topic Re: License usage... in Operating System - OpenVMS

License usage...

Willem Grooters — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 09:13:27 GMT

My customer uses a custom-made application on a number of different clusters. Within that application a product is used that requires a license, but for their environment they issue these licenses themselves.
On each cluster, these licenses have a limitation on the number of concurrent users, and when no users are using the application (and therefore, the product) no users are counted ans SHOW lICENSE/FULL/USAGE does indeed tell that the license is not being used.

Except for just ONE cluster. EACH user - regardless their login - is counted. With nromally over 100 users loggin in, and a usage limit of 100, this constitutes a problem.
The way to get around it has been to install another license but since this is the only cluster where we have this problem, we'de like to know what may cause it.

Anyone a clue where to look?

Willem

Re: License usage...

Jan van den Ende — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 09:23:52 GMT

Willem,

I am guessing SMARTSTAR?

If so, please check (and double-check) that not somewhere in the LOGIN sequence some part of the setup is already executed.
My prime suspect (real shot in the blind, this!) would be SETTNMBR.

If I am right, you owe me one, and if not, we will have a laugh about me wild guessing, next time we meet!

Proost.

neem d'r ene van me!

jpe

Re: License usage...

Kris Clippeleyr — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 09:35:16 GMT

Willem,

As stated in the docs:

The User License shares some characteristics with the Activity and Personal Use Licenses, as follows:

Each user is counted once towards the total number of concurrent users allowed. The terms of your license determine that total number.
Each user granted access has unlimited access to the product until exiting the last invocation, but is counted against the authorized limit only once.
Once the user has exited the last invocation of the product, renewed access will be denied if the total number of users of the product has reached the maximum authorized by the license.

Could it be that something in the SYLOGIN.COM of that particular cluster (accidentally) accesses the product (although not necessary for every user) ?

FWIW,

Kris (aka Qkcl)

Re: License usage...

Willem Grooters — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 10:35:08 GMT

Jan,

Right guess on product, wrong one on cause. SETTNMBR is a part of another, heavily used package, that has nothing to do with Smartstar and does not require a separate licence.

Jan and Kris,

I have the same suspicion, I took a look into both SYLOGIN and user's LOGIN.COM but could not really find anything; I will have my collegue that signalled the problem, dig into these files deeper, but he'll need access to the erring cluster...

Willem

Re: License usage...

Garry Fruth — Wed, 12 Jan 2005 18:50:39 GMT

Try turning on image accounting and have people log in. It may point to an image activation om the login sequence that you did not consider.

Re: License usage...

Wim Van den Wyngaert — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 02:22:15 GMT

Or try a command procedure that shows all processes with their images. Something unexpected may be using the images (e.g. via decwindows or detached processes).

Wim

Re: License usage...

Ian Miller. — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 04:23:25 GMT

note you can switch on image accounting for just one or two images by installing the image with the /ACCOUNTING qualifier.
Using an AUDIT ACE is another handy way of tracking usage of a specific file.

Re: License usage...

Jan van den Ende — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 05:13:01 GMT

Ian,

tends to be kind of difficult if the question is WHICH image!

Proost.

Have one on me.

jpe

Re: License usage...

Ian Miller. — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 05:29:40 GMT

have you tried setting the audit flag on a user
(/FLAG=AUDIT in authorize) then logging in?
This will create audit records for all file accessses.

Re: License usage...

Jan van den Ende — Thu, 13 Jan 2005 06:44:32 GMT

Willem,

I believe Ian's last answer hit the jackpot!

Proost.

Have one on me.

jpe

Re: License usage...

Ian Miller. — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 05:51:29 GMT

Willem, is this solved now?