Licensing ArcGIS version 10
It is a common misconception that migrating to ArcGIS version 10 replaces the licensing software. This is incorrect; ESRI has only upgraded the old FLEXlm version to a newer one. The FLEXlm licensing software has gone through many changes during the passed several years, and is now called FLEXera FLEXnet for publishers. For every practical term – it is still the same good old FLEXlm software.
The main changes
The main changes that have been implemented in the ESRI ArcGIS licensing scheme include:
- The FLEXlm (Flexnet) license management tool was upgraded from version 7.* to version 11.6.
- The license file was replaced with trusted storage, in order to enhance security.
- The FLEXlm LMTOOLS UI is not provided with the ESRI ArcGIS 10 package. ESRI provides it’s own management tools.
- Borrowing licenses is made possible in ESRI ArcGIS 10.
Problems
Some problems have appeared in FlexLM reporting alongside these changes:
- Due to the use of FLEXera trusted storage some imporant FLEXlm management tools are malfunctioning, for example, lmutil.
- The FlexLM ‘lmremove’ utility has been omitted from the pool of license management commands. This is a known ESRI ArcGIS version 10 issue.
- ArcGIS 10 monitors Borrowed licenses on its proprietary interface. The license output file tends to be inaccurate when it comes to reporting Borrowed licenses. The Identity of the users who borrowed licenses is also concealed from the output file.
Effect of these issues on OpenLM
These issues have imposed several limitations on the capabilities of OpenLM when interfacing ESRI ArcGIS 10.
- Instead of the old ‘linger’ license output-file line, Borrowed licenses are marked with the “ACTIVATED LICENSE” line. These lines’ syntax excludes the identity of the user who borrowed the licenses.
- The output-file lmutil lmstat information regarding license borrowing is inaccurate; “ACTIVATED LICENSE” lines are multiplied, effectively increasing the number of licenses reported as borrowed.
- The absence of the “lmremove” utility implies that the ArcGIS license can not be removed, thus application the use of the “Suspend and Resume” method is not possible in OpenLM. Also, for the same reason, the “License removal” button in the “Active products” window is not functional.
The OpenLM Advantage
The OpenLM Active Agent may still “Save and Close” the ArcGIS 10 extension enabled application. This is regardless of the omission of the “lmremove” command. The closure process employs the applications’ own closure APIs, sent by the Active Agent, and applied by the OpenLM extension. Closing ArcGIS 10 may also be done via the “Close Application” button on EasyAdmin’s “Active Products” window.
This makes OpenLM the only solution for remotely saving & closing ArcGIS 10.
