Geovariances: Where no one has gone before

Overview

• Isatis is protected by a licensing system where the rights to use are determined by a license file.
• Isatis supports two licensing models:
  
  
  • Node-locked (on Windows only): the license is attached to one specific computer.
  • Floating: the license allows several concurrent software sessions and handles heterogeneous operating systems (Windows, Unix and/or Linux) over a local area network (LAN).

How does it work?

• The right to use Isatis is managed by a license manager (Geovariances proprietary) which delivers tokens and ensures the number of concurrent sessions does not exceed the number of tokens.
• A token provides the right to use a specific module of Isatis.
• The license manager is installed on one computer which is identified by its hostid. The hostid refers either to a hardware part of the computer or to an USB dongle.

Licensing models

• Floating license (multi-user)
  
  
  • The floating license allows to share an authorized number of tokens over the network.
  • Tokens are delivered by a license server which is a computer on the network. It could be either a dedicated network server or any computer where Isatis is run.
  • Tokens are allocated dynamically to client machines which can be any computer connected to the server through a local area network (a token being checked-out when a user begins using module on a client computer and checked-in when the user finishes using the module).
  • There is no restriction on the number of client computers on which Isatis can be installed.
    
• Node-locked license (single-user)
  
  
  • The node-locked license is tied to one specific computer.
  • Isatis can be run either on a machine of the network or in standalone mode (i.e. disconnected from the network), which is appropriate to laptops.
    
• Dongle-based license (Windows only)
  
  
  • A dongle is a hardware device that plugs into a USB port to allow a protected software to start.
    
    The use of Isatis is restricted through the installation of the dongle and the related license file.
  • The dongle can be easily switched from one computer to another, i.e. any PC can run Isatis as long as the dongle is connected to it and the related license file is installed on this machine.
    
    Therefore, a new license file is not required when the computer hostid is modified (i.e. after re-installing the OS or upgrading the hardware).
    
    A dongle is used:
    
    
    • either with a node-locked license:
      Isatis can be installed and used on different computers but not simultaneously.
      This configuration is best suited for the user who plans to work on different PC’s or PC and laptop (i.e. office and home, or when traveling).
    • or with a with a floating license:
      Any PC in the network can then act as the server.
      This latest configuration enables license borrowing for a limited time period. Any of the Isatis modules (Modeling, Faults, Simulations, 3D Viewer) can be check out from the dongle acting as the license server and return back to the pool of available licenses within this period. A new temporary license file is created and stored on a spare dongle.