ClearCase Licensing

ClearCase Licensing uses an active-user floating license scheme. A user must obtain a license, which grants the privilege to use Rational® ClearCase® on any host served by the same license server.

When a user runs a Rational ClearCase client utility, such as cleartool or a GUI program, that utility attempts to obtain a license. If it gets one, the user can keep the license for an extended period. Entering any Rational ClearCase command renews the license. If the user does not enter a Rational ClearCase command for a substantial period—by default, 60 minutes—another user can take the license.

A few commands and GUIs, primarily ones that are used for administration, do not require a license to run.

One or more hosts in the local area network are designated as Rational ClearCase license server hosts. Each license server host maintains a list of license keys, as described in License database format. Whenever a user runs a Rational ClearCase command that requires a license, a license-verification check is made. If the user has a license, the command runs. If the user does not have a license, the following steps occur:

The Rational ClearCase client software looks for the name of the license server host.
The command communicates with the license server process on the license server host, to see whether the user can get a license. (The license server process is actually the albd_server, performing these duties in addition to its other tasks.)
If a license is available, the license server grants the user a license and the command runs. The license remains valid as long as it is used at least once per time-out period. (The default time-out period is 60 minutes.)
If no license is available, the command displays an error message and exits.

License priorities
You can specify the priority at which available licenses are granted to specific users.
License report utility
The clearlicense utility produces a report on the licenses defined in the license database file and on current user activity. You can also use this utility to force a user to release a license, which makes it avaiable for use by another user.
Specifying a license server host
Each Rational ClearCase host must be configured to obtain licenses from a specific license server host. This configuration typically occurs during installation, and is often taken from a site default specified by the Rational ClearCase administrator.
Setting up a license server
The task of setting up a license server host is part of the Rational ClearCase installation process.
Moving licenses to another host
If a license database contains more than one set of licenses (that is, more than one license line), you can move some sets and not move others.
Renaming a license server host
Renaming a license server host does not invalidate its license authorization code; the code incorporates a hardware-level machine identifier, not its network host name.
License database format
A license database contains several kinds of lines. A line can define a multiple-iuser license, specify license priorities for individual users, or enable auditing of licensing activity.

Parent topic: License servers and license administration