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Setting up Redundant License Servers on UNIX This chapter describes how to set up UNIX license servers in a fault-tolerant configuration known as redundant servers. It includes the following topics:
- Redundant Server Configuration
- Installing the License Server Software
- Setting Up the Redundant Server License Files
- Restarting FLEXlm When a Server Reboots
- Setting up Applications to Use Redundant Servers
Redundant Server ConfigurationRedundant servers are a system of three servers that work as a team to manage a single pool of floating license keys. If one of the server systems goes down, the other two license servers automatically continue to manage the license pool. This type of redundant configuration requires that a minimum of two license servers be running at all times. If two servers go down, licenses will be unavailable until one of the servers is restarted.
Warning: It is a common misconception that separating redundant servers across multiple sites (for example, one in the U.S., one in Europe, and one in Asia) provides maximum fault tolerance. This is not the case. Redundant server partners should always be at the same site and on the same subnet.
Figure 10 shows the redundant server configuration.
A homogeneous redundant server setup is recommended (that is, all servers are running the same operating system); however, heterogeneous environments are supported. For example, you could have two license servers running Solaris and one running HP-UX.
Figure 10 Redundant Server Configuration
Note: A Windows license server is not a supported platform in a UNIX redundant server setup.
Each license server must have its own copy of the license file and the license software must be installed locally (NFS is not supported). Each server runs a FLEXlm lmgrd process and a rational daemon process to manage licenses.
HTML versions of the FLEXlm User Guide and FLEXlm Frequently Asked Questions are provided online in the /docs directory. To access these guides type rsdsu_help. The FLEXlm Frequently Asked Questions includes important information about setting up redundant servers.
Installing the License Server SoftwareYou can install the FLEXlm license server software on all three servers without installing the product using rs_install. In fact, if this is a first-time installation, this is probably the best method. rs_install cannot import a redundant server license file directly, so it is necessary to set up the license file as described in Setting Up the Redundant Server License Files. The section Setting up Applications to Use Redundant Servers provides tips for running rs_install after you have set up your redundant license servers.
If this is an existing installation and the license server software is already installed on one system, go ahead and follow this procedure to install the license server software on the secondary and backup machines. Complete all the tasks in this chapter and refer to the section Setting up Applications to Use Redundant Servers for instructions on what to do next.
To install the license server software:
- 1 Obtain copies of the FLEXlm license server software by doing one following:
- a
Locate the FLEXlm license server software on the Rational Solutions for UNIX CD. The files are in the following location: extras/flexlm/$SYS/7.0f.- b
If you cannot find the FLEXlm tar file for the platform you need, you can go to the following FTP site ftp://ftp.rational.com/public/tools/flexlm and download it. Occasionally, downloading the file causes the periods in the filename to be replaced with underscores. If this happens, simply rename the file replacing the underscores with periods.
Note: SunOS 4.x and IRIX 5.x are no longer supported by version 7.0f of FLEXlm. As a result, these systems cannot be used as license servers.
- 2 Copy the FLEXlm files to the $FLEXROOT directory on all three servers. The term $FLEXROOT is used herein to represent the location from which you plan to run FLEXlm.
Note: If you downloaded the software from the FTP site, you will have to unpack the files as shown in the example below.
Example using the HP-UX tar file:
Make sure the input file (if=) flexlm.7.0f.hp.tar.Z is in the local directory ($FLEXROOT).
Warning: Be sure to copy the appropriate tar file for the platform on which you are installing.
Setting Up the Redundant Server License FilesThe following is a high-level summary of the steps you need to perform to set up the redundant server license files.
- 1 You need to get a license key for redundant UNIX servers. For more information, see Licensing Requirements for Redundant Servers.
- 2 Place copies of the same license file on each of the three license servers and ensure that the order of the SERVER lines is the same in each file. For more information, see Renaming License Files.
- 3 Assign a TCP/IP port to each server. For more information see, Assigning TCP/IP Ports.
Licensing Requirements for Redundant Servers
You need to have a license file for a redundant server setup before you can proceed. You can verify this by opening the license file and checking for three server lines. If you do not have a three-server license file, you will need to return your single server license file and request a new redundant server license file.
- 1 Determine the host names for the machines that you plan to use as your primary, secondary and backup servers.
- 2 Go to AccountLink (http://www.rational.com/accountlink) and request a license for redundant servers. Be sure to specify the redundant servers in the correct order:
- Host ID is the primary server
- Host Name #2 is the secondary server
- Host Name #3 is the backup server
Note: If you do not have an internet connection, see Requesting License Keys by Fax.
