Single License Serwer and Multiple Networks?

[bienieck]

I tried discussing the NI license server with sales, especially in cases where the company has several isolated networks, but I didn’t receive many detailed responses. Could I get some advice here on how to prepare the infrastructure so that the NI license server can be used when development computers are in one network and the production lines are in others?

How can multiple networks access the single license server? Should there be separate servers, or is this purely a network issue? If so, could I get some guidance on how to handle this?

Do I need to use disconnected licenses? Is there something like a cloud-based private license server available (I heard that it is available in FlexNet)?

[Ramamoorthy_V]

Please refer to the following link for more information:

Access NI Volume License Manager from a Different Network or Behind a Firewall - NI

[bienieck]

Thanks. What about cloud-based private license server using FlexNet? Is it possible?

[santo_13]

Some features may not be available when choosing FlexNet instead of NILM/VLM

https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA03q000000YH80CAG&l=en-US

[bienieck]

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@santo_13 wrote:

Some features may not be available when choosing FlexNet instead of NILM/VLM

https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA03q000000YH80CAG&l=en-US

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and to be more precise, not supported are:

• overdraft,
• disconnected licenses,
• home exception.

If I'm not mistaken, those types are also not supported under the concurrent use license, but this probably won't be a problem.

The link you provided appears to describe a solution similar to NI VLM rather than a cloud-based server, correct? I was thinking more along the lines of something like the Revenera FlexNet Cloud Licensing Service, where the license server is managed as a service by Revenera FlexNet. Here, it’s mentioned that FlexNet Publisher can be an on-premises service hosted by Revenera and managed by a supplier.

What I had in mind was a true cloud-based service that could host all my licenses, making them accessible globally to all my machines, regardless of location, with no IT infrastructure to manage on my end. However, I’m unsure if a service like this exists and could be integrated with NI software.

[santo_13]

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@bienieck wrote:

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@santo_13 wrote:

Some features may not be available when choosing FlexNet instead of NILM/VLM

https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA03q000000YH80CAG&l=en-US

---

and to be more precise, not supported are:

• overdraft,
• disconnected licenses,
• home exception.

If I'm not mistaken, those types are also not supported under the concurrent use license, but this probably won't be a problem.

The link you provided appears to describe a solution similar to NI VLM rather than a cloud-based server, correct? I was thinking more along the lines of something like the Revenera FlexNet Cloud Licensing Service, where the license server is managed as a service by Revenera FlexNet. Here, it’s mentioned that FlexNet Publisher can be an on-premises service hosted by Revenera and managed by a supplier.

What I had in mind was a true cloud-based service that could host all my licenses, making them accessible globally to all my machines, regardless of location, with no IT infrastructure to manage on my end. However, I’m unsure if a service like this exists and could be integrated with NI software.

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A true public cloud based is a pain in a few ways for this use case, especially security and authentication. With recent cloud service outages and security incidents, Enterprises have to tread carefully to choose what to provide as cloud and what not, especially to see if there is value in investing a lot of effort to make it secure.

[bienieck]

I understand the concerns you wrote about, but of all the cloud services, the license server seems the least controversial (at least in the context of the company I'm thinking about). Or do you mean that this could be a problem for NI?

Cloud service outage shouldn't be a big problem either, given the availability of temporary offline licenses.

[santo_13]

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@bienieck wrote:

I understand the concerns you wrote about, but of all the cloud services, the license server seems the least controversial (at least in the context of the company I'm thinking about). Or do you mean that this could be a problem for NI?

Cloud service outage shouldn't be a big problem either, given the availability of temporary offline licenses.

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I am guessing from the business decision on the value vs investment to revamp against the industry trend. Enterprises tend to be very careful regarding security and cloud infrastructure; often, they choose to stay away from the cloud rather than risk lawsuits, especially since Emerson acquired NI. No decision is going to be simple, and they will be scrutinized to retain their brand value.