Name: Mastering Dongle Management with OpenLM Platform
Start: 2026-03-05T10:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-03-05T17:00:00+00:00
Location: OpenLM

EPLAN license manager monitoring and optimization with OpenLM

EPLAN software, including flagship products like EPLAN Electric P8, is the global standard for efficient electrical, fluid, and industrial automation engineering. The EPLAN License Manager (ELM) is the proprietary system that controls access to this mission-critical software suite, often issued via a dongle for server installation.

OpenLM provides a comprehensive and tailored solution for interfacing with the EPLAN license manager. OpenLM EPLAN monitoring delivers the high-resolution usage data, including bundle usage, necessary to justify costs, optimize usage, and ensure compliance across your engineering teams.

Understanding EPLAN licensing: Concurrent and cloud ready

EPLAN has evolved its licensing to support both traditional server deployments and modern cloud infrastructure.

What is EPLAN license manager?

The EPLAN License Manager (ELM) is the proprietary system that manages and monitors all EPLAN software products. It handles license activation using an Entitlement ID (EID) and is the central hub for network license distribution.

EPLAN licensing schemas

EPLAN uses models primarily designed for enterprise collaboration and flexibility:

Concurrent (Network) licensing: The ELM is primarily used to activate and distribute Concurrent Licenses. Multiple clients connect to the ELM server to check out a license seat, ensuring that licenses are efficiently shared.
License borrowing: The ELM allows users to borrow licenses for offline use for a longer period, enabling work without a constant network connection to the server.
Subscription model: Products like EPLAN Electric P8 are primarily offered under recurring subscription pricing plans.
License container: In older versions, licenses were issued via a physical dongle on the license server. Modern licensing connects the Entitlement ID directly to the computer or server during online activation.
Standby server: An optional Standby server capability can be purchased for redundancy.

OpenLM's solution for EPLAN monitoring and analytics

OpenLM is fully configured to monitor the EPLAN License Manager by using the OpenLM Broker to run the ElmMonitor.exe utility. This generates log file fragments which are compiled, processed, and sent to the OpenLM Server.

OpenLM capability	Value for EPLAN licenses	Supported by OpenLM
Real-time usage monitoring	Tracks usage activity with high-resolution reporting, available by second.	Yes
Denials reporting	Provides advanced reports on license denial events, helping you pinpoint bottlenecks and justify capacity increases.	Yes
Borrowed license reporting	Provides tracking and reporting for licenses temporarily borrowed from the ELM for offline work.	Yes
License totals and usage	Reports the total number of licenses owned and details which features and bundles are being used.	Yes
Bundle usage reporting	A specific enhancement allows users to gain deeper insights into the utilization of specific EPLAN bundles.	Yes
Expiration date reporting	Track when your EPLAN licenses are due to expire.	No
Multiple server redundancy	OpenLM does not currently support monitoring EPLAN’s multiple server redundancy schemes (Standby server).	No

The OpenLM advantage for EPLAN license manager

OpenLM turns the raw logging data from the EPLAN License Manager into clear, actionable business intelligence, driving compliance and optimization across your electrical engineering division.

Granular bundle visibility: The ability to report on EPLAN bundle usage provides critical insight, ensuring expensive features are utilized effectively and enabling better resource allocation.
Denial and borrowing control: Tracking denials and borrowed licenses gives administrators a complete picture of demand and consumption, preventing downtime and managing compliance for remote users.
Broker reliability: The use of OpenLM Broker ensures stable and buffered communication with the EPLAN server, maintaining data integrity during network fluctuations.
Unified SAM: Centralize the monitoring of the EPLAN license manager with all other supported engineering license managers in a single, intuitive platform.