11. Licensing: What occurs when a non-trust license version of AutoPIPE is started?


Applies To
Product(s):AutoPIPE
Version(s):ALL;
Area: Licensing
Original Author:Bentley Technical Support Group
Date Logged
& Current Version		April. 2017
11.00.00.22

Problem:

What happens with respect to licensing when a non-trust license version of the program, AutoPIPE XM 08.09-xx.xx to AutoPIPE V8i 09.06.02.xx, is opened by a user?

Solution:

 Let us make some assumptions clear:

1. User is able to press Test connection button in LMT (License Management Tool) and following appears:

SELECTserver and Activation Key verified.

2. No Bentley licenses are currently checked out.

3. User has not started AutoPIPE in over 3 days.

Step #1:

User Starts AutoPIPE by selecting Icon on desktop or using Program listing hyperlink

AutoPIPE starts by displaying a splash screen

Step #2:

At this point, the program will try and license the last edition of the program (ex. Standard, Plus, Advance, or Nuclear),

For this demonstration assume that AutoPIPE Plus License Request was sent AutoPIPE and passes through the Bentley IEG security layer.

a. If AutoPIPE does NOT find Bentley IEG installed, program reverts to Demo mode

b. If AutoPIPE does find Bentley IEG installed, go to Step #3.

Step #3:

The AutoPIPE Plus License request passes through Bentley IEG and is sent to LMT. 

LMT looks at the License request and then compares the request against the list of products on the License Checkout tab. 

Is AutoPIPE PLUS listed?

a. NO -  dialog appears, No License found for AutoPIPE PLUS, Converting to DEMO.

b. Yes - goto Step #4:

Note, at this point all trust license applications, i.e. AutoPIPE V8i 09.06.03 and higher, will not prevent a user from using the application nor will it check out a license. LMT would send an  "AutoPIPE Plus License Request granted" signal back and the user can accomplish their work. At the end of the month program usage, number/type of licenses in use, would be compare against the contract. IF usage exceeds contract agreements, an invoice is sent out for that amount of overusage. If usage does not exceed contract agreement, no invoice is generated.

It is a benefit for the user to be able to get their work done with the application and features required and only having to pay a portion of a full license actually used. Account salespeople can always help modify a contract agreement to ensure the correct balance of licenses exist on a contract to help keep costs down. Paying for only what is needed. 

Step #4:

LMT checks to see the number of licenses currently available. Are there 1 or more Licenses available?

a. NO -  dialog appears, No License found for AutoPIPE PLUS, Converting to DEMO.

b. Yes - goto Step #5:

Step #5:

LMT Automatically checks out a license for 2 days against the user currently logged in (this is hard-coded in the licensing component). A new entry is made in the lower window on the License Checkout tab. This new entry tells the program

Step #6: 

LMT sends a signal to the SELECTServer updating the pool / usage count. Goto Step #7.

Step #7:

LMT sends an "AutoPIPE Plus License Request granted" signal back to BENTLEY IEG, Then from IEG the signal is received by AutoPIPE. 

Was License request granted?

a. NO -  dialog appears, No License found for AutoPIPE PLUS, Converting to DEMO.

b. Yes - the user is able to start using AutoPIPE Plus. Go to Step #8.

Step #8:

A. User closes AutoPIPE before check out time expires.

An "AutoPIPE Plus License is no longer being used, check-in" signal is sent from  AutoPIPE, back through Bentley IEG, to LMT. LMT looks at the signal and verifies, "Yes, this is a valid AutoPIPE Plus License signal, proceed to check-in". 

LMT automatically checks the license back in

a. The  check out entry in the bottom window on the License Checkout tab is removed.

b. The number of Available license next tot the respective product in the upper window on the License Checkout tab is increased by 1. 

c. SELECTServer is updated with pool / usage count. Goto Step #9.

B. User does not close AutoPIPE before check out time expires.

once the expire checkout data is reached , without warning to the user, AutoPIPE will automatically reverts back to demo mode, and at the same time LMT automatically performs all 3 steps mentioned above.

Step #9: 

Additional resources

a. All customers who sign up for Select had this sent to them: Term License Fact Sheet 

b. Confirm whether your product benefits from the 10-minute usage interval

c. How to Take Advantage of Bentley's Allowance for Usage Under 10 Minutes (Product List)

d. Non-pooled, Passport License Usage and How is it Calculated

How to Manage Usage

While SELECTserver cannot restrict usage, as noted in answer to the first question in the License Behavior FAQ, there are several ways in which you can manage and reduce your license usage.

        1. Restrict the number of computers on which the application is installed. Site administrators can manage which users have permission to download from Bentley's website by editing User Permissions on SELECTservices. For more information on how to manage user permissions, click here.

        2. Assure that your users are using the appropriate application for the job they are doing. For instance, if a user only needs to view a drawing, try using Bentley View. Bentley Navigator, which uses a Bentley Passport license, may also be a good alternative for viewing and analyzing drawings.

        3. Close your Bentley applications when you are not actively using them. Usage is reported for the full duration that the application is open, whether you are actively using it or not, so make sure to close the program before you step away from your computer or move on to do something else.

        4. Be aware of checked out licenses and their effect on your license usage. When a license is checked out, it reports usage for every hour for every day until either it is checked back in or its expiration date is exceeded. This can very easily lead to overusage. For many applications, our Product Activation Wizard presents an option to check out a license when activating. In most cases, you should skip this step. Checking out a license is most useful when you know you will not have connection to your SELECTserver for more than thirty days, but you will still need to access your application, such as when traveling to a work site with limited or no network access.

        5. Utilize Custom Activation Groups to ensure that users only have access to the license for the product that you want them to access.

Currently SELECTserver looks at usage based on a each hour of the day. To avoid overusage in the same hour best for 1st user to close AutoPIPE in order to check license back in and for 2nd user to wait an hour before starting the program. Again, this was all mentioned in the SELECTserver agreement that has been sent and agreed too by all users who signed it. .

Video of steps above using AutoPIPE XM and LMT

The video demonstrates before starting AutoPIPE  XM 08.09..xx.xx that no license are currently checked out in LMT. 

Once AutoPIPE has been started and LMT refreshes, a license has been automatically checked out but will expire with in 2 days of the current date.

Note: Products that utilize the Bentley IEG License Service (i.e. RAM, STAAD, AutoPIPE, SACS, and FormSys products) will check out licenses for a duration of two days. This is hard-coded in the licensing component.

After AutoPIPE is closed and LMT refreshes, notice that the checked out license has been automatically checked back in. 

See Also

Managing License issue

Bentley AutoPIPE