Un-integrated Monthly Notes for this FY 2015 Maintenance Accomplishments Report compilation. (This has been completely re-written).
See rewrite draft: Section5.html ... also in full draft: Fy2015-MaintAccomps.html

(5) Licensing

Ongoing licensing work:

• Generation and delivery of license files to RiverWare users. Tasks include tracking of expiring licenses, contacting users to get information; generating license files; updating the license data records; providing instructions for RiverWare download, install, and floating license server manager configuration setup; and problem solving for users.
• Maintenance of licenses for internal development environment.
• Periodic reporting of sponsor and other user licenses, including temporary licenses for users attending in-house and on-site classes.

Reprise License Manager (RLM) and related licensing work:

• [Oct] Three related floating license issues.
  • Grant County's floating license error: client machine cannot start RiverWare. Client machine received "Communications error with license server (-17)" error while license server has started and RiverWare can be checked out on the license server machine.
  • CAP's floating license error: client machine cannot start RiverWare. The license server will be shut down when a client machine tries to start RiverWare. Client machine received "Communications error with license server (-17)" error. License server diagnostics output file received error "Shutdown request by signal@local."
  • Hydro Consulting's roaming license error: roaming license cannot be checked out on the license server machine, but client machines can check out roaming licenses with no problem.
  • A tool rlmclient.exe built in our developer's kit has been posted on our download site. Users are asked to download this program and execute it on the server or client machine that is experiencing the error to provide further debug information.
    

• [Oct] Created an email template file which has the detailed step-by-step instructions on how to generate a full set of diagnostic output files. This list is specifically provided to users who are having floating license problem so they can generate debug log files for us to look into the error.
  

• [Oct] Setting up Reprise Activation Pro License Center and database:
  • Created the first user account for editing data in the database.
  • Working on setting up the product definition for RiverWare Viewer licenses and the activation key for it.

• [Nov] Repaired Maximizer displaying format.

• [Nov] Client machine broadcasting for floating license issue. This issue was reported to Reprise. Client machines would find the floating CPLEX license started on a license server machine (danshuei) and check out the CPLEX license to the client machines, even though the client machines already has its own node-locked license. The client machine would not check out the floating RiverWare license, only the CPLEX license.

• [Nov] Worked with Hydros Consulting and Reprise on the issue of a roaming license cannot be checked out on the license server itself. This is not resolved yet.

• [Nov] Setting up Reprise Activation Pro License Center and database:
  • Setting up the product definition for RiverWare Viewer licenses and the activation key for it. This task is still at the beginning stage.
     
• [Dec] Reprise: Setting up Reprise Activation Pro License Center and database: Setting up the product definition files for RiverWare Viewer licenses and the activation key for it.
   
• [Jan] Reprise:
  • Setting up Reprise Activation Pro License Center and database: Setting up the product definition files for RiverWare Viewer licenses and the activation key for it. Very little progress for this task this month.
  • Started Working on upgrading to the 11.2 release, which includes few bug fixes for roaming license. Working on the configuration in order to build our customized version.
  • Testing the failover server license. The failover license is a backup license which provides the capability for a different license server to take over the license service when the primary license server has gone down.
    • Testing the failover server license.
    • Created failover license template file.
    • Working on creating the failover license install instructions.
       
• [Feb] Reprise:
  • Completed building the 11.2 Developer Kit. Neil incorporated the new library files and built a development RiverWare binary file for testing. This was used to test new licensing functionality in preparation for upgrading license software in RiverWare 6.7.
  • Completed the testing of the failover server license. Emailed Edie the recommendation based on the testing result. Working with Grant County to help them with setting up their failover license server.
  • Worked on creating the failover license setup instruction guide.
  • Worked on the alternative way for user (specifically TVA) to continue to run license server on the Solaris platform after RiverWare upgraded RLM to the new version 11.
  • Tested the platform-independent settings file between the Windows 64-bit and 32-bit machines.
  • Writing up the instructions for TVA user to test the platform-independent settings file.
  • Updating the online License Server Configuration Guide. The platform-independent ISV server file will be added to the release after version 11 is checked into the development area.
  • Worked on setting up Reprise Activation Pro License Center and database: Setting up and testing the product definition files for RiverWare Viewer license and the activation key for it.
     
• [Mar] Reprise:
  • Worked on setting up Reprise Activation Pro License Center and database.
    • Set up the product definition and the activation key for the RiverWare Viewer license and the Node-locked license.
    • Testing the license activation procedure.
  • Set up the RLM License Generation (rlmgen) tool for generating basic RiverWare Viewer Node-locked, RiverWar Node-locked, and RiverWare Floating license key. Creating the instruction file. This tool is for internal use only. The purpose is to provide an automated tool to generate simple license keys for users. It only generates license key, it does not generate the standard license information normally included in a license file.
     
• [Apr] Reprise:
  • Setting up Reprise Activation Pro License Center and database
    • Setting up the product definition and the activation key for RiverWare Viewer license. Created the same for node-locked license for comparison.
    • Testing the license definition and the license activation procedure. Verifying the licenses created.
    • Working on the online document "User Guide for Obtaining a RiverWare Viewer License".
  • Setting up the RLM License Generation (rlmgen) tool.
    • This tool is for in-house use only. The purpose is to provide an optional automated tool to generate simple license key for users by any CADSWES personnel.
    • Created product definition for RiverWare license products. They include full and Viewer licenses, Node-locked and floating licenses, CPLEX licenses, roaming license, and VM-enabled license.
    • Testing the license definitions and the license creating procedure. Verifying all different types of licenses created.
    • Documenting the procedure into the instruction file "rlmgen instructions."
       
