The following variants of licenses are distinguished:
- Single-user licenses
- Floating network licenses can be installed on your own computer or your own network. Floating network licenses are more flexible than single-user licenses in several respects (Using floating network licenses on a license server).
- Floating cloud licenses hosted on a German server of the partner company WIBU-Systems.
The following sections describe the functional differences between the three variants.
Using single-user licenses
Single-user licenses are intended for use by one user on one computer. Product and license are installed on the same computer.
In this use case, no permanent connection to a license server is necessary. Operation without an Internet connection is also unlimited.
If you work directly on a computer with a server operating system, you can use single-user licenses. However, if you are logged on to a server operating system via a remote desktop connection, the single-user licenses of the connected server are not displayed during the license search and cannot be used. If you intend to access a single-seat license via remote desktop, you must do so from a computer without a server operating system installed.
You cannot use a single-seat license in a cloud-supported capacity; for this, you will need a floating cloud license with a seat.
Using floating network licenses on a license server
Floating network licenses installed on a license server support flexible use of the product by multiple users on a local network. The license is installed on a computer that acts as a license server on the network.
The only restriction pertains to the number of seats (concurrent users), representing the maximum number of simultaneous users. Each network license specifies a maximum number of seats.
To utilize a Floating Network license, the computer on which the product is installed must be continuously connected to the license server (exception: borrowed license (Using floating network licenses with borrowing function). When the product is started, a license seat is automatically checked out from the license server. When the product is closed, the seat is automatically released (except for borrowed licenses (Using floating network licenses with borrowing function).
Floating network licenses support the use of server operating systems on client computers, including through remote desktop connections.
Using floating network licenses with borrowing function
A variant of floating network licenses on license servers also provides the option of borrowing individual licenses (seats) on other computers for a limited period. The term for this is Floating network license (with borrowing). With this variant, a license can be used locally (and also offline) for a certain time. Each time a license is checked out from the license server, the number of concurrent users is reduced by one. When the license is no longer borrowed, it is available again on the license server.
If you want to borrow a license, you need to make two settings:
- You specify a Borrowing period. This is limited to a maximum by the network license (for example, a maximum of 30 days), but can also be chosen to be shorter. After the borrowing period has expired, the license is automatically returned to the license server. Early return is also possible.
- You specify the License container where the borrowed license is to be stored with the borrowing destination. You have two options:
- A soft container on your computer (which will be created automatically)
- A USB dongle (which is useful if you want to flexibly share the borrowed license between different computers)
Before borrowing from a floating network license of the type Floating network license (with borrowing), the license administrator must prepare the license for borrowing once (Preparing the borrowing of licenses).
Using floating cloud licenses
Floating cloud licenses work similarly to floating network licenses, which are installed on a license server. Floating cloud licenses are also used to allow multiple users to use the product in parallel. However, users do not need to be on the same network when using floating cloud licenses. A maximum number of seats is also specified for cloud-based licenses.
Differences compared to network licenses on license servers
- The license management is carried out by PTV. You do not activate and update licenses yourself.
- A license server on the customer network is not required.
- On each computer on which the floating cloud licenses will be used, a so-called Credentials file must be imported once to gain access to the cloud container (Setting up access to cloud license containers).
- There must be a permanent Internet connection to use the floating cloud licenses.
- The borrowing function is not yet available for floating cloud licenses.
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