Configuring the Software Metering SMS Feature

Configuring Software Metering

The components involved in the software metering process:

• Site server: This is the place where you configure the components that support software metering, and specify which applications are included or excluded from the software metering process. The site server is also where you specify how many licenses are available, and the balancing of license information.

• Software metering server: The software metering server performs the following functions:

  • Obtains configuration information from the site server.

  • Obtains license information from the site server.

  • Maintains and stores software usage information received by client agents.

  • Replies to client requests for application access and licenses.

• Software metering database server: Used to store software metering information. The software metering database server is a separate database to the SMS database. To view information in the software metering database server, you need to use the Software Metering tool.

• SMS client running the Software Metering Client Agent: Clients that have the Software Metering Client Agent installed participate in the software metering process. The Software Metering Client Agent is configured by means of the site server.

The main functions of the Software Metering Client Agent are listed here:

• • Pass software usage information to the software metering database server.

  • Request licenses for clients.

  • Update component information on the client.

You can use Software Metering in either of the following modes:

• Offline mode: In offline mode, software usage is tracked without enforcing software compliance. The characteristics of offline mode are:

  • Tracks applications running on client computers.

  • Programs not intended to be monitored are excluded.

  • Prevents applications from being used, based on the computer name, or user account or group account.

  • Uses software usage data to generate usage data reports.

• Online mode: In online mode, software usage is tracked with the enforcement of software compliance. The characteristics of online mode are:

  • Tracks applications running on client computers.

  • Programs not intended to be monitored are excluded.

  • Prevents applications from being used, based on the computer name, or user account or group account.

  • Prevents applications from being used when there is no authorization.

  • Includes support for software license check-in and check-out for remote users.

  • Assesses and balances license usage in sites and between sites.

  • Includes a callback queue feature that allows users to utilize an application once a license becomes available.

  • Uses software usage data to generate usage data reports.

How to configure the software metering component

The different elements that you need to define when configuring the software metering component are listed here:

• Specify how the software metering server identifies program names and program versions.

• Specify the polling cycle schedules which will define how the site server and software metering servers communicate.

• Define the intersite license communication schedule.

• Define software metering data summarization.

To configure the software metering component,

1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

2. Expand the Site Settings node.

3. Locate the Component Configuration folder.

4. Right-click Software Metering and then select Properties from the shortcut menu.

5. The Software Metering Properties dialog box pens.

6. In the Product version policy area of the General tab, select the product version policy option that applies to the organization.

7. In the Program name policy area of the General tab, select the appropriate program name policy.

8. Click the Local tab.

9. Click the Schedule button within the License balancing area to set the frequency at which the site server checks whether there are any licenses that need to be transferred between the software metering servers.

10. Click the Schedule button within the Site management area to set how often the site server updates software metering servers with the following software metering data:

    • Licensed programs

    • Excluded programs

    • Registered programs

11. Click the Schedule button within the Data collation area to set how often the software usage data stored in the data cache on each software metering server is copied to the SMS software metering database, and then deleted from the data cache once it is copied.

12. Click the Intersite tab.

13. If you want to enable intersite license balancing, select the Schedule Intersite License Management option.

14. To change the license balancing schedule click the Schedule button and then modify the schedule as required.

15. In the Receipt time period box set the time period permitted for receiving intersite license confirmation.

16. Click the Data Summarization tab.

17. Click the Schedule Data Summarization checkbox to enable data summarization.

18. Click the Schedule button to specify when data summarization should occur.

19. Click OK.

How to define the Software Metering Site System

1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

2. Move to the Site Settings folder.

3. Expand the Site Settings folder.

4. Right-click the site system which you want to configure as a software metering server role and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.

5. The Site System Properties dialog box opens

6. Click the Software Metering Server tab.

7. Select the Use This Site System As A Software Metering Server checkbox.

8. Specify the database location for storage of the software metering data.

9. Ensure that the correct time zone setting is set.

10. Provide the service account details.

11. Specify the connection settings

12. Click OK.

How to configure the Software Metering Client Agent

You can only enable and configure the Software Metering Client Agent after you have configured at least one software metering server for the site.

To configure the Software Metering Client Agent

1. pen the SMS Administrator console.

2. Expand the Site Settings node.

3. Expand the Client Agents node.

4. Right-click Software Metering Client Agent and then select Properties from the shortcut menu.

5. The Software Metering Client Agent Properties dialog box opens.

6. Check the Enable Software Metering On Clients checkbox.

7. In the Retries area of the General tab, specify the retries value which will determine the amount of times which the client agent tries to connect to the software metering server and the delay interval between these attempts.

8. Enable the Force Real-Time License Verification checkbox if you want license and restriction tracking enabled as well.

9. Click the Timings tab.

10. In the Configuration Polling Interval box, specify how often, in minutes, the Software Metering Client Agent accesses the software metering server to determine whether there are any configuration modifications.

11. In the Client Time-Out Settings area of the Timings tab, provide the following information for client time-out:

1. • In the Live Status Acknowledgement Interval box, set how frequently the Software Metering Client Aent verifies that it is running.

