Name: Shadow Licensing Uncovered: Smart Control for Unmanaged Software
Start: 2026-02-04T10:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-04T17:00:00+00:00
Location: OpenLM

CodeMeter license management with OpenLM Platform

CodeMeter, developed by Wibu-Systems, is a sophisticated and versatile license manager designed to securely control access to software applications, protecting intellectual property and ensuring compliance. Its complexity and flexibility, which include various license containers and models, make third-party optimization essential for enterprise customers.

OpenLM provides a comprehensive solution for interfacing with the CodeMeter license manager, collecting detailed statistics, monitoring usage, and generating reports to drive smarter procurement decisions and maximize ROI.

Understanding CodeMeter licensing: Flexibility and security

The core purpose of CodeMeter is to manage and protect software access, offering a high degree of security through encryption and hardware/software binding.

What is CodeMeter?

CodeMeter is a license and entitlement management solution that handles the creation, delivery, and tracking of permits for software vendors. It is composed of a robust backend, CodeMeter license central (for generation and monitoring), and various mechanisms for license delivery and enforcement.

CodeMeter licensing schemas and containers

CodeMeter’s strength lies in its diverse and flexible licensing options, often defined by the license container (where the license is stored) and the license model (how the license is used):

1. License containers (Form factors)

CmDongle: Hardware-based protection (USB dongle) for maximum security and portability, often used in offline or high-security environments.
CmActLicense: Software-only protection bound to a digital fingerprint of the device, ideal for virtual machines and high-volume distribution.
CmCloud: Cloud-based container for modern infrastructures, offering seamless license updates and tracking without local installation.

2. Key license models

CodeMeter supports a broad array of license models, including:

Network license: The license is hosted on a server and shared among clients (concurrent access).
Single-user license: The license is bound to a local PC or CmDongle.
Borrowable license: Allows a user to temporarily borrow a network license for offline use on a local PC for a fixed period.
Perpetual, Subscription, Trial/Demo: Various time-based models.
Named user license: License is associated with a specific user name.

OpenLM’s solution for CodeMeter monitoring and optimization

OpenLM integrates seamlessly with the CodeMeter license manager to transform its usage logs into clear, actionable business intelligence. This is typically done using the OpenLM Broker, which is installed on the license server machine, thereby enabling advanced functionality.

OpenLM capability	Value for CodeMeter licenses	Supported by OpenLM
Real-time usage monitoring	Collect license totals and usage data from the CodeMeter server with high resolution (up to 1-minute resolution when using Broker).	Yes
Denial monitoring	Automatically collect and generate denial reports by monitoring the CodeMeter log file for the LIMIT REACHED event (WB0212 NO MORE LICENSES). This identifies license bottlenecks.	Yes
Remote control	Allows administrators to start and stop the CodeMeter license manager service remotely.	Yes
Project and group usage reporting	Analyze license consumption based on specific internal projects or organizational groups, providing a foundation for usage-based billing and internal chargeback.	Yes
Historical reporting	Provides license usage and session activity reports over extended periods, identifying long-term trends to inform informed license renewal and maintenance decisions.	Yes

The OpenLM advantage for CodeMeter license optimization

For organizations managing high-cost engineering or specialized software licensed via CodeMeter, OpenLM delivers the control and visibility needed to secure an optimal ROI.

Precise denial analysis: By specifically capturing the CodeMeter denial events, OpenLM gives you evidence-based data to justify future license pool size adjustments, preventing user downtime.
Broker reliability: The OpenLM Broker buffers communication with the OpenLM Server, maintaining data integrity even during temporary network failures.
Unified view: Monitor CodeMeter alongside all your other monitored license managers (supporting over 95 in total) from a single, streamlined interface (EasyAdmin).

Simplified SAM: By turning complex CodeMeter logs into human-readable reports, OpenLM simplifies software asset management (SAM) and compliance tracking.

Delivering impact at every scale