Using a License Server

You can use Borland License Server (BLS) or FLEXnet License Server with StarTeam Server. This gives you a choice between using a license server and using the StarTeam Server native licensing found in this and earlier releases.

Important: BLS should be added to the Microsoft Windows firewall exceptions (on the BLS server machine) when BLS is started as a Microsoft Windows service. Otherwise the StarTeam Server will be unable to connect to the BLS.
Note:
  • If you use a license server, users must use their network logon names as their StarTeam user names.
  • A single license server can handle licenses for multiple releases and for multiple product releases.
  • FLEXnet License Server configuration files on Linux are case sensitive.
  • When StarTeam starts up, it checks for slips and stores information about them in memory. It does not recognize new slips until the next restart.
  • When a user logs in from a client application, StarTeam Server tells the client application what features are available to its user based on the license assigned to that user.
  • If the user is assigned a license from a slip, but that slip is no longer in the license folder, StarTeam Server displays an error message. If the license type for that user is Unassigned, the user is not logged on and StarTeam Server returns an exception.

The administrator does the following to configure the license server:

  1. Receives licensing information from Micro Focus distribution through email. If you need this information, contact your sales representative.
  2. Installs the license server.

    For Borland License Server (BLS), download a copy of BLS from http://license.borland.com/lservers/belise.jsp. For FLEXnet License Server, download a copy of the FLEXnet Lisence Server from http://license.borland.com/lservers/flexlm.jsp.

    Note: Refer to the documentation that is available with the license server.
  3. Obtains license slips for the StarTeam Server using the Micro Focus product license activation process. The administrator:
    1. Goes to http://supportline.microfocus.com/licensing/borlandactivatelic.aspx.
    2. Provides the serial number from Micro Focus and an email address where the slips will be sent.
    3. Provides information about the computer where the license server is installed:
      • For BLS, provides the IP address, host name, and port number for both the installation computer and a backup computer.
      • For FLEXnet License Server, provides the MAC address, host name, and port number for the installation computer.
  4. Saves the slip files.
    • For BLS, the email contains two slips: one starting with server_. While BLS is not running, that .slipfile is copied into the /conf or /named folder, a subfolder of the BLS installation folder. The file named admin_guide.html, located in the /docs subfolder, provides detailed instructions. The other .slip file, the one starting with concurrent_ or named_ is copied into the /license folder, a subfolder of the Server installation folder.
    • For FLEXnet License Server, the email contains a .dat and a .slip file. The .dat file is copied into the FLEXnet License Server installation folder. The FLEXlm End Users Guide (enduser.pdf) provides detailed instructions. The .slip file is copied into the /License folder, a subfolder of the Server installation folder.
  5. Configures the license server for users. For more information, refer to the documentation that is available with the license server.
  6. Uses the Server Administration tool to:
    • Make sure that StarTeam user names are network logon names.
    • Assign users to specific named_ or concurrent_ slips.