EPLAN

Note

You must have OpenLM Broker installed and reporting to OpenLM SLM before starting this configuration.

Requirements

To query the EPLAN license manager, you must have:

1. EPLAN License Manager Professional installed on the license server.
   Note: EPLAN License Manager Basic does not have a reporting interface and cannot be queried by OpenLM.
2. OpenLM SLM v21 or later installed on a machine in your organization.
3. OpenLM Broker v4.8.8 or higher installed on the same machine as the EPLAN license manager.
4. For EPLAN 2026, OpenLM Broker v26.3.2.1352 or higher. For EPLAN 2027, OpenLM Broker v26.10.13.929 or higher.

Monitoring capabilities and features

The monitoring capabilities available for the EPLAN license manager through OpenLM Broker are:

Feature	Resolution	License totals	License usage	Denials reporting	Borrowed license reporting	Expiration date reporting	Multiple server redundancy
Support	By second	✔	✔	✔	✔	❌	❌

Using Broker also allows buffered communication in case of network interruptions.

OpenLM Broker configuration

Diagram of how OpenLM interfaces with the EPLAN license manager.

The process works as follows:

1. Broker runs ElmMonitor.exe at set intervals to generate portions of the log file.
2. These fragments are compiled into one log file, then converted into an XML file in the OpenLM Generic format.
3. Broker sends all gathered license usage information to OpenLM SLM. You can then view the data in EasyAdmin.

Locating ElmMonitor.exe

To obtain license usage data, Broker must run the ELM Monitor application. The default location is:

C:/Program Files/EPLAN/ELM/ElmMonitor.exe

If it is not available, install the License Tools add-on (ELMLicense Tools (x64)setup.exe) from your EPLAN installation media or download it from the EPLAN website.
For more details, see the Installing the EPLAN License Manager Monitor section in the EPLAN installation guide.

Configuring Broker

To set up Broker in the configuration tool:

1. Select Add Port.
2. Enter the port of the EPLAN License Manager, as set in ELM Configurator under Properties. Broker passes it to ElmMonitor for EPLAN 2026 and later. For EPLAN 2025 or earlier, any port number works.
3. From the License Manager Type drop-down menu, select EPLAN. Select Apply.
4. Select the Commands node. Next to Update path for commands, select […], browse to the location of ElmMonitor.exe, then select Update and Apply.
5. To change the default name or location of the log generated by Broker, go to Log Files → ElmMonitor output. Type a new path or select […] to browse to an empty text file. Select Apply.
6. In a text editor, open the EPLAN@PORT.properties file created in the OpenLM Broker folder (typically C:\Program Files\OpenLM\OpenLM Broker\).
7. Adjust values as described in the EPLAN.properties configuration. Save and close the file.
8. Select Restart Broker.
9. Continue with OpenLM SLM configuration.

OpenLM Broker settings for EPLAN.

EPLAN.properties configuration

Configuring the eplan@port.properties file.

Configure these values in EPLAN@PORT.properties:

• monitored.log.next – specifies which log file Broker should read.
  • newest (default): always selects the latest file.
  • newer: useful for testing with historical data. Not guaranteed to load all data.
• eplan.log.encoding – encoding for the generated log file (default: UTF-16LE).
• eplan.elmmonitor.path – path to ElmMonitor.exe. Add /Silent at the end to avoid process leaks.
• eplan.elmmonitor.xml – leave empty to use the default eplan_openlm.xml file, or enter a custom path.
• eplan.elmmonitor.datetime.format – date format applied to /From and /To parameters in the log file (default: dd.MM.yyyy HH:mm:ss).
• eplan.delete.elm.files – default is true to clean up generated log files. Set to false for debugging.
• eplan.bundles.path – path to the EPLAN bundles (default: C:\Users\Public\EPLAN\ELM\Bundles.4elm).
• eplan.elmmonitor.commandline.servername.port – true passes the port to ElmMonitor as /Servername:<server>:<port>, as EPLAN 2026 and later require. Set it to false for EPLAN 2025 or earlier. Available in Broker v26.3.2.1352 and higher.
• eplan.elmmonitor.reporting.2027 – true runs ElmMonitor once for each report section (summary, defaultbundle_summary, and list), as EPLAN 2027 requires, and writes each section to its own subfolder of the ElmMonitor output folder. Set it to false for EPLAN 2026 or earlier. Available in Broker v26.10.13.929 and higher.

Match the options to your EPLAN version

Set the 2 options for your EPLAN version as in this table:

EPLAN version	eplan.elmmonitor.commandline.servername.port	eplan.elmmonitor.reporting.2027
EPLAN 2027	true	true
EPLAN 2026	true	false
EPLAN 2025 or earlier	false	false

A license manager that you add in Broker v26.10.13.929 or higher starts with both options set to true, ready for EPLAN 2027. A license manager added in an earlier Broker version keeps its EPLAN@PORT.properties file when you upgrade Broker, and an option that the file doesn't contain counts as false. So after you upgrade EPLAN to 2027, add eplan.elmmonitor.reporting.2027=true, and check that eplan.elmmonitor.commandline.servername.port is true. Broker cannot detect the EPLAN version, so update the options whenever you upgrade EPLAN.

You can also change these options on the Advanced tab of the license manager in the Broker web UI. Select the option's edit icon, or Add Option if it isn't listed, enter the value, and select Continue and then Save.

Alternative: Manual Broker web UI configuration

1. Install the latest OpenLM Broker version.
2. Go to your Broker web UI (http://localhost:5090/).
3. Navigate to the License Managers tab.
4. If the license manager service is running, select Detect. Broker should automatically configure the EPLAN license manager.
5. If Detect does not work, follow these steps:
   • In the License Managers tab, select Add License Manager.
   • From the LM type drop-down list, select EPLAN. Enter the port of the EPLAN License Manager, as set in ELM Configurator under Properties. Select Add.
   • In the configuration window, switch to the Commands tab. Browse to ElmMonitor.exe in the Executable path field. Select Execute to validate output.
   • Switch to the Vendors tab. Select Add Vendor, type EPLAN (or another name), and select Continue.
   • Select Save.
6. Continue with OpenLM SLM configuration.

OpenLM SLM configuration

Automatic configuration through EasyAdmin

If Broker is transmitting data to OpenLM SLM, you only need to approve the configuration in EasyAdmin:

1. Open EasyAdmin in your browser at http://<OpenLM Server IP>:5015 or from Windows Start → OpenLM → OpenLM EasyAdmin User Interface.
2. In the License Servers window, find the row for the EPLAN server (unapproved rows are highlighted red), hover over it, and select Approve.

Manual configuration

If EasyAdmin does not show an approve/clear message for the EPLAN server, configure manually:

1. Open EasyAdmin and go to OpenLM Start → Administration → License Manager Servers.
2. Select Add LM.
3. Enter a description (for example EPLAN license manager).
4. From the Type drop-down menu, select EPLAN.
5. Toggle Use Broker to ON.
6. Enter the Hostname and Port of the machine where the EPLAN license manager is installed (same as in Broker).
7. Set the Time Zone to where the license server is located.
8. Select Save.

Adding an EPLAN server in EasyAdmin.

Verifying configuration

To confirm monitoring is working:

1. Open EasyAdmin at http://<OpenLM Server hostname>:5015.
2. Go to EasyAdmin Start → Widgets → License Servers.
   Verify that the configured license manager appears in the list.
   • A green circle means the connection is active.

Note: It may take up to 3 minutes for a new connection to display as active.