Name: Shadow Licensing Uncovered: Smart Control for Unmanaged Software
Start: 2026-02-04T10:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-04T17:00:00+00:00
Location: OpenLM

Advanced license management for ASH WARE: The OpenLM advantage

ASH WARE Inc. specializes in highly customized embedded software tools, compilers, and simulators—specifically for timing processors like the NXP eTPU. Your engineers in the automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors rely on these high-cost, specialized tools for safety-critical code development and verification. Because the software is specialized and often low-volume, maximizing the efficiency of every ASH WARE license is essential to maintaining strict project timelines and controlling expenditure.

OpenLM acts as your trusted guide, offering deep expertise and proactive tools to master your on-premise ASH WARE licenses, ensuring your specialized development teams always have the continuous access they need to drive innovation. We help you move beyond manual license tracking to a confident, forward-thinking strategy for your critical software assets.

Understanding the ASH WARE license manager

The ASH WARE license manager utilizes an on-premise Network License Server to manage access to its critical suite of embedded development tools (e.g., ETEC C Compiler, eTPU Simulator). The primary licensing models are characterized by their security and physical components, requiring meticulous, real-time tracking.

ASH WARE licensing schemas: All you need to know

ASH WARE offers flexibility through three primary license models, each posing a distinct management challenge for IT administrators:

Network (floating) licenses

The schema: An unlimited number of client installations can share a fixed pool of licenses, categorized by product type.
The challenge: Competition for scarce, high-value seats can easily lead to denials. Licenses often have a “linger time,” meaning a license remains checked out (unavailable) for a set period even after a user closes the application, wasting valuable capacity.

Node-locked licenses

The schema: The software runs only in full-featured mode on a single, registered PC.
The challenge: This model limits flexibility. Moving the license requires direct vendor
support, and tracking usage requires clear visibility into which machine the license is tied to, which prevents waste on inactive workstations.

Dongle-based licensing

The schema: Access is tied to a physical USB license dongle. The software runs only when the dongle is physically plugged into the system.
The challenge: Physical assets carry a high risk of being “lost” (left unused or misplaced). Real-time monitoring is required to track which user is holding the physical key to ensure availability and security.

OpenLM's solution for ASH WARE license optimization

OpenLM provides a comprehensive Software License Management (SLM) solution that integrates directly with your ASH WARE Network License Server. We give you the actionable, real-time data and automated tools you need to maximize license utilization and minimize costly development delays.

OpenLM capability	Value for ASH WARE licenses
Real-time usage and Denials	Gain by-the-second visibility into which users and hosts are consuming licenses. Immediately identify and address license denials for high-demand tools like the ETEC C Compiler, eliminating development bottlenecks.
Automatic license reclamation (Harvesting)	Automatically detect idle sessions and reclaim licenses, circumventing the license’s inherent “linger time.” This ensures licenses are instantly returned to the pool, dramatically boosting utilization and improving availability.
Granular activity tracking	Track usage with a focus on start time and duration. This detailed usage data is critical for internal auditing, justifying the allocation of scarce node-locked or dongle-based licenses, and accurate reporting.
Project-based cost allocation	Align high-cost ASH WARE license usage directly to specific internal cost centers or client projects, enabling accurate, defensible chargeback and financial accountability.
Reporting and analytics	Transform raw usage data into contextualized reports, providing a foundation for data-driven decisions on license procurement and renewal to prevent over-purchasing.

The OpenLM advantage for ASH WARE users

The OpenLM Platform is built for the complexity of enterprise-level engineering software. We monitor and manage more than 90 different engineering license managers—the highest number in the industry—with features specifically tailored for maximizing your investment in specialized tools like ASH WARE.

Maximized ROI: Our automated idle license reclamation ensures that licenses tied up by inactive users are immediately returned to the pool for others to use. This directly boosts productivity and maximizes your return on investment by deferring the need for additional, unnecessary license purchases.
Granular usage insights: OpenLM Broker, installed alongside your ASH WARE server, enables real-time monitoring of license activity and denials. This is crucial for understanding usage trends and preparing for future license negotiations.
Unified management: OpenLM integrates with your other license managers (supporting 140+ in total, including both on-premise and SaaS) to provide a single, unified environment for all your software asset management.