• [May] Reprise:
  • Setting up Reprise Activation Pro License Center and database.
    • Setting up the product definition database for all types of RiverWare licenses. Currently 9 product definitions have been set up. Working with Reprise support regarding how to set up some customized product definitions, especially for the floating licenses (because we allow users to customize the configuration of their multi licenses).
    • Testing includes setting up the product definitions, creating license activation keys, activating the license key, and verifies the licenses activated can start RiverWare.
  • Setting up RLM License Generation (rlmgen) tool.
    • This tool is for in-house use only. The purpose is to provide an optional automated tool to generate simple license key for users by any CADSWES personnel.
    • Ten product definitions are set up so far. The node-locked full and Viewer license files that were sent out to commercial users and sponsor users this month were created by this tool. Other product definitions include floating 5-seat licenses, CPLEX licenses, roaming license, and VM-enabled license.
    • Updating the instruction file "rlmgen instructions."
       
• [May] Updated document "RiverWare License File Creation Guide." This procedure document is for internal use only.

• [Jun] Reprise:
  • Setting up Reprise Activation Pro License Center and database.
    • Setting up the product definition database for all types of RiverWare licenses. Added a new product definition "Nodelock-Evaluation" which is default to a 60-day license. Total 10 product definitions now.
    • Started implementing the online user document "Obtaining a RiverWare Viewer license key."
    • Working with Reprise support regarding how to set up some customized product definitions, especially for the floating licenses (because we allow users to customize the configuration of their multi licenses).
    • Testing includes setting up the product definitions, creating license activation keys, activating the license key, and verifies the licenses activated can start RiverWare.
  • Setting up RLM License Generation (rlmgen) tool.
    • This tool is for in-house use only. The purpose is to provide an optional automated tool to generate simple license key for users by any CADSWES personnel.
    • Added a new product definition "Nodelock-Evaluation" which is default to a 60-day license. Total 11 product definitions now.
    • Completed the instruction file "RiverWare License Key Creation Guide (rlmgen)"
  • Finished installing the new RLM 11.3 release.
    • Downloaded, installed, configured, and built the new patch release 11.3 on scuba and spurwink. Passed the new files to Neil to incorporate into RiverWare 6.7.
    • Set up the build and release folders to contain the new files.
    • Started issuing new license files with the new version of license generating tool rlmgen and rlmsign.
    • Updated document RLM for RiverWare Configuration and Build Guide. All version numbers refer to the new release 11.3.
  • A RiverWare executable was created that links with a newer version of the Reprise license software (version 11.3). This will be used to test new licensing functionality in preparation for upgrading license software in RiverWare.
     
• [Jul] *** HIGHLIGHT ***
   
  • A new version of Reprise license software (version 11.3) was incorporated into the CADSWES development process. Both 32-bit and 64-bit tar files were made of the relevant libraries and dlls. These were added to the win-config.pl script that is used to update the tools directory of development machines. The RiverWare code base was modified to compile with the new version of Reprise and these changes were committed to both the RiverWare 6.7 and the master development branches of the RiverWare code. The 32-bit and 64-bit overnight builds machines were updated for the changes and instructions were sent to all developers regarding the updates. Other task details related to this Reprise license software are enumerated below.
     
• [Jul] Reprise:
  • Setting up Reprise Activation Pro License Center and database. (only minor progress this month).
  • RLM License Generation (rlmgen) tool.
    • Updated the instruction file "RiverWare License Key Creation Guide (with rlmgen)". Verified that version and location for all license program files are up to date.
  • Incorporated the new RLM 11.3 release into RiverWare 6.7.
    • Provided to Neil with the new 11.3 version configuration files for incorporating the new RLM version into the RiverWare development process. Tested and verified the new binary that contain the new RLM version.
    • Updated document RLM for RiverWare Configuration and Build Guide. Verified and modified the license program file version and location to the latest version.
       
• [Jul] Updated RiverWare License File Creation Guide. Verified that version and location for all license program files are up to date.  This procedure document is for internal use only.
  
  
• [Aug] Issued new license file with CPLEX key for all 14 CADSWES training computers.
  
• [Aug] Provided input to the release notes regarding Reprise upgrade to the latest 11.3 version in RiverWare 6.7 release.\
• [Aug] Worked on the issue regarding the hacked RLM’s DLL file (rlm#.dll) included in each RiverWare release. Communicated with Reprise support to get their inputs of how to solve and prevent this problem.

• [Aug] Reprise:
  • Updated the "network license server program" download zip files on the RiverWare download website to contain the new RLM 11.3 license server program files.
  • Worked on the issue of cannot build the RLM release 11.3 Solaris version because we don’t own a Solaris machine anymore.
  • Setting up and testing Reprise Activation Pro License Center and database.
  • Worked on implementing the online page and user instruction. (Only minor progress this month).
  • Worked on solving the roaming license error on the 32-bit client machine. After the roamed license has been returned to the license pool and the RLM_ROAM variable has been set correctly, RiverWare would not start even with a valid node-locked license. We discovered that restarting the client machine clear up the tangled roaming data left on the client machine. Based on the testing result, the online Roaming License User Guide was updated.

• [Sep] Reprise:
  • Tested and verified the procedure for upgrading RLM to a new version in RiverWare for floating license users. Compared the old RLM version to the new RLM version in RiverWare to identify the changes and differences in the new RLM version.
  • Continued working on setting up and testing the Reprise Activation Pro License Center and database. Worked on implementing the online page and user instructions. The current procedure is very tedious and has too many steps. Working on simplify the procedure for users.