Forum Discussion

Everseeker's avatar
Everseeker
Contributor
10 years ago

License Server Machine Question

OK, My company was midway through provisioning the system for my testing when they came upon a line in one of the install documents It must be a physical machine (not a virtual machine). Am I mis...
  • Everseeker's avatar
    Everseeker
    10 years ago
    I have a pretty definitive answer, from the TestComplete Support team: Copied here since it is VERY important, given that more and more companies are going 100% Virtual Server......

    Some restrictions of using a VM as the License Manager host you need to be aware of:

    • You can not move the VM from one physical host to another (the protection system will detect the hardware changes and disable the licenses);
    • You can not clone the VM (the protection system will disable the licenses);
    • You can not change the hardware of the physical host (the protection system will detect the hardware changes and disable the licenses);
    • You can not use a cloud PC as the License Manager host (due to possible hardware changes)

     

    They also sent me a more comprehensive text file on the subject (It is only a draft... be aware... ask them if you have questions)

mes6073's avatar
mes6073
Contributor
10 years ago

That must be outdated or slipped though the document review as our test infastructure, including the license server, is 100% based virtualized and other than the license server, TestComplete and TestExecute are installed on VM's that use DHCP.

  • Everseeker's avatar
    Everseeker
    Contributor
    10 years ago
    I have a pretty definitive answer, from the TestComplete Support team: Copied here since it is VERY important, given that more and more companies are going 100% Virtual Server......

    Some restrictions of using a VM as the License Manager host you need to be aware of:

    • You can not move the VM from one physical host to another (the protection system will detect the hardware changes and disable the licenses);
    • You can not clone the VM (the protection system will disable the licenses);
    • You can not change the hardware of the physical host (the protection system will detect the hardware changes and disable the licenses);
    • You can not use a cloud PC as the License Manager host (due to possible hardware changes)

     

    They also sent me a more comprehensive text file on the subject (It is only a draft... be aware... ask them if you have questions)

    • joseph_michaud's avatar
      joseph_michaud
      Moderator
      10 years ago

      I wrote that doc over time as I discovered more about the licensing system and its limitations, so you can blame me for any errors in it.

       

      The end result is that, while serving licenses from a VM is certainly possible, there is still an unfortunate connection to the physical hardware that limits what you can do with that VM.  If you can't control your VM (ie cloud machine) then it makes the VM poorly suited to serving licenses in general and node-locked licenses in particular.  If you *can* control the VM then you have a much better chance of avoiding any problems with the licenses.

       

      Please make any requests for improvements or changes to the licensing system, or any other suggstions, in our TestComplete Feature Requests Forum.

       

      • Everseeker's avatar
        Everseeker
        Contributor
        10 years ago

        One wee little wrinkle.

         

        Although the above is all well and good, You STILL need to contact Smartbear support - your Licence keys will need to be blessed to be VM Compatible...

         

        Otherwise, the License server will not accept them.