   • In the Polling Interval For Timed-Out Clients box, set how often the software metering server checks for any clients that have timed out.

   • In the Client Time-Out Grace Period box, set the time for which the Software Metering Client Agent is allowed to run without verifying that it is running.

12. In the Callback Settings area of the Timings tab, provide the following information with regard to callback:

1. • Callback Request Duration setting.

   • Granted Callback Grace Period setting.

   • Callback Polling Interval setting.

13. Click the Checked-Out tab

14. Specify the appropriate message in the License Expiration Message textbox. The Software Metering Client Agent will show this particular message when the license that a user is utilizing is close to expiring.

15. Click the Denials tab.

16. Specify the appropriate message in the Product Use Denial Message textbox. The Software Metering Client Agent will show this message when a license is denied because of some restriction, even though there are licenses available.

17. Click the Inactivity tab.

18. Specify the appropriate message in the Inactive Product Message textbox. The Software Metering Client Agent will show this message when an application is inactive.

19. Click OK.

The Software Metering Client Agent installs on the client computer when either of these events occurs:

• When an update is performed on the client computer.

• When the following Client Component Installation Manager (CCIM) maintenance cycle is performed.

How to start the Software Metering tool

You can use the Software Metering tool to perform the following tasks, with regard to tracking applications:

• View software usage data

• Display software usage reports.

• Configure licenses.

• Configure restrictions

To start the Software Metering tool,

1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

2. Expand the Tools node.

3. Right-click Software Metering and select All Tasks, and then Start Software Metering from the shortcut menu.

4. The Software Metering tool is displayed.

How to register programs using the Software Metering tool

1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

2. Expand the Tools node.

3. Right-click Software Metering and select All Tasks, and then Start Software Metering from the shortcut menu.

4. The Software Metering tool is displayed.

5. In the Metered Software view window, select the New button.

6. The Add Product dialog box opens.

7. Select the Create New option and click OK.

8. Provide the following information in the Details area of the New Product dialog box:

1. • Product name

   • Serial number

   • Purchase date

   • Number of licenses

9. To track license usage for this program, enable the Enforce The License Limits For This Product checkbox.

10. Provide the following information in the File details area of the New Product dialog box:

1. • Program name

   • Serial number

   • Language

11. You must enable the Product Is A Suite Parent checkbox if the product is a suite parent.

12. Specify the appropriate time zone setting.

13. Click OK.

14. The product is registered.

How to add a program to the suite parent

1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

2. Expand the Tools node.

3. Right-click Software Metering and select All Tasks, and then Start Software Metering from the shortcut menu.

4. The Software Metering tool is displayed.

5. In the Metered Software window, choose the particular the suite entry from the Licensed Software list.

6. Right-click the suite entry and then select Properties from the shortcut menu.

7. When the Program Properties dialog box opens, click the Suite Membership button at the bottom of the Identification tab.

8. The Suite Membership dialog box opens.

9. Choose all the programs which should be added to the suite.

10. Click OK in the Suite Membership dialog box.

11. Click OK.

How to modify registered product properties

1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

2. Expand the Tools node.

3. Right-click Software Metering and select All Tasks, and then Start Software Metering from the shortcut menu.

4. The Software Metering tool is displayed.

5. In the Metered Software window, choose the program thats properties need to be modified from the Licensed Software list.

6. Right-click it and then select Properties from the shortcut menu.

7. The Program Properties dialog box opens.

8. On the Identification tab, you can change the following settings:

1. • Product name

   • Serial number

   • Purchase date

   • Number of licenses

9. Click the Permissions tab.

10. You can change which users and computers have access to the programs, and also change the times when the program can run.

11. Click the Alerts tab.

12. In the Alert Events area of the Alerts tab, select between the following options to specify when alert messages are triggered:

1. • Low licenses.

   • Out of licenses

   • Access denied.

13. In the Computer Inactivity area of the Alerts tab, check the Enable Inactivity Monitoring checkbox if you want track computer inactivity.

14. Specify the number of minutes of inactivity after which an action is carried out, and then select between the following actions:

1. • Generate event

   • Show warning dialog

   • Shut down application

15. Click the License Balancing tab.

16. In the License Balancing area of the License Balancing tab, you can configure the following settings:

1. • In the Minimum Percent Of Free Licenses Held At Software Metering Servers box, set the number of usage licenses that should be maintained at the software metering server. Once the number of usage licenses drops below this value, license balancing starts to look for any available licenses in the other sites.

   • In the Minimum Percent Of Licenses Held At Software Metering Servers box, set the number of free licenses and used licenses that should exist and be maintained at the software metering server.

17. In the Inter-Site License Balancing area of the License Balancing tab, set the number of licenses that should be maintained at the site server for distribution to software metering servers, should the software metering servers need more licenses.

18. If you need to immediately start enforcing license restrictions, ensure that the Do Not Enforce License Limits For This Product Until A Trend Has Been Calculated checkbox is cleared or unchecked.

