Enable or Disable Client Licensing

ClearSCADA systems can be licensed at the ViewX client(s) or at the server. There are certain factors you should consider when deciding where to enable licensing:

• If the client is a work station that needs continuous access to the system, we recommend that you license at the client i.e. enable client licensing. When a client has licensing enabled, it can connect to any system to which it has a connection and a valid license. It can connect at any time and does not need to use a ‘floating license’ from the server (the server has a limited number of ‘floating licenses’ that it can allocate to clients). By using a client-side license, you stop the client from using any of the server’s ‘floating licenses’ which are designed to be allocated to clients that require occasional access.
• Licensing at the client also reduces the amount of configuration required as a new client can have its license configured locally. With server-side licenses, adding a new client means that a license for the client needs to be configured on each individual server. Setting up these individual licenses can take considerable time and effort as servers are usually some distance apart.
• If the client is a work station that only needs occasional access to the system, we recommend that you license at the server and disable client licensing. This will mean that the client will request a 'floating license' from the server when the client needs to connect with the system. If the server has a ‘floating license’ available, it will allow the client to access the system. However, if the server has its licenses in use by other client work stations, the client will be unable to connect to the system.

Ultimately, the type of license file that is supplied by Schneider Electric determines which of the licensing methods you need to use—you can only use client licensing if you are supplied with a client license file; you can only use server licensing if you are supplied with a server license file.

To enable or disable client licensing:

1. Display the Client Configuration Window for the connection that you want to add or edit.
2. Either:
   • Select the Use Client Licensing check box to enable client licensing for the selected client. The client will use its own license rather than request a ‘floating license’ from the server. This option should only be used with clients that are designed to access the system continuously.

     Or:

   • Clear the Use Client Licensing check box to disable client licensing for the selected client. The client will request a ‘floating license’ from the server when it attempts to connect to the system. This option should only be used with clients that are designed to access the system occasionally.

When you have enabled or disabled client licensing for the client, you can proceed to define the other client configuration settings. However, before the client license feature can be used, you will need to associate the client with the client license file (Associate a ViewX Client - System Connection with a Client License).