The ACUCOBOL-GT runtime system offers multiple-user licenses. This enables end-user sites to plan for network growth and make arrangements to accommodate peaks in application use.
The multiple-user license works like this: each site first determines how many end users might need to execute the runtime simultaneously.
To determine this maximum on UNIX machines, the site counts unique usernames that might need to execute the runtime at the same time. On DOS and Windows systems, the site counts each machine that is connected.
The site then completes a license agreement for the maximum number of simultaneous users. This number is the site's user limit. The user limit is embedded in the runtime system's license file before it is delivered to the site. The runtime is also assigned a unique serial number in its license file.
For example, suppose the Adams Corporation has 50 end users, not all of whom use the system at the same time. Adams' managers predict that, with planned expansion, up to 30 of these users may need to execute the runtime at the same time.
Adams Corporation arranges for a 30-user license, which gives all 50 of their end users access to the runtime system, with up to 30 having simultaneous access.
If Adams has a UNIX network, then the 30-user license permits up to 30 different usernames to be executing runtime processes simultaneously. Because UNIX users often run background processes, each user is allowed more than one runtime process running simultaneously. This ensures that background processes such as reports can be processed while interactive work continues. The number of simultaneous processes allowed per user is customized at Acucorp; this number is embedded in the runtime's license file before it is sent to the site.
If Adams has DOS or Windows systems, up to 30 connected computers may be executing the runtime system at the same time. The number of simultaneous runtime processes is not pertinent to license management on these systems, and is not monitored.
The specific mechanism used to manage multiple-user licenses varies, depending on the operating system. The DOS and Windows mechanism is described below in section 2.10.1. The UNIX mechanism is described in section 2.11.1. To update your license on other operating systems, such as VMS, please contact your Acucorp representative.
Updating the license
When a site needs to update its user limit, the site arranges for a license file update. A new license file is customized and sent to the site. This file should be placed into the same directory as the runtime's executable, and should have the same base name as the executable file.