRCD3K17G105" ck=27

License keycodes are based upon a unique identifier. A UNIX license manager uses the computer host ID for the unique identifier. With Windows, the unique ID is provided by the hardware key that is installed on the license manager machine.

The license manager compares the keycodes in the license file and the unique identifier for the license manager to allow access to the software. If the keycode and the unique identifier agree, then software access is granted.

 

Many other important license manager concepts are discussed in the Frequently Asked Questions chapter of this guide.  Browse through the these FAQ's to find those topics you wish to learn more about.