ITEM: FN9835L

Q: licensing of CS/AIX V5?

QUESTION:

Regarding eNetwork Communications Server for AIX Version 5:
   1) Because the licensing is now by user, is there any tracking of
      the peak number of concurrent users?
   2) How does the product handle the next unlicensed user? Does it
      issue a warning or not allow sign on?


ANSWER:

ACTION TAKEN:   I have done research on this issue and have found
   the following documentation regarding how CS/AIX v5 is licensed:

---------------------------------------------------------
The following is taken from the /usr/lpp/sna/README file
---------------------------------------------------------
A9)     CHANGE IN PRICE STRUCTURE AND LICENSE MANAGEMENT OF SESSIONS

        In response to customer requests to simplify our price structure,
        improve cost effectiveness, and gain consistency with other IBM
        eNetwork Communicaitons Server products, we have changed the price
        structure of Communications Server for AIX Version 5.0 from a
        concurrent session basis, to a concurrent user basis.

        A concurrent user is an active upstream or downstream connection
        established to the Communications Server.  An active connection
        includes TN3270, SNA (including APPN and DLUR) and AnyNet clients.
        In an APPN environment a connection is an active link to an adjacent
        node(s).  If a multiplexing program or application server (for example,
        Transaction, DB2, DDCS) connects to the Communications Server providing
        access on behalf of multiple users, then one concurrent user is
        required for the number of concurrent connections (links) established
        to the Communications Server.  The number of users attached to the
        multiplexing software or application server is not relevant.  One
        connection (link) can have multiple SNA sessions.  However, only
        active connections are counted as licensed concurrent users.

        This licensing change was made too late to make related changes in the
        license management functions in the product.  For an interim period,
        until license management related updates are made available, we suggest
        you use the session-based license management in the following manner:  

        Multiply the number of users licensed for Communications Server for
        AIX Version 5.0 by the number of concurrent sessions each is expected
        to use.   Use this result as the argument of the "snasetsessions"
        command as described on page 23 of the Quick Beginnings book.  This
        will allow the system to manage licenses on a relative sessions basis
        until updates can be made available to manage on a user basis.
---------------------------------------------------------

   Starting on page 22 of the "IBM eNetwork CS/AIX Quick Beginnings" manual
   there is further explination regarding "Licensing Mechanisms".  It
   suggests using the 'snasetsessions' and 'snaadmin' commands to manage
   the sna license based on session counts.  Please see page 23 for details.

   I did testing on a lab system running CS/AIX V5.  I was able to set
   the "licensed session limit" using the 'snasetsessions' command.
   The quantity used when setting this limit is supposed to be
   based on the number of licensed users, but it is left up to the honesty
   of the customer when setting this limit.  In any case, the acutal
   quantity of sessions that can be started is NOT physically limited
   by this setting.  For example, I set the "licensed session limit"
   to 5, but was able to successfully start many more sessions that that.

   The command 'snaadmin query_node_limits' is useful to monitor the
   session counts.  Specifically the "curr_total_sessions" value shows
   how many "user" sessions (non-administrative sessions) are active.



Support Line: Q: licensing of CS/AIX V5? ITEM: FN9835L

Dated: April 1998 Category: N/A

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