Managing CCLAS EL Licences
Related Topics
| Forms | See also |
|---|---|
|
.NET V3 forms: V2 forms: |
Overview
The CCLAS EL product licence is provided according to the licensing agreement with Datamine. The licence model is based upon the number of concurrent and non-concurrent users of the system.
Process
The Licence application manages CCLAS EL licences. Access to the Licence application is controlled by the AccessLevel LICENCE program setting.
When CCLAS EL is first installed, the supplied default staff code and password is CCLASMGR, CCLASMGR. Use this to log in for the first time, and then change the password to maintain security.
The CCLASMGR staff code has an access level of 3 for all CCLAS EL database tables, which means that this staff member has the ability to view, create and delete licensed CCLAS EL staff accounts from the LICENCE table.
The CCLAS EL Licence application comes in two styles: .NET V3 and V2.
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The .NET V3 Licence application is presented when the licenceapp.exe application is launched.
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The V2 Licence application is presented when the Licence.exe application is launched.
If you have not established a database connection and security protocol as yet, you are prompted to log in to CCLAS EL, otherwise your current connection and security protocol is used. Access to any application also depends on configured staff access.
Note: A CCLAS EL licence check is applied using case-sensitive server and database names.
Licence Table
The licence table contains a row for the CCLAS EL global licence, as well as a row for each licensed CCLAS EL staff account. All rows are encrypted.
A CCLAS EL staff account licence is defined by a computer name on the network, along with its description, last staff member to have logged into CCLAS EL, the date and time of last login, the date and time of last logout, and whether it is currently in use. This information is contained within the LICENCE table.
Licence Slots in the Licence Table
Each workstation must be licensed prior to using it to access CCLAS EL applications and the CCLAS EL database. The first time CCLAS EL is run on a particular workstation, the application attempts to register the workstation automatically into the LICENCE table. If all the licence slots are occupied and in use, or the non-concurrency count is exceeded, then before another staff member can log in, current logged in users must log off the system or the Licence application must be used to terminate sessions.
Licence Key
The application security model requires that a Licence Key is entered into the Licence module for CCLAS EL to function on an ongoing basis. A Licence Key is available from Datamine once the details required for the licence are sent to Datamine CCLAS EL Support.
The CCLAS 2.0 releases, onwards, have an application security model that requires the entry of a Licence Key into the Licence application so that CCLAS EL functions on an ongoing basis.
This security model includes the Licence Server ‡ in the Licence Key, and prohibits CCLAS EL applications and databases being installed into new sites or servers without obtaining a specific Licence Key for that server.
‡ Where CCLAS EL detects that the server is part of an SQL Server Failover Cluster, so that a server check does not fail after failover, upon which CCLAS may not be connected to the same server written in the licence table but to a different server in the cluster, then CCLAS EL validates the licence using the server cluster name, or if the server cluster name is undetectable, then using a valid node of the cluster, instead of the server name.
Note: The query used to return the cluster name assumes it is part of an Always On availability groups and has WSFC quorum, so is not 100% guaranteed.
When a CCLAS 2.0 release, or later, is installed for the first time, then the user is prompted to obtain a new Licence Key from Datamine. The site has 28 days to obtain and install a new Licence Key for continued operation of CCLAS EL.
Any subsequent movement from the nominated Licence Server to another server also requires that a new Licence Key is received from Datamine.
Licence Keys are provided for existing CCLAS EL sites.
The GLOBAL LICENCE KEY record in the LICENCE table now has the following structure:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
|
1 - 4 |
Number of concurrent users. |
|
5 - 8 |
Number of non-concurrent users. |
|
9 - 14 |
Licence Key. |
|
15 - 22 |
Expiry date. |
|
23 - ## |
Server Name & "|^&" & Database name |
|
Right (11) |
"~*#" + checksum (8 digits) |
Viewing the Expiry Date for the Licence Key
The Help About window, accessible from any CCLAS EL application, displays the expiry date for the Licence Key.
Viewing the CCLAS EL Licence
When the V3 or V2 Licence application is launched, then the Licence Server from the licence key is validated as follows:
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Firstly by checking whether the server matches a connected server, and if it does match, then licence details display, and if it does not match, then
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Secondly by checking whether the server matches a server cluster name, and if it does match, then licence details display, and if it does not match, then an error results, such that, users are not able to update the licence.
Updating the CCLAS EL Licence
Datamine supplies the CCLAS EL licence either as a file or as a hardware sentinel that is programmed with the required number of users.
A licence file can only be applied ONCE to update the CCLAS EL licence.
Update the CCLAS licence using a file
Update the CCLAS licence using a sentinel (CCLAS 2 Licence application only)
Where a new licence is required, first save your current licence details to a file, then send that file and new licence requirements to Datamine.
Save licence details to a CSV file
Managing Licence Slots
A workstations is assigned to a licence slot where there is a need to always have that workstation connected to CCLAS EL. A licence slot assignment is only possible where there are non-concurrent licence slots available. That is, the number of non-concurrent users licensed denotes the number of workstations that can potentially make a connection to CCLAS EL.
Where a workstation is assigned to a licence slot, the activation of that licence slot, which marks it as In Use, is only possible where there are concurrent licence slots available. That is, the number of concurrent users licensed denotes the number of workstations that may be active at one time.
Where a user has forgotten to log out of CCLAS EL, and are tying up a licence slot uselessly, given that the user is not currently undertaking a transaction to the CCLAS EL server, then the user can be forced logged out. Care must be taken to ensure that unsaved data entered by the user is not lost.
Add to the list of licensed computers
Edit a CCLAS workstation licence (CCLAS 2 Licence application only)
Delete a CCLAS workstation licence
Refresh the list of licensed users
Licence Log File
A LicenceLog_mmddyyyy.txt log file is created in the Bin folder. The licence check information is written to the file upon a user Logging In To a Laboratory, This log file can be provided to CCLAS support when there is a requirement to investigate CCLAS licencing issues. These log files are created daily so that they can be kept to a minimal size and deleted, as required.
Licence Expiry and Warning of Expiry
The clsSecurity class establishes a warningDay range for licence expiry, such that, when Logging In To a Laboratory, launching any V2 or V3 application or accessing the Help » About dialog from any CCLAS EL application, then the CheckLicenceExpiryDate method is run, and if the CCLAS EL licence is about to expire, then a licence expiry warning dialog is displayed that the user cannot close for at least one minute, the duration of which is indicated by a progress bar.
When the V3 Menu application is launched, or indeed, any V3 application, if licence expiry is to occur within a given number of days, then a warning is given in the screen header next to the menu title: A discrepancy has been detected between the expected and actual Licence conditions in the CCLAS installation. Please contact Datamine Support Centre... to obtain a new Licence Key. This software version will expiry on DD/MM/YYYY. Before this time a new Licence Key MUST be obtained.
The number of days warning is defined by the LicenceExpiryDays GLOBAL setting, and if that is not defined, is then seven days.
Licencing messages include the email and phone numbers for CCLAS Support so that users can more easily notify Datamine of licence expiry or renewal issues.
