SSKeyStore tool

[basalt]

Hello to all.
We use the "SSKeyStore" tool to manage 20 floating lizences. But we are not able to trace the high count of the lizences, so we are not able to know if there is the need to buy more lizences. So here is my questions:
Is it possible to log the number of current used lizences? Or is there any possibility to write a own program to do this?
thx
basalt

[Eve]

No, I don't believe there is any way of tracking key usage (Until a user trying to start EA gets the message "No available key for Enterprise Architect could be found.  Enter a key or connect to new keystore now?")

I've seen a few requests for this kind of functionality.

There's no published API for the keystore so you can't really write your own program to do this.

[jsbueno]

Hi -
is there any preview for such an API?  A documentation of the file "sskeys.dat" would suffice.

At my organization we have somewhere between 120 and 150 licenses, but he administration would like to see (graphical) reports on daily license usage so we can judge whether to request more licenses or not.

An enhanced version of the Keystore tool that could generate logs would be even better.

[Eve]

No, there is no API or documentation regarding the format of our key file.

[Aurelien]

Hello,

We have the same issue and need. In particular there are several user profiles (analysts, developpers, testers, senior users) that have a more or less intensive usage of the tool and we have to way to measure it and to anticipate the need for an upgrade.

So we second any demand for a reporting tool!

A. Slodzian
Senior Business Analyst
Allianz Belgium

[basalt]

So I can see the need of this feature from much different people, so I hope Sparx will provide a good solution for people with a LOT OF licenses.

kind regards
basalt

[jsbueno]

We are implementing a way of tracking then here, without reverse-engineering the license binary file.
By serving the licenses from a Posix machine running Samba, we montiro teh Samba logs for changes in the license file - and tehrefore know when somone picks or releases a license. That is logged in a database.

We should put this in porduction this week - I am authorized to distribute the monitoring script for other parties once it is ok.

[«Midnight»]

Please let me know - you can use the PM function of the forum - when this is available.

Thanks much,
David

[Martin Terreni]

http://www.sparxsystems.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1213078326/0#0

licenses server, this is the solution.

[basalt]

Jep, a server can solve the problem, but let us know if there will be a server available or another solution for the problem.

thx
george

[Thelonius]

No, there is no API or documentation regarding the format of our key file.

Somehow I didn't think EA would be publishing the format of the license key file.

[jsbueno]

If you say so due to concernes about people using more licenses than they have, based on it - that would be one of the most fool things I had ever heard. Respect to the licences purchased must exist on a trust basis - when trust is not enough, only auditing or forensics could help.

With the "obscure thus safe" current format, nothing prevents one of setting up different license servers and reusing whatever license numbers they have. Therefore this would be  a very poor excuse not to open the file format.

[Aurelien]

Indeed, I think that Sparx has simply other priorities and does not need to "hide" the structure of the license file.
But, as long as they continue providing us with such great improvements in the EA tool, we may live with that prehistoric license server...
A.

[Thomas Lang]

We also are very interested in getting statistics data about the license usage in the SSKeyStore.
Is there any tool available now? Or at least, are there plans - either for a tool delivering the required data or a 'real' license server?

Thomas

[mrf]

I'd expect to hear an announcement about this in the near future. Improvements have been planned for version 8.0.