The ProSim licensing landscape: The “state of the union”
As your engineering teams tackle complex steady-state and batch process simulations, managing Fives ProSim (including ProSimPlus, ProSim Suite, and Simulis Thermodynamics) requires a balance of high-performance computing and strict budget control. ProSim uses a proprietary ProSim License Manager to govern its “Network” (floating) and “Local” entitlements.
The “Simulation Camping” visibility gap
A common challenge in process engineering is “kernel camping.” An engineer might open a complex flowsheet in ProSimPlus to run mass and energy balances, then leave the application open for the rest of the day while they perform manual data analysis in Excel. These high-value simulation seats remain checked out, preventing other team members from accessing the thermodynamic server. Without real-time ProSim usage analytics, you cannot distinguish between an active SQP optimization run and an idle background process.
The suite vs. individual module conflict
The ProSim Suite offers a convenient “all-in-one” package, but it often leads to visibility silos. IT managers struggle to see if a user is consuming a premium Suite license for a task that could be handled by a simpler individual module license. Without monitoring ProSim internal seat usage, you may over-subscribe to full suites during your next renewal when a mix of individual seats would provide better ROI.
Quick summary: OpenLM for ProSim
OpenLM empowers you to transform your chemical simulation investment into a data-driven operation by providing granular transparency into your ProSim License Manager assets.
- Track real-time ProSim usage: Monitor check-outs for ProSimPlus, BatchReactor, BatchColumn, and ProSec across your global network.
- Identify idle simulation sessions: Automatically detect when a ProSim process is open but the user is not actively interacting with the flowsheet.
- ProSim License Manager integration: Native support via the OpenLM Broker (v24.8 and higher) for the proprietary ProSim license server.
- Halt “License Contention”: Prevent project delays by identifying “license hoarders” and freeing up seats for active researchers.
- Unified engineering dashboard: Manage your ProSim tools alongside 140+ other license managers (like AspenTech, AVEVA, and UniSim) in a single dashboard.
Comprehensive solution framework
OpenLM provides a three-layered approach to help you manage ProSim licenses efficiently and improve R&D throughput.
The visibility layer (global monitoring)
Gain a unified view of your floating ProSim pools. OpenLM interfaces with the ProSim License Manager to show current check-outs, user IDs, and machine names. This layer removes the “black box” of proprietary licensing, showing who is truly active in real time.
The automation layer (active management)
Move beyond manual seat audits. OpenLM’s active process monitoring identifies when the ProSimPlus.exe or Simulis.exe process is idle. By identifying these “zombie” sessions, you can encourage better license etiquette or manually release seats to ensure critical production audits are never blocked.
The intelligence layer (strategic ROI)
Leverage advanced analytics to determine the true ROI of your chemical simulation stack. By analyzing ProSim usage frequency and duration, you can negotiate your next renewal based on actual peak demand rather than headcount.
Technical details: The OpenLM ProSim integration
OpenLM uses a secure, Broker-based approach to capture high-fidelity data from your Fives ProSim environment, optimized for ProSim License Manager v2026.
Seamless connectivity and monitoring
- Native Broker support: The OpenLM Broker (v24.8 or higher) is installed on the same machine as the ProSim License Manager.
- Log-based precision: The Broker parses the ProSim server logs to retrieve real-time statistics with by-the-minute resolution.
- Feature-level tracking: Track specific modules within the ProSim Suite to see which thermodynamic models or unit operations are the primary drivers of demand.
- Resolution: Captures check-out and check-in events with high fidelity, providing an accurate record for internal audit and cost allocation.
Advanced reporting
- Actual usage vs. assigned: Visualize the gap between your total license pool and your peak concurrent demand.
- Expiration alerts: Receive proactive notifications before your ProSim feature set expires, preventing sudden production downtime.
Strategic ROI and business value
Organizations leveraging OpenLM for ProSim typically see a 15–20% improvement in license availability within the first 90 days.
- Procurement support: Use “actual activity” data to challenge renewal costs and right-size your analyst-to-license ratio.
- Increased R&D throughput: By identifying and reclaiming idle seats, you ensure that high-priority simulations are never delayed by a “License Denied” message.
- Unified IT asset view: Manage your ProSim licenses in the same ecosystem as your other process engineering and CAD tools.
