License Server Version 12.4

This document is intended to describe the installation of a floating license server.

Contents

The license server setup

To install the license server, you need to

Introduction

The license server consists of two processes
The rlm server is provided by Reprise Software, and is completely generic. The obj-sys server is configured to contain license key validation that is objsys-specific.

The rlm server is delivered with an embedded Web Server to perform normal administration tasks. The web server is started automatically on port 5054 when rlm is started. To use the web server, simply point your browser to: http://ServerHostName:5054 and select the operation you would like to perform. You will be prompted for any required information.

rlm startup options

The rlm command is:
% rlm [-c license_file] [-dlog [+]logfile]
      [-nows] [-ws port] [-x [rlmdown|rlmremove]]
      [-install_service] [-service_name sname]

The -c license_file option specifies which license file to use. This option overrides the setting of the RLM_LICENSE environment variable. The license_file parameter can be a directory containing license files, all of which will be processed.

The -dlog logfile specifies the pathname for the server debug log. If logfile is preceded by the '+' character, the logfile will be appended, otherwise it is overwritten. (Note: all ISV servers will write their output to the same logfile specified in the -dlog option.)

The -nows and -ws port options control the operation of the embedded Web Server. The -nows option instructs the rlm server to not start the embedded web server. The -ws port option instructs the rlm server to use port as the port number for the web server.

The -x [rlmdown | rlmremove] option controls whether the rlmdown and/or rlmremove commands will be processed by the server. Specifying only -x will disable both commands. Specifying either command name after the -x will disable just that command.

The -install_service and -service_name sname options are used to run the rlm server as a service under windows. See the description of running the rlm server as a service below.

These options can appear in any order on the command line.

Note that if the rlm server cannot bind the web server port (5054 by default), it will exit.

Running the rlm server as a service on Windows

On Microsoft Windows servers, you may want to install and run the rlm server as a Windows service process. A service process can start automatically at boot time and remain running as long as the system is up, regardless of user logins and logouts.

You can install RLM as a service either in the RLM web interface or in a command window. Once installed as a service, it remains installed until it is explicitly deleted as a service. Installing RLM as a service does not start RLM; services are started via the Windows Services control panel, and at boot time.

To install using the web interface, select "Manage Windows Service" from the main menu on the left. You will get a form with 3 data fields:
All 3 fields will be filled in with default values. You can just select "Install Service", and the "rlm" service will be installed for you. By default, the logfile is put in the directory with the rlm.exe binary, and it is named rlm.log. Also, by default, rlm will search for all license files in this directory.

If you select "Remove Service", the service name specified in the form will be removed.

NOTE: If the instance of rlm which you are running is actually running as a service, you will not be able to Remove the Service (since it is running). To remove the service, you will have to stop the service, and then either use the service control panel in Windows, or run rlm in a command window and use the Remove Service option in the web interface.

Optionally, you can install RLM as a service in a command window. To do this, use the rlm program itself (in a command window), with special arguments:

rlm -install_service -dlog [+]logfile [-service_name sname] <rlm runtime args>

where:
Example:
rlm -install_service -service_name rlm-xyz -dlog c:\logs\server.log -c c:\licenses\xyz.lic

This installs rlm as a service under the name "rlm-xyz". When started via the Services control panel or at boot time, rlm will be passed the "-c c:\licenses\xyz.lic" args, and it will write it's debuglog information to the file c:\logs\server.log

Installed RLM services are also deleted with the rlm program. Services must be stopped via the service control panel before they can be deleted. Note that deleting a service deletes it from the Windows service database; it does not delete the rlm executable or associated license file(s):

rlm -delete_service [-service_name sname]

where:
Notes:

Additional Information

For more information about the license server, refer to the RLM End-User Manual on the Reprise Software Website.

Report problems you encounter by sending E-mail to support@obj-sys.com.