Another simple license model – the NodeLocked Counted License.

Last time we discussed the nodelocked license, which is a license grant that allows your software to be used on a particular computer, and on that computer only. The typical nodelocked license is uncounted, meaning that if the software is running on the specified computer, any number of concurrent copies of the software are allowed to run. There is a variation of the nodelocked license called a nodelocked counted license. This license allows the software to be run on a single computer only, but it limits the number of concurrent copies of the software that can be run on that computer.

The nodelocked counted license was originally made popular in the Electronic Design Automation software market.  However, a nodelocked counted license is suitable for situations where your software usually runs on a server-class computer, since a nodelocked uncounted license on such a system can provide far more value than a typical nodelocked license locked to a workstation or PC.

RLM supports two flavors of nodelocked counted licenses: single and counted.    The single license is a special case of a node-locked counted license which does not require a license server, so it is as simple to administer as a nodelocked uncounted license.  The general case of a nodelocked counted license does require a license server.

As we discussed in our blog post describing the nodelocked license, having several license models in your price book allows you, as a publisher, to price differently depending on your customer’s situation, which allows you to capture the optimal amount of revenue for a particular customer.  Nodelocked uncounted licenses may be appropriate for some of your products, while nodelocked uncounted licenses are more appropriatre for others.  A mixture of floating and nodelocked licenses can help maximize revenues depending on your customer’s situation.

To implement nodelocked counted licenses in RLM, set the count field of the license to either “single” or a positive integer, and specify the hostid of the computer in the actual license. A nodelocked single license does not require a license server, so it is as simple as a nodelocked uncounted license to deploy. A nodelocked counted license with a count (even if the count is 1) does requrire a license server, so it is the next step up in complexity. 

Next time:  floating licenses.