FLEXlm
Encyclopedia
FlexNet Publisher is a common software license manager
from Flexera Software
which implements license management
and is intended to be used in corporate environments to provide floating license
s to multiple end users of computer software.
Computer software can be licensed in a variety of ways. A license to use a piece of software may be associated with a specific machine (node-locked), permitting it to only run on that machine (node in a network
); alternatively, a company may buy a pool of floating licenses and these licenses may be allocated dynamically to machines, a license being checked-out when a user begins using the software on any given machine and checked-in when the user finishes using the software. In this way, for example, a company might buy a pool of 50 licenses but support a user community of hundreds of occasional users of the software (so long as no more than 50 users ever want to use the software simultaneously).
in 2000. Combining features from the Safecast
protection system and FLEXlm, FlexNet featured product activation
and executable wrapping, supporting floating licensing
and node locked licensing models. Macrovision subsequently renamed FLEXlm to FLEXnet Publisher.
The original FLEXlm development team moved on to develop the Reprise License Manager (RLM) at Reprise Software in 2006.
On the 1st of April 2008 Macrovision's Software Business Unit, which included FLEXnet Publisher, was sold to the private equity company Thoma Cressey Bravo
and subsequently relaunched as Acresso Software. It was a cash transaction valued at approximately $200 million.
In October 2009 Acresso Software announced its name change to Flexera Software and FLEXnet Publisher was changed to FlexNet Publisher.
In July 2011 it's announced that Teachers' Private Capital, the private investment department of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Flexera Software from Thoma Bravo, LLC, a private equity firm.
The product is currently marketed by Flexera Software as FlexNet Publisher.
products and can make Linux
-based systems unable to boot.
License manager
A license manager is a software management tool used by software vendors or by end-user organizations to control where and how software products are able to run. License managers protect software vendors from losses due to software piracy and enable end-user organizations to enforce compliance with...
from Flexera Software
Flexera Software
Flexera Software is a software publisher formerly known as Acresso Software. Among their products are the FlexNet Publisher license manager and the InstallAnywhere and InstallShield installation packagers....
which implements license management
Copy protection
Copy protection, also known as content protection, copy obstruction, copy prevention and copy restriction, refer to techniques used for preventing the reproduction of software, films, music, and other media, usually for copyright reasons.- Terminology :Media corporations have always used the term...
and is intended to be used in corporate environments to provide floating license
Floating licensing
Floating licensing is a software licensing approach in which a limited number of licenses for a software application are shared among a larger number of users over time. When an authorized user wishes to run the application they request a license from a central license server. If a license is...
s to multiple end users of computer software.
Computer software can be licensed in a variety of ways. A license to use a piece of software may be associated with a specific machine (node-locked), permitting it to only run on that machine (node in a network
Computer network
A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....
); alternatively, a company may buy a pool of floating licenses and these licenses may be allocated dynamically to machines, a license being checked-out when a user begins using the software on any given machine and checked-in when the user finishes using the software. In this way, for example, a company might buy a pool of 50 licenses but support a user community of hundreds of occasional users of the software (so long as no more than 50 users ever want to use the software simultaneously).
History
FLEXlm was originally a joint development by GLOBEtrotter Software and Highland Software in 1988. Highland's rights to the FLEXlm product were acquired by GLOBEtrotter in 1994; Highland continued as a reseller of 3rd party software. GLOBEtrotter was then acquired by MacrovisionMacrovision
Rovi Corporation is a globally operating, US-based company that provides guidance technology, entertainment data, copy protection, industry standard networking and media management technology for digital entertainment devices and services...
in 2000. Combining features from the Safecast
SafeCast
SafeCast was a registered trademark for Macrovision's legacy software protection system. Safecast features product activation , and executable wrapping technology...
protection system and FLEXlm, FlexNet featured product activation
Product activation
Product activation is a license validation procedure required by some proprietary computer software programs. In one form, product activation refers to a method invented by Ric Richardson and patented by Uniloc where a software application hashes hardware serial numbers and an ID number specific...
and executable wrapping, supporting floating licensing
Floating licensing
Floating licensing is a software licensing approach in which a limited number of licenses for a software application are shared among a larger number of users over time. When an authorized user wishes to run the application they request a license from a central license server. If a license is...
and node locked licensing models. Macrovision subsequently renamed FLEXlm to FLEXnet Publisher.
The original FLEXlm development team moved on to develop the Reprise License Manager (RLM) at Reprise Software in 2006.
On the 1st of April 2008 Macrovision's Software Business Unit, which included FLEXnet Publisher, was sold to the private equity company Thoma Cressey Bravo
Thoma Cressey Bravo
Thoma Cressey Bravo, formerly Thoma Cressey Equity Partners, is a private equity and growth capital firm based in Chicago and San Francisco...
and subsequently relaunched as Acresso Software. It was a cash transaction valued at approximately $200 million.
In October 2009 Acresso Software announced its name change to Flexera Software and FLEXnet Publisher was changed to FlexNet Publisher.
In July 2011 it's announced that Teachers' Private Capital, the private investment department of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Flexera Software from Thoma Bravo, LLC, a private equity firm.
The product is currently marketed by Flexera Software as FlexNet Publisher.
Issues with Bootloaders
Due to the way the DRM works, FlexNet Publisher is incompatible with TrueCryptTrueCrypt
TrueCrypt is a software application used for on-the-fly encryption . It is free and open source. It can create a virtual encrypted disk within a file or encrypt a partition or the entire storage device .- Operating systems :TrueCrypt supports Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and...
products and can make Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
-based systems unable to boot.
See also
- License managerLicense managerA license manager is a software management tool used by software vendors or by end-user organizations to control where and how software products are able to run. License managers protect software vendors from losses due to software piracy and enable end-user organizations to enforce compliance with...
- Product activationProduct activationProduct activation is a license validation procedure required by some proprietary computer software programs. In one form, product activation refers to a method invented by Ric Richardson and patented by Uniloc where a software application hashes hardware serial numbers and an ID number specific...
- Digital rights managementDigital rights managementDigital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
- Floating licensingFloating licensingFloating licensing is a software licensing approach in which a limited number of licenses for a software application are shared among a larger number of users over time. When an authorized user wishes to run the application they request a license from a central license server. If a license is...