Absoft Common License Manager
Introduction
Common License Manager (CLM) provides a customisable framework for software license management. It consists of a library, a license server, and several management tools.
Clients can either obtain their own license or reuse a license checked out by a parent process. This reuse allows a compiler to check out the license in the driver and hold it for the front and back ends; eliminating the chance of the back end being unable to get a license after the front end finishes its work.
CLM is designed to be customisable and extensible. To this end, several of the functions are made to be replaceable. There are four classifications for these functions, depending on their purpose: encoding, decoding, license matching, and human readable formatting. The default functions are provided both for reference, and to serve as examples.
The Absoft High Performance Computing Software Development Kit (HPC SDK) uses the Absoft Common License Manager to handle the licensing requirements of it's components. The Absoft Common License Manager (CLM) increases flexibility, simplifies software management and saves money.
IBM compilers are typically offered with a ‘named user’ license. However, as a result of special collaboration between Absoft and IBM engineering teams, IBM XL Fortran and XL C/C++ compilers are available exclusively through Absoft under control of the Absoft Common License Manager (CLM) which allows licenses to float. Floating licenses are most effective in the HPC environment where different users may require software tools for a limited time. Under control of CLM, ‘n’ licenses may float between different users, not to exceed ‘n’ simultaneous users. This is the most cost effective way to license software and greatly simplifies software management of all software components in the HPC SDK.