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

Siemens SIMATIC license management (ALM) with OpenLM

Siemens SIMATIC is the automation brand of Siemens AG, providing essential software products like STEP 7 and WinCC for engineering, diagnostics, and control of industrial automation systems. The availability and efficient use of these mission-critical licenses are paramount for industrial operations and plant uptime.

The proprietary Automation License Manager (ALM) is the tool used to manage these licenses. OpenLM provides comprehensive support for the Siemens SIMATIC License Manager, delivering accurate, real-time usage reports in one easy-to-use dashboard. OpenLM Siemens SIMATIC monitoring ensures efficient license use, helps align budget to business needs, and minimizes performance issues.

Understanding SIMATIC licensing: Flexible industrial automation

SIMATIC software licenses are managed by the Automation License Manager (ALM), which provides transparency and reduces management effort. Licenses are typically supplied on USB flash drives or via downloads from the Siemens Online Software Delivery (OSD) platform.

What is the Siemens SIMATIC license manager (ALM)?

The Automation License Manager (ALM) is the standard software used to activate, distribute, check, transfer, and repair license keys for SIMATIC products. It provides a complete overview of all available licenses and reduces management effort.

SIMATIC licensing schemas

SIMATIC software offers a variety of licensing options tailored for individual, team, and modern cloud deployment needs:

License type	Key characteristics	Use case
Floating license	Standard for Engineering Software. Allows the software to be installed on up to 10 computers per license purchased. One user can use the software regardless of location or computer.	Maximum user flexibility and shared access for engineering teams. Supports using older versions of the same software family (e.g., STEP 7 / WinCC).
Single license	Permits use on only one computer for an unlimited period. The license is stored locally and cannot be transferred.	Ideal for Runtime Software like WinCC Runtime Advanced or fixed configurations where the licensed software runs permanently.
Rental license	Fully valid for a limited period (e.g., 90 or 365 days). Often part of Starter Kit packages.	Extensive trial and evaluation phases with no limitations on functionality.
Subscription / Pay-per-use	Available in the TIA Portal Cloud solution. Offers annual or monthly subscription models.	Alignment with the latest trends for flexible, adaptable organizational requirements.

Licenses can be managed locally or with server support within the company network.

OpenLM's solution for Siemens SIMATIC license monitoring and analytics

OpenLM is fully configured to monitor the Siemens SIMATIC License Manager. The integration uses the OpenLM Broker to read the SIMATIC License Manager log file, compile the usage data, and send it to the OpenLM Server.

OpenLM capability	Value for SIMATIC licenses	Supported by OpenLM
Real-time usage monitoring	Tracks usage activity with high-resolution reporting, available by minute.	Yes
License totals	Reports the total number of licenses owned.	Yes
License usage	Provides detailed reports on who is currently using the licenses.	Yes
Historical reporting	Generates valuable reports that can be turned into a business intelligence tool, enabling alignment of the software budget to business needs.	Yes
Optimization suggestions	OpenLM suggests ways to improve license management and reduce costs at the same time.	Yes
Denials reporting	OpenLM’s current integration relies on log file parsing but does not directly support tracking License Denials.	No
Borrowed/Expiration reporting	OpenLM does not currently support tracking Borrowed Licenses or Expiration Date.	No

The OpenLM advantage for Siemens SIMATIC licenses

OpenLM provides system administrators with the tools to ensure engineers working with SIMATIC software always have licenses when needed, spotting issues on time.

Accurate usage reports: OpenLM gives accurate reports on SIMATIC license consumption in one easy-to-use dashboard.
Budget alignment: The ability to generate business intelligence reports ensures the organization can align the software budget to its business needs and use the license pool efficiently.
Efficient management: Real-time reports help administrators manage licenses efficiently, spotting and addressing any issues on time.
Unified SAM: OpenLM supports monitoring Siemens SIMATIC alongside more than 75 other license managers, providing a centralized view for all your industrial automation and engineering software.