In organizations that rely on a multitude of software applications, efficient management of software licenses is paramount. Two terms that frequently arise in this context are “license server” and “license manager.” While often used interchangeably, they play distinct yet critical roles in ensuring seamless and compliant software usage. Let’s delve into what each of these components entails.
What is a license server?
A license server is a dedicated system or software that stores and distributes software licenses across a network to authorized client machines. It acts as a central repository for your organization’s software entitlements. When a user on a client machine attempts to run a licensed application, the application communicates with the license server to request and obtain a license. The license server then grants a license if one is available, allowing the user to access the software.
Think of a license server as a library for software licenses. It holds the collection of licenses your organization owns and lends them out to users on request. Once a user closes the application, the license is typically returned to the server, making it available for others.
What is a license manager?
A license manager, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive tool or system that oversees the entire process of software license management. While it often interacts with one or more license servers, its scope extends beyond just distribution. A license manager provides functionalities for:
- Monitoring license usage: Tracking how and when software licenses are being used across the organization.
- License allocation and reclamation: Managing the assignment of licenses to users or groups and reclaiming unused licenses.
- Reporting and analysis: Generating reports on license utilization to identify trends, optimize usage, and plan for future needs.
- Policy enforcement: Implementing and enforcing organizational policies related to software license usage and compliance.
- Integration with multiple license servers: Often, a license manager can connect to and manage licenses served by various different license server technologies.
Think of a license manager as the librarian who not only oversees the lending process but also keeps track of who has which book, how often books are borrowed, and identifies opportunities to optimize the library’s collection.
Many software vendors offer their own license manager to customers. Some common examples include:
- FlexNet License Server: The server component used by FlexNet Publisher to manage licenses for a wide range of applications.
- DSLS (Dassault Systèmes License Server): The server software responsible for distributing licenses for Dassault Systèmes products like CATIA and SOLIDWORKS.
- Autodesk Network License Manager: The server application used to manage network licenses for Autodesk software.
- Bentley License Management Tool: While also encompassing management functionalities, it includes server components for license distribution for Bentley applications.
As you see, some applications refer to their license manager as license server, but functionalities of these tools go much beyond that of server.
Key differences between license server and license manager
| Feature | License server | License manager |
| Primary role | Stores and distributes software licenses | Oversees the entire license management process. |
| Scope | Focused on the technical delivery of licenses | Broader, encompassing monitoring, optimization, and policy |
| Interaction | Interacts directly with client applications. | Interacts with license servers and potentially client apps |
| Vendor Focus | Often specific to a particular software vendor. | Can be vendor-agnostic, managing multiple license servers. |
| Functionality | Primarily license allocation and deallocation. | Includes usage monitoring, reporting, optimization, etc. |
Conclusion
Understanding the distinction between license servers and license managers is crucial for effective software asset management. While license servers are the technical backbone for distributing software licenses, license managers provide the overarching control, visibility, and optimization capabilities necessary to maximize efficiency and minimize costs.
For organizations grappling with the complexity of managing licenses from multiple vendors and license servers, a comprehensive solution like OpenLM offers a significant advantage. With its ability to support over 90 different license managers, OpenLM provides a unified platform to gain complete control over your software assets, ensuring you have just the right number of licenses – no more, no less – enhancing efficiency and potentially saving significant IT expenditure.
Want to know how OpenLM can help you navigate through different types of license management concerns? Start a conversation here.
