OpenLM for Siemens: Eliminate license waste and optimize PLM costs
The complexity of Siemens software asset management
As your engineering capabilities grow, managing Siemens PLM software solutions (now named Siemens Digital Industries Software) becomes a balance of power and precision. Siemens has transitioned into a complex ecosystem where traditional floating licenses meet sophisticated consumption models and token-based systems.
The visibility gap
Siemens uses the Siemens PLM Software Common Licensing toolkit to provide a unified experience. This system, primarily based on Flexera FlexNet, uses the ugslmd and saltd vendor daemons. However, the shift toward NX bundles and suite packages has created visibility gaps. Without a dedicated Siemens licensing tool, you cannot easily see who is using specific modules or features.
The “hidden cost” of zombie sessions
Budget leaks often occur through “zombie sessions”—licenses that remain checked out while the application is idle. Without granular Siemens software license monitoring, you may over-purchase expensive NX CAD/CAM licenses or fail to account for unique Composite ID (CID) requirements that lock license files to specific machines.
OpenLM for Siemens: a complete license management solution
OpenLM empowers you to optimize your Siemens software investments by transforming raw license data into actionable strategy.
Automated Siemens license usage tracking
Monitor check-outs and check-ins across global servers in real time.
Siemens CAD license optimization
Identify and close inactive NX sessions to prevent license hoarding.
Simatic license manager automation
Rapid E365 depletion from idle sessions left open overnight.
Optimize token burn
Gain real-time visibility into NX design tokens and consumption-based models.
Predictive forecasting
Use historical data to right-size your next Siemens enterprise agreement.
Maximize your Siemens PLM license optimization
The OpenLM Platform provides a three-layered approach to managing your Siemens environment.
The visibility layer
Get full transparency into Siemens SIMATIC, Polarion, and PLM products. You can see exactly who is using specific features, such as nx_design_token, and for how long. This applies whether your team is on-premises or in a hybrid cloud setup.
The automation layer
Move beyond passive monitoring with Siemens software licenses automation. OpenLM’s active harvesting and virtual license management (VLM) can automatically detect idleness in applications like NX. It then releases the license back to the pool for others to use.
The intelligence layer
Use Siemens license server reporting and advanced analytics to determine your “high water mark.” By analyzing license denials, you can measure the true cost of license scarcity and determine if you are actually under-licensed or simply inefficient.
Solve common Siemens management challenges
Challenge | Impact on business | OpenLM solution |
No real-time visibility | Project delays due to license unavailability. | Real-time dashboard showing current Siemens floating license management. |
Idle “zombie” sessions | Licenses are hogged by inactive users. | Active agent harvesting to reclaim idle licenses. |
Overage and audit risk | Unexpected six-figure “true-up” bills. | Usage threshold alerts and automated compliance reporting. |
Manual reporting | IT spends weeks on error-prone spreadsheets. | Automated Siemens license usage tracking scheduled to your inbox. |
See how much you can save from your Siemens ecosystem
Technical details: OpenLM Siemens integration
OpenLM uses a multi-faceted technical approach to capture every detail of your Siemens environment, including Siemens RLM license monitoring and FlexNet tracking.
Real-time usage and feature-level tracking
- Daemon support: OpenLM supports both the traditional ugslmd and the modern saltd vendor daemons.
- Feature detail: We do not just track the suite; we track specific modules like NX bundles to ensure you see usage in its true context.
- GraphQL integration: Use the power of GraphQL for fast, flexible data queries across your license services.
Advanced reporting and analytics
- Denial tracking: OpenLM logs every time a user is turned away, helping you justify license expansion or redistribution.
- NX suite sorting: OpenLM automatically sorts NX suites to clearly display application usage.
Strategic ROI and business value
Organizations like DePuy Synthes (a Johnson & Johnson company) saved over 10,000 € within the first year of using OpenLM for Siemens PLM license optimization.
- 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.
Trusted by Leaders and Industry Giants
Join Fortune 500 companies worldwide who have achieved significant ROI with OpenLM
Get full control over your Siemens license ecosystem
Stop overspending on idle sessions and tokens. Start managing your Siemens PLM portfolio with workstation-level precision.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
OpenLM monitors the full range of Siemens PLM software solutions, including NX (CAD/CAM/CAE), Teamcenter, Solid Edge, Siemens SIMATIC, and Siemens Polarion.
The OpenLM Siemens integration uses a lightweight component called the OpenLM Broker. You install it on your license server to query the license manager (FlexNet, RLM, or saltd) and send data to the OpenLM server.
You can set up monitoring by installing the OpenLM Broker on your NX license server. Configure it to point to your ugslmd or saltd daemon and connect it to your OpenLM central server.
Yes. OpenLM provides a continuous audit trail of usage, ensuring you stay within your contractual limits and are always prepared for a vendor audit.
OpenLM integrates directly via the license manager’s API or by parsing log files. It supports Siemens floating license management for both on-premises and cloud-hosted servers.
Absolutely. OpenLM is specifically designed to manage and optimize Siemens floating licenses across global networks.
Yes. OpenLM tracks “linger” or borrowed licenses, showing you which licenses are taken offline and when they are due to return to the pool.
Yes, OpenLM officially supports the saltd vendor daemon, which covers all modern Siemens PLM software vendors.