1 Network License Server Overview

You may use a computer network to set up a license server and client(s). To do this, use one computer to host the license server and license files. Then, other networked computers can contain compilers and license managers that are configured to acquire licenses from the license server.

Only computers with operating systems that are supported by MPLAB XC C compilers can be used to host the license server.

To install the network license server, follow the steps in Network License Server Installation. These will install the network-specific license files onto a computer that is available on the same network as the License Client machines. You only need one license server on a network and it can run on any suitable computer. The computer need not be running a server-grade OS.

The installer does not start the server for you. See Network License Server Startup.

To install a license client, follow the steps in “Installing and Licensing MPLAB XC C Compilers” (DS50002059), Section 2.2.2 “Install a Compiler and Connect to the Network Configuration (Client).” This installation process will ask for details about the network license server. The operating system for the client does not have be the same one used for the server, but it must be supported.

Once configured, compiler executions on the network license client will connect to the network license server to check out a license. This license will be available for immediate use. However, when the compiler is exited, there is a 60-minute delay before that server license can be used by other clients.

Note: Microchip recommends that the network (and/or the computer that the server is installed on) should not be exposed to the public internet for safety/security reasons. If the customer wants to access the License Server remotely, they must do so by using a VPN to connect to the network on which the license server resides (typically the workplace network).

Figure 1-1. Network License Client/Server Model

Table 1-1. Terminology
Term	How Used in this Document
check in	The act of releasing the license for a product.
check out	The act of requesting a license for a product.
client	The computer that the licensed software runs on.
ISV	Independent Software Vendor, i.e., Microchip.
license	The right to use a product, incorporated into a short text description. Referred to by the product name.
license manager	A software component that keeps track of the right to use a software product. This is the xclm executable.
license server	Part of the license manager that controls access to licenses. The License Server is an optional component, only required when network licenses are used.
network (license)	A license on a network; in other words, one which can be used by anyone who can access the license server.
product	The software that is licensed. XC compilers, etc.
product name	The name used by the product to request its license.
roam in	The act of returning a roamed out license to the license server.
roam out	The act of removing a license from the license server so that it will reside on a client, allowing the client to be used when it does not have access to the license server.
virtual machine	A virtual machine is the virtualization/emulation of a computer system. Virtual machines are based on computer architectures and provide functionality of a physical computer. Their implementations may involve specialized hardware, software, or a combination.
workstation (license)	A license which can be used only on a particular specified computer.

Table 1-2. License Server Software Platforms
Platform	Versions
Linux^®	All 64-bit versions
macOS^®	10.15 and above
Windows^®	Windows 10 and above