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Configuring the Clientđź”—

In order to use a license that is shared over the network, the consumer of the license (the client/ user) will need to set up their computer to connect to the sharable license server. The version of the protected software product that the user is running must also allow authorization by a shared license. The user can set their computer to look for licenses on the network instead of just locally in one of two ways:

Automatic Connection via the Activation Experienceđź”—

If the protected software uses the Activation Experience and allows for authorization to be provided by a license server, the Experience will first check to see if the computer launching the product is configured to use a network license. If the user has not configured their computer to use network licenses, they are given the option to enable network licenses and automatically attempt to connect to discoverable licenses servers on the network.

The Experience then continues and looks for available licenses for your product, finding local licenses first, then looking for remote licenses once network licenses are enabled. If the client does not have a local license but network connections are enabled, the wrapped application will look to see if a server on the network has an available license seat for the product. If one is found, the product will just launch with no additional interaction required by the user, unless the license server with the available license requires a password or other identity information from the user. If the only available network license is on a server that requires a password or identity information that the user has not entered, the user will see the software’s normal activation experience.

iLok License Manager Preferencesđź”—

Network connections can also be configured using the iLok License Manager application. The iLok License Manager allows a user to choose to automatically connect to public servers on their network. If a user needs to connect to a private server, identifying information about that server is needed from the server administrator. Once information about a private server is added to the user’s list of network connections, it is saved as a preferred server, and if automatic connections are enabled, a connection will automatically be made when the user is on that network.

Using a Configuration Fileđź”—

As the server administrator, you may create a configuration file for your users that contains all of the information needed to configure the connection on their client. This is especially helpful for LANs with subnets, virtual private networks, or if you require a password, client identity information, or if you set your server to be private. The users can then use the file to add your server to their connections on the client computers.

To provide a client configuration file:

  1. On the license server, in Preferences > Network > Server Admin, select the “Export Config File for Clients…” button.
  2. Name the file and select a save location.
  3. Send the configuration file to your users.

To configure a client computer using the provided configuration file:

  1. On the client computer, in Preferences > Network > My Connections, select the + button.
  2. Select “Add Server with Config File…”.
  3. Browse to the configuration file, select it, and click “Open”.

Manually Creating a Connectionđź”—

A connection can also be manually created by entering the IP address of the license server. The user simply uses the “+” button for My Network Connections on the Preferences > Network > My Connections page and chooses the “Add Server with IP Address…” option. When the IP address is entered, the iLok License Manager will attempt to locate the server. If the server is located, the user may be prompted to enter any additional information that the server requires, such as their name, phone number, email address, or a server password prior to the connection being made and saved. If the server is not located, the connection will still be saved, but the user may be prompted for any required information the first time they attempt to connect and use a license. Any connection that is created by the user, either with a configuration file or by entering the IP address manually, is saved as a preferred connection. If the user has set the “Automatically connect to license servers found on the network (LAN)” option, the license service will attempt to connect to these preferred servers or any public server when they are seen.