Floating (Network) License

A floating (network) license is locked to a license server, which is a host computer that manages a pool of available software licenses. This type of network-based licensing involves a server-to-client interaction in which a client computer is required to check out a license from a server computer in order to access the software application (one license at a time and at one site). This enables geographically-distributed users to share licenses across a common network. Each license is either perpetual (license does not expire) or subscription (license expires after a limited amount of time).

Software Support Subscription

Each software license includes free software updates and support for the specific instrument application for the duration of your support subscription. A perpetual license includes software updates and support for the first year, after which support can be renewed annually for a fee. A subscription license includes software updates and support through the term of the license. The time-bound aspects of the perpetual license (license does not expire) and the subscription license (license expires after limited time) start at the time you add the software license to your KSM profile.

To check the current details, click (Information and Technical Support) at the top right of the Manager application and select My Support Subscription.

Activate Your License on Server Computer

Once you have purchased your software license, you will receive a Software Entitlement Certificate from Keysight via e-mail. You will then redeem the entitlement certificate from within the PathWave BenchVue application and you will receive an e-mail with a software license (*.lic) file attached.

For more details on network licensing, including troubleshooting information, see the Keysight Licensing Administrator's Guide.

 

1. Go to www.keysight.com/find/BenchVue to purchase a Software Entitlement Certificate for the desired PathWave BenchVue applications. You can choose either paper or electronic delivery of your entitlement certificate.
   
   
2. After you have received your entitlement certificate, note the Order Number and Certificate Number. You will need these numbers later in this procedure.
   
   
   
   

3. Launch the Manager application to perform the next steps to redeem and activate your floating license on the server computer.
   
   Note: If you do not want to install PathWave on your server computer, you can skip the next couple of steps below and manually install the PathWave License Manager application. Go to http://www.keysight.com/find/plm to download the application and then return to this procedure and continue with step 5 below.
   
   

4. From the License Required dialog, select the appropriate license type from the drop-down list ("Purchased") and click "Install" to begin the process to install the license file on your server computer (internet connection required).
   
   
   
   
5. You will be directed to the PathWave License Manager(PLM) software application – if not already installed on your computer, go to http://www.keysight.com/find/plm to download the application. From PLM, click and follow the “How do I get a license file?” guide.
   
   
   
6. From the guide, you will also be directed to the Keysight Software Manager (KSM) web site, which will open in your default web browser. You will need to provide the Order Number and Certificate Number from the entitlement certificate (see Step 2 above). In addition, you will need to provide the MAC Address (not the Host ID) for the server computer.
   
   Note: If you are a first-time user of KSM, you will be required to complete a one-time registration on the web site.
   
   
7. Your software license has now been redeemed. You will receive an e-mail from Keysight with a software license file (*.lic) attached. Save the license file to your local computer and make sure to note the location.
   
   
8. From PLM, click the "Add a License File" option.
   
   Note: If you are a first-time user of PLM, you may be required to create a myKeysight account.
   
   
   
   
9. Navigate to the location on your computer where you saved the license file that you received via e-mail. Select "Add Now" to add the license file.
   
   
   
   
10. Your floating license is now activated and the license server process is running on the server computer.
    

Request a License on Client Computer

To use a floating license on a client computer, you must check out the license from the server computer (one license can be checked out at a time and at one site). If the floating license is not already running on the server computer, see Activate Your License on Server Computer above.

1. Launch the Manager application to perform the next steps to check out a license on a client computer.
   
   

2. From the License Required dialog, select the appropriate license type from the drop-down list ("Purchased") and click "Install" to begin the process to install the license file on your server computer (internet connection required).
   
   
   
   
3. You will be directed to the PathWave License Manager (PLM) software application – if not already installed on your computer, go to http://www.keysight.com/find/plm to download the application. From PLM, click "Specify a Remote License Server" option to enter the required network information and request a license from the server computer.
   
   
   
   
4. To specify the network connection to the server computer:
   1. Select the product that need to use the new license. The drop-down "Choose Products" list shows all licensed Keysight products installed on your machine. For each product, if the license servers are already configured, they are listed underneath the product in the drop-down list. Note that the new server(s) you are specifying will replace any currently specified remote servers, so if you want to continue to use the servers listed in the drop-down and add a new server for the same product(s), you need to include ALL the servers (including those listed in the drop-down) in the "Step 2" box.
   2. Type the "port_number@hostname" of each server. You will need the Host Name (not the Host ID) and port number (e.g., "27009@host1.example.com"). Please contact your System Administrator to determine your server's host name.
      
      
      
      
5. Click "Verify the Connection and Save".
   
   
6. Click "Done" to complete the license request process.