The Network License System™ (NetLS™) is an application licensing system used by Silicon Graphics® and other software vendors. This guide explains how to install, maintain, and administer the licenses that are required to run applications that use NetLS on Silicon Graphics workstations and servers.
NetLS's powerful features enable Silicon Graphics and other vendors to make software available for demonstration purposes, to make software quickly available from widely distributed compact disks (CDs), and to provide a more cost-effective means for sites to acquire the software they need.
NetLS was developed originally by Apollo™ Computer, Inc., a subsidiary of Hewlett-Packard™ Company. It has been ported to Silicon Graphics systems as well as to a variety of other vendors' platforms.
NetLS Versions Documented
This guide was prepared and released with IRIX™ Release 5.0.1. It describes the version of NetLS released at that time and prior versions of NetLS as well. Differences in the versions, such as those caused by a file system reorganization in IRIX Release 5.0.1 and changes to NetLS commands, are noted with phrases such as “on IRIX Release 5.0.1 and later” and “on IRIX Release 5.0 and earlier.”
To find out which IRIX release a system is running, give this command:
This guide is for:
Applications that use NetLS licensing are available from Silicon Graphics and from other software vendors.
Readers of this guide should know how to do the following:
Use a text editor such as vi(1), emacs(1), or jot(1G)
Check and set system dates with date(1)
Use ps(1) to check to see if particular commands are running
Perform simple networking checks such as ping(1M)
Log in remotely to other workstations on their network
Use inst(1M) to install Silicon Graphics software
Use versions(1M) to find out if particular subsystems are installed
In addition, some knowledge of the topology of their network may be required.
Chapter 1, “NetLS Concepts,” explains the basic concepts and operation of NetLS. It also lists the files associated with NetLS and the software required to create a NetLS environment on a network.
Chapter 2, “The Licensing Process,” gives an overview of the license process: how and when to acquire license passwords, how to set up a NetLS environment, and how to install licenses.
Chapter 3, “Installing Node-locked Licenses,” explains how to install node-locked licenses. This chapter is not applicable to concurrent licenses.
Chapter 4, “Setting Up Global Location Brokers and Network License Servers,” describes how to set up the NetLS environment that is required for using concurrent licenses. It is applicable to concurrent licenses only.
Chapter 5, “Installing Concurrent Licenses,” explains how to install concurrent licenses. This chapter is not applicable to node-locked licenses.
Chapter 6, “License Administration Tasks,” explains various license administration tasks that you may occasionally need to perform.
Chapter 7, “Global Location Broker and Network License Server Administration Tasks,” explains tasks that you may need to do to administer the daemons that operate in the NetLS environment when concurrent licenses are used.
Chapter 8, “Error Messages,” lists some of the error messages associated with NetLS that you may see while setting up a NetLS environment, while installing NetLS licenses, or while running applications that use NetLS. It explains the causes of error messages and suggests what to do when you see them.
Chapter 9, “Troubleshooting,” outlines a troubleshooting procedure that you can use to identify and solve various problems that can occur with NetLS.
This guide also includes a glossary and an index.
This guide does not cover how to add NetLS licensing while developing applications. Some features, such as the use of cells to partition networks into groups of systems, and the compound and use-once license types, are not covered in this guide.
Documentation Conventions
This guide uses several font conventions:
| italics | | Italics are used for command and manual page names, file names, variables, the names of buttons in graphical user interfaces, and the names of inst(1M) products and subsystems.
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| Courier | | Courier is used for examples of computer output.
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| Courier bold
| | Courier bold is used for commands and other text that the user is to type literally.
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You can find information about NetLS in these release notes:
NetLS Execution Only Environment Release Notes, which provide information on known bugs in NetLS software and changes since the previous release.
Release notes for software products licensed with NetLS, which provide licensing information that is specific to those products. Typically, these release notes list the type of license used by the product and which applications are licensed.
In addition, these manual pages are included in the subsystem netls_eoe.sw.netls_eoe (netls_eoe.sw.netls_eoe and nck.sw.nck on IRIX Release 5.0 and earlier):
| cls_admin(1M) | | display and edit the Concurrent License database using a command-line interface when X Window System™ libraries are not installed
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| cls_stat(1M) | | display the status of the Network License Server system using a command-line interface when X Window System libraries are not installed
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| drm_admin(1M) | | data replication manager administrative command
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| glbd(1M) | | daemon that runs on Global Location Brokers
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| glb_obj.txt(4) | | file specifying the object UUID of the Global Location Broker
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| glb_site.txt(4) | | file listing possible Global Location Broker sites
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| lb_admin(1M) | | location broker administrative command
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| llbd(1M) | | daemon that runs on Global Location Brokers and Network License Servers
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| ls_admin(1M) | | display and edit the Concurrent License database
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| ls_nodelock(1M) | | node-locked license installation command (IRIX Release 5.0.1 and later only)
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| ls_stat(1M) | | display the status of the Network License Server system
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| ls_rpt(1M) | | report on Network License Server events
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| ls_targetid(1M) | | print the NetLS target number for this system
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| ls_tv(1M) | | verify that Network License Servers are working
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| netlsd(1M) | | daemon that runs on Network License Servers
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| stcode(1M) | | translate a hexadecimal code to a textual message
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| uuid_gen(1M) | | UUID generating command
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| uuidname.txt(4) | | file associating names with UUID's
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Silicon Graphics and other distributors of Silicon Graphics products provide several comprehensive product support and maintenance programs for Silicon Graphics products. Silicon Graphics customers in the United States and Canada should call the Technical Assistance Center at 1-800-800-4SGI (1-800-800-4744). Other customers should contact their local Silicon Graphics sales office or service provider.
For product support information for NetLS-licensed software products manufactured by vendors other than Silicon Graphics, contact the product vendor.
To contact Silicon Graphics for licenses, see “Contacting Silicon Graphics License Administration” in Chapter 2.
