Connecting to SDL License Server to consume a network license seat

When connecting to a license server, you (as the client user) make a request to obtain a valid product license. A license consists of a number of product features, all of which are checked out as part of checking out the license.

About this task

The licensing computer must be turned on when users request network license seats. After closing the SDL product, the license seat is returned to the license server so other users can use it.

Timeout and lost connections - If the running client loses connection to the license server, the SDL product shows the Product Activation dialog and requires the client to restore the connection or exit the application. Moreover, if there is no user activity on the SDL product for more than 5 minutes, the license seat is automatically returned to the license pool. This is to avoid licenses being stranded on a client computer after a crash or a power failure.

Virtual machines - If you use an SDL product on a virtual machine and you want to activate it with a network license, the licensing server grants you a license seat just as if you were connecting from a physical computer. In a Citrix/Terminal Service environment, the license server details can be globally specified for all users in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE branch of the Registry. If the users do not have write access to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, then they will not be able to change the licensing details from the SDL product. If there are no predefined settings, individual users will be able to connect to the desired license server manually. The settings will be stored in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER branch of the Registry for each individual user.

VPN connections - License Server Manager supports accessing network licenses over private network (VPN) connections.

Multiple network segments - The network license server and the client machine do not need to be on the same network. As long as there is direct communication between the two hosts and the client can access the network server via the port, network licensing works over multiple network segments.

Procedure

  1. Run your SDL product.
  2. Display the Product Activation dialog. For SDL Trados Studio & SDL Passolo, go to Help > Product Activation.
  3. Select Activate, and then select Alternative activation.
  4. Select Use a License Server.
  5. Enter the short computer name, the fully qualified address (less than 40 characters) or the IP address of the license server.
  6. Select Connect.
  7. If the license server contains multiple editions of the SDL application, a page is displayed giving you the possibility to choose which one to use. Select the license edition from the drop-down list. If the license server contains only one license edition of the SDL application, go to the next step.
  8. You are redirected to the Product Activation info page which displays details of the active license. Select Continue to open the SDL product.