Renaming License Files
The license file (license_for_primary.upd) needs to be copied to the $FLEXROOT directory. You need to maintain this file on all three servers.
Copy and rename the file to rational.dat as shown below:
Assigning TCP/IP Ports
You must assign a TCP/IP port number to each server by modifying the port assignment in each SERVER line.
Warning: There is a known problem in FLEXlm that prevents redundant servers from communicating with each other if you use the default port numbers: 27000 to 27009. Use a port number between 1501 and 26999. Ensure that the port number you use is not in conflict with any other TCP/IP services.
To specify the TCP/IP port number:
- 1 Choose three port numbers between 1501 and 26999 to use for each server. Note that the same port number can be used for each server, or the port numbers can be unique.
- 2 Check that the port is not already in use. (Port 1706 is used in the sample commands below.)
- Check the etc/services file
- Check the NIS services by using the ypcat services command.
- 3 Edit the license file to use the new port numbers.
Configuring and Starting the License Servers
You must do the following to start the license servers:
- You must configure the start script for each server. This is best done by copying a template file and modifying it.
- You must start each license server manually by using the start_lmgrd script.
Configuring the Start Script
Working from the $FLEXROOT directory, you need to create a start script for each server. A template start script can be obtained at the following FTP site: ftp://ftp.rational.com/public/tools/flexlm/start_lmgrd
- 1 Copy the template file to the $FLEXROOT directory on all three license servers.
- 2 You need to set the following four variables in the start_lmgrd script.
The above examples show FLEXlm being installed in the same location, using the same license file name, and the same user. This helps simplify the setup and makes it easier to maintain.
Starting License Servers
After you have completed the following, you are ready to start all three license servers:
- You have installed the FLEXlm license server software on all three servers.
- You have copied the redundant server license file to the $FLEXROOT directory on all servers.
- You have configured the start scripts for all servers.
The servers must be started in the correct order: primary, secondary and backup.
- 1 Start the primary server by entering the following commands:
- 2 Repeat Step 1 for the secondary and backup servers.
- 3 Check the status of each server:
- 1 Stop each license server by entering the following command:
- 1 Check the Rational INCREMENT line by running the exinstal command:
Problems starting the license server
If the license server will not start, check the corresponding lmgrd log file (specified by LICENSE_LOG in start_lmgrd).
- 1 Error message: ulimit: bad ulimit
- 2 If there are any other problems, check that the start scripts reference the correct license file (LICENSE_DAT), the license directory (LICENSE_DIR), and the license log file (LICENSE_LOG). Mail the start scripts, the license files, and the log files to support@rational.com. For more information about contacting Rational Licensing Support see Contacting Rational Licensing Technical Support.
Restarting FLEXlm When a Server RebootsAll three license servers should be set up to be restarted at boot time. This is accomplished by copying the start script to the appropriate system directory.
Note: For security reasons, it is recommended that you do not run lmgrd as root. It is recommended that you run lmgrd as a user by setting the LICENSE_USER variable. The user id that you specify, must exist on the system that runs the start script. In the example below, the user is set to "joe".
In previous releases, Rational used the filename SlmRational.sh in the system start directories. If there is an SlmRational.sh file under any of the /etc/ or /sbin directories they should be removed and replaced with S98Rational.
The following sections provide the start script commands for each operating system.
Note: You must be root to perform these steps.
Sun Solaris
If you need to remove a reference to the SlmRational.sh file, use the following command to do so:
HP-UX
If you need to remove a reference to the SlmRational.sh file, use the following command to do so:
SGI IRIX
If you need to remove a reference to the SlmRational.sh file, use the following command to do so:
IBM AIX
Edit /etc/inittab and add a line to run the start script using /bin/sh:
Setting up Applications to Use Redundant ServersThis section explains how to set up your applications to use the new redundant licenser server file.
Product is not installed
- 1 Install the product by running rs_install. For complete instructions, see Installing the Product.
- 2 Choose option 1, use an existing FLEXlm license file, from the Licensing Options Menu.
- 3 Enter the location of the license file (port@host) for all three license servers (for example, 1706@primary:1706:secondary:1706:backup).
Product has been installed
- 1 Run the command license_setup.
The license_setup command allows you to run a subset of rs_install that includes setting up license options and running the license check sequence.
- 2 Choose option 1, use an existing FLEXlm license file, from the Licensing Options Menu.
- 3 Enter the location of the license file (port@host) for all three license servers (for example, 1706@primary:1706:secondary:1706:backup).
- 4 Proceed with the License Check Menu. Choose options 3 and 4. You do not need to run option 2 because you have already done this when you started the license servers.
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