The Intergraph licensing landscape: The “state of the union”
As your engineering firm tackles complex global projects, managing Intergraph (Hexagon PPM) software becomes a high-stakes balancing act. Intergraph has transitioned through several licensing generations, moving from the legacy SmartPlant License Manager (SPLM) to the modern Intergraph Smart Licensing (ISL) cloud-based system.
The complexity gap
The shift to Intergraph Smart Licensing (ISL) was designed to simplify access, but it often creates a visibility gap for administrators. In hybrid environments where both SPLM and ISL are active, tracking concurrent usage across PDS, Smart 3D, and SmartPlant P&ID becomes nearly impossible without a dedicated Intergraph licensing tool. Without granular data, you cannot easily see which global teams are drawing from which pools.
The “hidden cost” narrative
Budget leaks in Intergraph environments often stem from “zombie sessions”—expensive licenses that remain checked out while the application sits idle on a workstation. Because Intergraph tools are mission-critical and high-cost, even a small percentage of idle time represents significant capital waste. Without automated Intergraph software license monitoring, you may find yourself over-purchasing licenses during your next renewal simply because you lack the data to prove you are already over-provisioned.
Quick summary: OpenLM for Intergraph
OpenLM empowers you to optimize your Intergraph software investments by transforming raw license data into actionable strategy.
- Automated Intergraph license usage tracking: Monitor check-outs and check-ins across ISL and SPLM in real time.
- Reclaim idle licenses: Identify and close inactive Smart 3D or SmartPlant sessions to prevent license hoarding.
- Eliminate overage surprises: Gain visibility into usage peaks to avoid unexpected costs in consumption-based models.
- Predictive forecasting: Use historical data to right-size your next Hexagon Enterprise Agreement.
- Centralized management: View your entire Intergraph portfolio alongside 140+ other license managers in a single pane of glass.
Comprehensive solution framework
OpenLM provides a three-layered approach to managing your Intergraph environment.
The visibility layer (global monitoring)
Get full transparency into Intergraph Smart Licensing (ISL) and SPLM. You can see exactly who is using specific modules and for how long. This applies whether your team is on-premises, remote, or using a hybrid cloud setup.
The intelligence layer (strategic foresight)
Leverage advanced analytics to determine your “high water mark.” By analyzing license denials and peak usage, you can measure the true cost of license scarcity and determine if you need more seats or better distribution.
How OpenLM monitors Intergraph
OpenLM uses a multi-faceted technical approach to capture every detail of your Intergraph environment.
Real-time usage and feature-level tracking
- Full vendor support: OpenLM supports both the legacy SPLM and the modern ISL (Intergraph Smart Licensing) systems.
- Feature detail: We track specific modules and versions, ensuring you see usage in its true context across the SmartPlant suite.
- Broker integration: The OpenLM Broker interfaces directly with your license servers to query logs and status, providing up-to-the-minute accuracy.
Advanced reporting and analytics
- Denial tracking: OpenLM logs every time a user is turned away. This helps you justify license expansion or prove that current counts are sufficient.
- Usage efficiency: Visualize the difference between “assigned” licenses and “actual” usage to identify immediate saving opportunities.
Strategic ROI and business value
Organizations using OpenLM for Intergraph PLM license optimization often see significant reductions in their annual software spend.
- Procurement support: Use “actual usage” data to negotiate your next Enterprise Agreement instead of relying on “purchased” totals.
- Chargeback transparency: Automatically calculate and export billing data based on project or department usage for internal accountability.
- Audit readiness: Shift from reactive defense during audits to a proactive, data-backed stance that ensures Intergraph license compliance.
Technical architecture (the admin’s corner)
The broker’s role
The OpenLM Broker is a lightweight component you install on your Intergraph license server. It interfaces directly with the license manager (SPLM or ISL) to query logs and status. It then sends this compiled data to the central OpenLM server for reporting.
Agent capabilities
The workstation agent monitors the “heartbeat” of the Intergraph process. It distinguishes between a background task and an active user, allowing for precise idle-time reporting and automatic license retrieval when a user stops interacting with the application.
