Configuring an RLM Server

The Reprise License Manager (RLM) makes it easier to manage and track multiple Analytica and ADE licenses within an organization than having each user manage their own license. If you use Floating licenses (a license shared among multiple users), you require RLM.

This page explains how to install and configure RLM for an IT manager who manages software licenses. Analytica end-users that wish to install the software should see How to Install Analytica -- Individual License and How to Install Analytica -- Centrally Managed License.

This video shows how to install the RLM server, use the RLM administration console, and activate Lumina codes.

What you need

Selecting a computer to run the License Server

You'll need to select a server computer that will host the Reprise License Manager (RLM) server. This server must be on your internal company network, accessible by all the computers in your organization that may need to check out licenses.

Note: RLM must be hosted on a physical (non-virtual) server, and the server must be running a Windows operating system. Licenses will not activate if RLM is hosted on a virtual machine, and Lumina licenses are not honored on Linux (or other non-Windows) installations of RLM.

It should also be a server with high availability -- i.e., never turned off.

RLM can serve licenses for software from other vendors that use RLM.

Running RLM for Analytica imposes a minimal load on the server, so it certainly need not be dedicated . You can easily use a computer whose primary purpose is for something else.

The Server can be nearly any platform supported by Reprise, including Windows or Unix.

RLM does support redundant failover servers, but this is seldom required and isn't covered here.

Generic RLM Server Software

If you already run RLM for other applications using RLM 7 or later, you already have what you need. Otherwise, download the end-user bundle from reprisesoftware.com. For a windows platform, this is downloaded as a file x86_w1.enduser.zip.

You'll also need the Lumina-specific settings file (right click, select Save Target As...) lumina.set, and save it in your RLM directory.

Analytica or ADE license(s).

These are provided to you by Lumina when you purchase ADE or Analytica.

They should contain 16 numeric digits, such as: 1234-5678-9012-3456

If you have a multi-seat license, then each activation key also has a count (i.e.number of seats) associated with it. Most commonly, licenses are 1-seat licenses, so if you were not given a count with your activation key, you can assume it is a 1-seat license.

To Install RLM

These steps are to install RLM on a Windows server -- but it's almost the same on a Unix machine. For Windows computers, especially Vista, you'll probably need an administrator account.

1. Download the RLM License Administration bundle for Windows.

2. Double click the file and extract it to a directory of your choice, such as:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Reprise\RlmServer

3. Copy the lumina.set file to the same directory.

4. (This step is only required starting with RLM v13. Without this step, the Activate license button won't appear).

• Run NotePad (or your favorite text editor) as administrator. You can do this by clicking the Windows start button and typing NotePad. When it appears, right click on it and select Run as administrator
• Enter the line: admin::all
• Save the file as rlm.pw in the RLM install folder.

5. Start a command-line window.

On Windows Vista and Windows 7, start the command-line window as Administrator:

1. Click on the Start menu on the bottom left.
2. Type in cmd in the Search box.
3. Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter

6. Navigate to the chosen directory by typing cd and then the address of the chosen directory.

For example: cd C:\Program Files\Reprise\RlmServer

7. Type rlm -dlog "address" -install_service where address is the path to the log file. For example:

rlm -dlog "c:\Program Files (x86)\Reprise\RlmServer\rlm.log" -install_service

If you are running RLM v14BL5 or later, use

rlm -dlog "c:\Program Files (x86)\Reprise\RlmServer\rlm.log" -z -install_service

if you want to allow a blank password in Step 4. Without the -z, you'll have 10 minutes after it starts running to set a password from the console.

• You must include the full path to the log file, without using relative paths.
• There are additional configuration options, for a listing help type: rlm -?
• The local system account (which the RLM service will run under) must have write permissions to the RlmServer directory, so that it can write activated license files and the log file.

8. Type: net start rlm

The RLM service should now be running.

9. Enter the administration panel:

• Point a browser to http://localhost:5054.
• Do not use the (now obsolete) Internet Explorer browser. The RLM console is not compatible with IE.

10. If you did Step 4 above, a Login will appear at the top left. Enter admin as the user and leave the password blank.

• Press [Change Password] and set a password. Without the -z in Step 7, you need to do this within the first 10 minutes.

11. Install any Analytica or ADE licenses.

Lumina should have provided you with Activation keys for your Analytica or ADE; the keys contain 16 numeric digits, such as 1234-5678-9012-3456

• Click the Activate License button
• Click BEGIN License Activation, then enter these fields:
  • Check Other (URL) and enter Activation.Analytica.com into the text-box.

    

  • ISV: lumina.
  • License activation key: 1234-5678-9012-3456 { Your activation code here }

    

  • License Server hostid: { Use the value filled in for you }
  • License count: { The number of seats. Normally 1. }
  • License File to create: { A *.lic file in the licenses directory from step 2}
  • Press REQUEST LICENSE.

  If an error occurs, see Solving problems during managed license activation.

  • When prompted, restart RLM server to reread licenses.

12. Click on Status

• Verify that the Lumina ISV is listed.

13. If you have more than one activation key, repeat steps 9-10 for each.

Additional Configuration

You, as an IT manager, may want to configure RLM permissions to control who can use the Analytica licenses and who can manage the RLM server. On the bottom left of the RLM Administration Console, there is a link to the RLM Manual...

To control access to the RLM server, and administration of its capabilities, see the section on RLM Options File. Among the access control settings you can configure are these (copied from that manual):

Privilege	Name to use in RLM options file	Meaning
edit_options	edit_options	Allows editing options files for ISV servers
edit_rlm_options	edit_rlm_options	Allows editing options files for the rlm server
edit_transfer	edit_transfer	Allows editing server-server license transfer settings for ISV servers
reread	reread	Allows access to the functions which do reread commands on license servers
shutdown	shutdown	Allows access to the functions which shut down license servers
status	status	Allows display of status and debug log information from the license servers

You may also want to restrict which users can checkout licenses, for example, restricting usage to specific users in your department. For that, see the section The ISV Options File in the RLM Manual. Also consult that section for information on assigning named-user licenses to specific users.

See Also

• Installation and licenses
• What License do I Purchase?
• How to Install Analytica -- Individual License
• How to Install Analytica -- Centrally Managed License
• License Roaming
• Reprise License Manager
• RLM_Install.wmv: Video - installing RLM and Activating centrally managed Analytica licenses (22 minutes)
• Solving problems during managed license activation
• Configuring an RLM Server/Debugging problems with RLM
• RLM for License Administrators and Users -- info, downloads, FAQs and troubleshooting tips from Reprise
• Manual Activation