Configuring a Cloud-Served Redundant RMS License Manager Pool

To configure a Redundant RMS License Manager pool using a cloud-served license, you need an Entitlement with the redundant RMS and cloud options enabled. You also need local Administrator or Root access to all machines you are using as a Sentinel license server to install the RMS License Manager and to copy the Redundant License Manager Configuration file (lservrlf) to each machine. The utilities you need are provided in the Tools directory of your RMS installation.

Note: All RMS servers in your redundant RMS pool need fixed IP addresses. Dynamic IP addressing cannot be used for RMS servers running in a redundant setup.

To set up your cloud-served redundant RMS License Manager pool:

  1. Download the RMS installation package from Rocket Community: Downloads onto each machine where you want to run a redundant RMS License Manager.
  2. Extract and install the package on all the servers. During installation, choose the license option Cloud Served License.
  3. Enter the Entitlement ID and friendly name when prompted. The same Entitlement IDs need to be used on all machines.

For more detailed instructions on installing the RMS License Manager, see Installing the Sentinel RMS License Manager on Windows or Installing the Sentinel RMS License Manager on Unix and Linux.

To configure your redundant RMS License Manager pool and generate the Redundant License Manager Configuration file (lservrlf), run one of the following utilities located in the \Tools directory of your RMS installation:

  • WRlfTool (Windows interface)
  • rlftool (command line utility for Windows and Linux)

To configure your RMS License Manager pool using the WRlfTool:

  1. Run the WRlfTool on one server.
  2. Click File > New.
  3. Click Add Server and add the Host Name (machine name) and the IP Address for each machine you are using as a redundant RMS.

    Note: The order in which you list the servers determines the order of the redundant RMS server pool. The first server listed is the leader RMS in the pool and acts as the primary RMS. It has the highest priority of the running RMS License Managers. The next RMS listed is the first fallback should the leader go down, and so forth.

  4. Click File > Save or choose File > Save As... to save the file in a different location.

    Note: You do not need to add a license. The license will be fetched from the cloud in a later step.

  5. Close the WRlfTool. If you chose File > Save in the previous step, a folder named Thales is automatically created in the Windows Documents folder, and contains the redundant RMS license file, lservrlf.
  6. Copy the lservrlf license file into the WinNT folder of the RMS installation on each machine in your redundant RMS License Manager pool. The default location is C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Thales\Sentinel RMS License Manager\WinNT.

To configure your RMS License Manager pool using the rlftool command line utility:

  1. Run the rlftool on one server.
  2. Create a new file for the license using the following command: rlftool -l "file name". Enter the full path and name of the file, or point to an existing file.

    For example, on Windows:

    rlftool -l "C:\Users\Desktop\lservrlf"

    On Linux:

    rlftool -l /h/user/lservrlf

    Note: You can choose your own file path and name.

  3. Enter Y when prompted to create a new file. This loads the file with a number of menu options. 
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Thales\Tools> rlftool -l "C:\Users\Desktop\lservrlf"

  Sentinel RMS Development Kit 9.8.0.0048 REDUNDANT LICENSE FILE TOOL    
  Copyright (C) 2021 Thales Group
          All Rights Reserved.

File C:\Users\Desktop\lservrlf does not exist. Create New (Y/N) or Quit(Q): y
File [C:\Users\Desktop\lservrlf] loaded.

		[RLFTOOL MAIN  MENU]
1. OPEN                   Open or Create New Redundant License File.
2. ADD/DELETE SERVER      Add or Delete Server Names in pool.
3. POOL NAME              Edit pool name.
4. PREFERENCE ORDER       Change or View Preference Order.
5. SEQUENCE NUMBER        Change file sequence number.
6. TIME STAMP             Change file timestamps.
7. ADD LICENSE            Add new license.
8. VIEW LICENSE           View Licenses.
9. DELETE LICENSE         Delete license.
10. CONFLICTS             List or Resolve license Distribution conflicts.
11. REPORTS               Generate Licenses reports.
12. EXIT AND SAVE         Terminate tool.

Select Option (1..12):

    Note: The example above is on Windows. These options are the same on Linux.

  4. Enter 2 for the option to add or delete a server.
    1. Following the prompts, enter 1 to add a new server.
    2. Enter the server name.
    3. Enter the IP address of the server.

      Repeat this process for each server you are adding.

      Note: The order in which you list the servers determines the order of the redundant RMS server pool. The first server listed is the leader RMS in the pool and acts as the primary RMS. It has the highest priority of the running RMS License Managers. The next RMS listed is the first fallback should the leader go down, and so forth. To change this order, enter 4 from the main menu.

  5. From the main menu, enter 3 to view and change the pool name.
  6. Enter 12 to exit and save your changes.

    Note: You do not need to add a license. The license will be fetched from the cloud in a later step.

  7. Copy the lservrlf license file into the RMS installation on each machine in your redundant RMS License Manager pool. For example, C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Sentinel RMS License Manager\WinNT\ on Windows, or /opt/Uniface/rms/ on Linux.
  1. Restart the Sentinel RMS License Manager service on each machine. You must first restart this service on the leader RMS, followed by the next RMS in the pool, and so forth, in the order they are configured in your lservrlf file. Starting the Sentinel RMS License Manager service first on each machine creates the redundant setup that is needed before the Sentinel Cloud Plug-in can fetch the license.
  2. Next, if not already running, restart the Sentinel Cloud Plug-in services. You must first restart this service on the leader RMS, followed by the other RMS servers in your pool, in the order they are configured in your lservrlf file.

    Note: The first time you set up the redundant RMS pool, the leader RMS server's Sentinel Cloud Plug-in service has to be started first in order to fetch the license. After the redundant RMS pool is set up, if the leader RMS goes offline, the next RMS server in line will take ownership and refresh the license, until the leader is back up.

  3. The Cloud Plug-in on the leader RMS now connects to the EMS and fetches your license. You can check this was successful by either:
    • Opening WlmAdmin tool (Windows only), and clicking Subnet Servers. For each defined server, you should see a list of license features and license information.
    • Running the lsmon command line tool location in the Tools of your redundant RMS (Windows and Linux). Run it with the command localhost. For example:
      C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Thales\Tools>lsmon localhost

      The lsmon script retrieves information about each redundant server and licensing information, and notes if they are active or not.

  1. In your application's assignment file, add the hostname or IP address of each redundant RMS to your LM_LICENSE_FILE options, separated by a semi-colon. For example: 
    $license_options=LM_LICENSE_FILE=machinename1;machinename2;machinename3

    Note: The order you list each RMS must match the order of the redundant RMS pool you configured in the Redundant License Manager Configuration file (lservrlf). If you change the order using rlftool or WRlftool, you need to change the order in the assignment file too.

  2. Start your Uniface application.