Licensing
Starting with release 19, Sonnet uses the Reprise License Management (RLM) Software to manage its licenses. RLM is a toolkit developed and marketed by Reprise Software.
A Reprise license is not compatible with Sonnet release 18 or before, which used FLEXnet licenses. If you need to run an old version and new version of Sonnet at the same time, you will need two different licenses.
Requesting Your License
If you do not have a Sonnet license file, before proceeding you must go to www.sonnetsoftware.com/license and submit a license request form. This form requires you to enter the Host ID of your license server computer.
License Server Computer
You must decide on a license server computer.
Node-locked Licenses: If you have a node-locked license, your local computer is the license server computer.
Floating Licenses: If you have a floating license, you should designate one computer in the network as the license server computer. The operating system of the license server computer does not need to be the same as the client computers. For details on the system requirements, please go to www.sonnetsoftware.com/requirements.
Obtaining Your Host ID
The Ethernet ID of your license server computer should be used as the Host ID for licensing. If you don't know the Host ID of your computer, you may run Sonnet and select Admin > License from Session tab, and then click the Host IDs sub-tab. The line labeled "Ethernet Address" contains your Host ID.
Your computer may have multiple Ethernet adapters, and thus multiple Ethernet IDs. The Ethernet adapter does not need to be the adapter with which you connect to the internet, but does need to be present when the software is in use. Wired adapters tend to be the most reliable. VPN adapters should not be used as they may disappear on disconnect.
You may also lock your license to a USB WiFi dongle that you purchase. Once installed, the Host IDs sub-tab should show its ID.
Installing Your License
The procedure for installing your license depends on the type of license you received from Sonnet. If you do not know your license type, the following explanation should help:
Node-locked License: A node-locked license permits Sonnet to run on a computer whose Host ID matches the Host ID in the license file. A node-locked license file should contain the following line near the top section of the file:
# REQUIRES_LICENSE_MANAGER: No
Floating License: A floating license permits Sonnet to run on any computer that has network access to the license server computer. A floating license file should contain the following line near the top section of the file:
# REQUIRES_LICENSE_MANAGER: Yes
A floating license requires installation of the license on the license server computer. Also, each client computer must be set up to refer to the license server. Instructions for both the server and client computers are given below.
Click one of the triangles below to expand the instructions which apply to your situation.
Node-locked LicenseNode-locked License
If you have a node-locked license, perform the following steps to install your license:
Select Admin > License from the main Sonnet Session tab.
Select Local for the License Server Type.
Click the Install New License File button.
A browse window appears.
Browse for the license file you received from Sonnet Software.
This step copies the license file to the appropriate location on your computer. A query box appears which depends on your particular situation.
Click the OK or Replace button in the query box that appears.
Click OK to exit the Sonnet Administration dialog box.
Floating License - License ServerFloating License - License Server Computer
If you received a floating license from Sonnet Software, perform the following steps on the computer you are using for your license server computer:
Select Admin > License from the main Sonnet Session tab.
Select Local for the License Server Type.
Click the Install New License File button.
A browse window appears.
Browse for the license file you received from Sonnet Software.
This step copies the license file to the appropriate location on your computer. In addition, it may add your server name to your license file which is necessary for your license to work properly. A query box appears which depends on your particular situation.
Click the OK or Replace button in the query box that appears.
If the license server processes are running, click the Stop Server button.
If the license server processes are not running, or you don't know, it is all right to click this button even though it does not do anything. If the license server processes are running, they will stop momentarily.
If you are renewing a license and the license server is running, you may skip stopping and starting the license server and simply reread the license. To do so, click the Reread License File button, press the Close button, and proceed to the last step in this procedure.
Wait at least 10 seconds and click the Close button in the information box.
Click the Start Server button.
The license server processes start. This may take a few seconds. The names of the two processes are rlm and sonnetusa. If a firewall warning pops up, click Allow (or equivalent). Once the license server starts, a message pops up telling you it has started.
If you are manually configuring your firewall, you must configure it to allow the two programs "rlm" and "sonnetusa" to run. You should allow TCP ports 5852 for rlm and 5853 for sonnetusa.
Click the Close button to close the message.
Click OK to exit the Sonnet Administration dialog box.
Floating License - ClientFloating License - Client Computer(s)
If you received a floating license from Sonnet Software, perform the following steps on your client computer(s) after the floating license has been installed on the license server computer:
Select Admin > License from the main Sonnet Session tab.
Select Remote for the License Server Type.
Enter the License Server Hostname.
A browse window appears.
Enter the port number for the license server.
By default, the port number is 5852. The port number is listed on the SERVER line of your license file. You should only change the port number under the direction of your system administrator.
Click OK to exit the Sonnet Administration dialog box.
Testing the License
To test your license, select File > New Geometry from the main menu of the Session tab. A Project Editor tab should appear with the label "Untitled", and you should not receive any error messages. This indicates that you could obtain a license. You are now ready to run Sonnet.
If an error appears, please record the error and then select Admin > Diagnostics > Trouble Report and send the report to Sonnet Tech Support.
Install License for All Users
If you wish to create this license for all user accounts instead of only creating the license in a single user account, select the checkbox Install license for all users. This checkbox is only available on Windows operating systems.
Once this check box is selected, all subsequent updates of the license for any of the affected users will require administration permissions regardless of whether this checkbox is selected or not.
Start License Server at Boot Up
If you are using a floating license, you may wish to start the license server processes when your license server computer boots up. The procedure for doing this is dependent on your operating system. See Running a Sonnet Program at Boot Up.
Environment Variables
Some system administrators prefer to use environment variables to point to their license. If you wish to use an environment variable to refer to your license file, you must enable this capability by following these steps:
From the Sonnet Session tab, select Admin > Diagnostics > Environment.
The Environment window appears, showing your environment settings.
Check the Use sonnetusa_LICENSE and RLM_LICENSE variables for licensing checkbox.
Click OK to exit the Environment window.
Restart Sonnet.
After performing these steps, Sonnet will use either the sonnetusa_LICENSE and RLM_LICENSE variables when looking for a license. These variables may be set to the full path to the license file or they may use the "port@host" format to refer to the license server.
Problems
If you experience a problem with your license, please open Sonnet on the computer with the problem and select Admin > Diagnostics > Trouble Report and follow the instructions. This process may take several minutes to complete. This information will help Sonnet Tech Support to troubleshoot your problem efficiently.
Reprise License Admin Manual
The Sonnet installation includes a copy of Reprise's License Admin Manual. The following procedure may be used to access the manual:
Select Admin > Diagnostics > Explore Sonnet Data Folder from the Session tab.
Navigate to the reprise folder.
The manual is a PDF file located in this folder.