19. Click the Rules tab.

20. Select the Enable Concurrent Licensing Of This Product checkbox if you want to enable the concurrent usage of a single product on one computer using one license.

21. When the previous setting is enabled, you can choose to enable the Multiple Instances Count As One checkbox. When enabled, one license enables the user to run multiple instances of the particular product.

22. Select the Allow License Extensions checkbox if you want licenses to permit the program to be run on multiple computers using the same license.

23. Select the License Expires checkbox if you want to specify an expiration date. Enter the expiration date in the accompanying box.

24. Select the Enforce The License Limits For This Product checkbox if you want to grant/deny licenses based on the license rules on the software metering server.

25. In the License Check-Out Options area of the Rules tab, you can enable the Allow licenses to be checked-out for this product checkbox.

26. Indicate the maximum check-out time, and specify whether the user should be informed that the license is due to expire.

27. Click OK.

How to alias a program

When you alias a program, you are able to distinguish one or more programs for monitoring as another registered program.

To alias a program,

1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

2. Expand the Tools node.

3. Right-click Software Metering and select All Tasks, and then Start Software Metering from the shortcut menu.

4. The Software Metering tool is displayed.

5. In the Metered Software window, right-click the program and then select Properties from the shortcut menu.

6. The Program Properties dialog box opens.

7. On the Identification tab, click the Aliasing button located at the bottom of the tab.

8. The Aliasing dialog box opens.

9. Click the New button.

10. When the Add A New Alias dialog box opens, provide the following information for the program to alias:

1. • Program name

   • Version

   • Language

   • Time zone

11. Click OK.

How to configure Resource Manager

1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

2. Expand the Tools node.

3. Right-click Software Metering and select All Tasks, and then Start Software Metering from the shortcut menu.

4. The Software Metering tool is displayed.

5. In the Metered Software window, select Resource Manager from the Tools menu.

6. The Resource Manager dialog box opens.

7. On the Users tab, click the New button to add the users which can be referenced when setting access permission for the registered program.

8. The Add New User dialog box opens

9. Enter the name of the user in the User Name textbox

10. Enter the call back priority in the Callback Priority box.

11. Click OK to return to the Resource Manager dialog box.

12. Click the Groups tab.

13. Click the New button to add the groups which can be referenced when setting access permission for the registered program.

14. The Add New Group dialog box opens

15. Enter the name of the group in the Group Name textbox

16. Click OK to return to the Resource Manager dialog box.

17. Click the Computers tab.

18. Click the New button to add the computers which can be referenced when setting access permission for the registered program.

19. The Add New Computer dialog box opens

20. Enter the name of the computer in the Computer Name textbox

21. Click OK.

22. Click OK in the Resource Manager dialog box.

How to generate a report using the Report Wizard

The Report Wizard can be used to generate the following reports:

• Callback Priority

• Detailed Product Use (Grouped By Product)

• Detailed Product Use (Grouped By User)

• Excluded Programs

• Last Client Run Time Sorted By Age

• Last Client Run Time Sorted By Computer

• Licensed Products

• Multiple Site Summary

• Product Denials

• Single Site Summary

• Software Metering Server Configuration

• Suites

• Total Use of Product (Grouped By Product)

• Total Use of Product (Grouped B User)

• Unlicensed Program Usage

To generate a report through the Report Wizard,

1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

2. Expand the Tools node.

3. Right-click Software Metering and select All Tasks, and then Start Software Metering from the shortcut menu.

4. The Software Metering tool is displayed.

5. Click the Tools menu and then click Report Wizard.

6. The Report Wizard initiates.

7. Click Next on the initial page of the Report Wizard.

8. On the Available Reports page, select the report which you want to generate in the Available Reports list. Click Next.

9. On the Report Range page, select the data ranges on which you want to report, for the following elements:

   • Product

   • Site

   • User

   • Computer

Click Next.

10. On the Date Range page, specify the date and time range for which the report should be generated, and then click Next.

11. Click Finish to generate the report.

How to generate a graph using the Graph Wizard

The Graph Wizard can be used to generate the following types of graphs:

• Area Graph

• Line Graph

• 2-D Bar Graph

• 3-D Bar Graph

• 3-D Perspective Graph

To generate a graph through the Graph Wizard,

1. Open the SMS Administrator console.

2. Expand the Tools node.

3. Right-click Software Metering and select All Tasks, and then Start Software Metering from the shortcut menu.

4. The Software Metering tool is displayed.

5. Click the Tools menu and then click Graph Wizard.

6. The Graph Wizard initiates.

7. Click Next on the initial page of the Graph Wizard.

8. On the Available Graph page, select the graph type which you want to generate in the Available Graphs list. Click Next.

9. On the Graph Range page, select the data ranges on which you want to generate the graph, for the following:

11. • Product

    • Site

    • User

    • Computer

Click Next.

10. Specify the date range, time range, number of units to graph, and the time period for each unit and then click Next.

11. Click Finish to generate the graph.