JTB World License Server

JTB World Inc.

Network License Properties

License Server Dashboard



General

Description

When you install a JTB World app to your users' PCs, you need to purchase a license for that app. JTB World Inc. provides 2 types of license: Single License and Network License.

  • + Single License is delievered to specific single PC and/or user.
  • + Therefore, you might prefer to purchase a Network License. Network License can activate an app in any PC in your network, as long as the usage does not exceed some limits like number of PCs, time to be available offline, etc. (See details in Network License Properties).

To have network license feature in your network, you need to install License Server apps to your server and optionally admin PC(s).

Once installed, you can get your Server ID. Send Server ID to JTB World, so JTB World can generate License File for your License Server.

There are 2 apps, hence, 2 installers:

  • 1. JTB License Server Setup.exe: install this to your Server machine. This app runs as a window service app. It has no User Interface.
  • 2. JTB License Server Dashboard Setup.exe: install this to the server or your admin PC(s). This app is to view and manage the License Server service running on the server.

Your can see instruction and screenshots of the installation process below at Installation


The Network

There are 2-3 types of machines in a network:

  • 1. The Server machine: this is where License Server Service runs. There should be 1 Server machine only. It saves your purchased licenses data (called License Table) and distributes licenses to User PCs upon requests.
  • 2. User PC: this is where you install JTB World apps. For example: JTB Current Folder, JTB Sheet Set Creator. There can be many User PCs. An app using a network license will connect to the server machine via server name or server's IP port. Then, it will "check in" and acquire a license.
  • 3. The Admin PC (could be the Server machine): this is where the Dashboard runs. The License Server Service doesn't have an UI. You control it via the License Server Dashboard. From here, via a dashboard window, you deliver commands to the License Server Service. Commands are like: import your purchased licenses to the License Table, view the licenses usage in user PCs, connect or disconnect the License Server Service.

Note: these types are not excluding each other. You can install all 3 types in 1 computer: JTB apps, License Server and License Server Dashboard.

How it works quick screenshot video

Above video highlights 4 common actions on the Dashboard:

1. Establish connection between dashboard and server.

2. Import license file: after purchase of network licenses, send the server ID to JTB World and then use the license file emailed back. Then import the license file to your License Server. Repeat these steps if you make a new purchase with a new license file.

3. Users' PCs check in.

Note: It you close the app running in your PC, it will check out automatically and release the license depending on License file rules.

4. Manually reset selected PC: send command to force selected PC to return all network licenses, without going to PC and close the apps.

Note: You don't have to run the Dashboard all the time. Once connections are setup, you can close the Dashboard.


How it works in detail

1. Your server machine should always stay on. Also, check the installed "JTB License Manager Service" in server is enabled and has permission to communicate through the Window Firewall.

If not, go to Control Panel > Windows Firewall > Allowed apps > click "Allow another app...", then add "C:\ProgramData\JTB World\JTB License Server\JTB World License Manager Service.exe" to the list.

2. On Admin PC or the server, open JTB License Server Dashboard. At first run, most tabs and commands are greyed out because the connection between dashboard and server hasn't been established.

This app also requires permission to communicate through the Window Firewall.

Go to Control Panel > Windows Firewall > Allowed apps > click "Allow another app...", then add "C:\ProgramData\JTB World\JTB License Server Dashboard\JTB World License Server Dashboard.exe" to the list.

3. Switch to Connect tab

4. Specify the Public Document path of the Server machine on the network.

The Dashboard needs access to the "C:\Users\Public\Documents\JTBW License Server" folder. If Server machine and Dashboard machine are on different PCs, Sever machine should always share its "C:\Users\Public\Documents" folder. If not yet, go to Server and manage to share it to the network.

5. Then, press "Connect to License Server" button (or "Reconnect to License Server" if already connected).

6. Wait for a moment until the Dashboard successfully connected to License Server. You can see the License Server icon image on the right panel bright up. Also, in the log window, you can see info of the License Server. Find and take note of server name (or server IP address). This will be used at user's PC to activate apps.

Note: If connection fails, check (1) and (4) again.

What to do after purchased network licenses

 You have purchased network licenses from JTB World Inc., then you would received a license file (file extension is ".lic").

7. Switch to License Table tab.

8. Click "Open Your New License File", select your license file. Your purchased network licenses will show up in the list below the button.

9. Click "Import" to add your license file to the server License Table data. You will see your purchased network licenses show up in the License Table panel on the right.

If everything is OK, click "Save" to save this License Table's change.

If you want to discard the change, click "Restart License Server - Reinitialize License Table" button.

10. On a user's PC, install a JTB World app that support network license, e.g. JTB Align Plus, JTB Current Folder, or JTB Sheet Set Creator.

11. Open activation form from the app. If it is a CAD add-in, normally, just run JTBW_Activate_Apps command. You will see following windows show up.

In "JTB World App License Activation" window, switch to "Network License" tab, then, enter the Server Name or IP address. Then click Send Request to check in to the License Server.

Note: If the network respond slow, you have to wait and/or click twice.

If there is a network license available for the app, the command will succeed, and you will get License Status: "Network license received".

Otherwise, you will get License Status: "No license found on server", or "All licenses on server are in use".

If installing the app in silent mode via command line the server and port can be specified as command line arguments.

12. Back to admin PC, open License Server Dashboard, you can see a PC checked in and acquired one or many licenses, like following screenshot:

13. At user's PC, once you close the app (close AutoCAD if it is an AutoCAD plug-in app), acquired network licenses will be released or after a set time according to the license file.

14. If server machine is turned off, connection to the License Server is unavailable. In this case, you can still use the network license for a period of time provide that:

Restart License Server as troubleshooting

If thing does not working as expected, the first thing we can try is restart the License Server.

You can do this by switch to the License Table tab, and click the "Restart License Server - Reinitialize License Table.lick] button.

  • + In previous working session of the app in that PC, a Network License for the app is already activated.
  • + The time span since disconnected from server doesn't exceed the Network License's ServerDownAllowance property. This time span property is specified for each app's network license.
More Details

Installation

There are 2 installers:

  • + JTB License Server Setup.exe: install to your server machine.
  • + JTB License Server Dashboard Setup.exe: install to your admin PCs and/or the server. This app is for manage the License Server Service in your server machine.

Run these installers. If Windows ask, give the setup privileged permission to process.

The JTB License Server Setup has a minor difference in its process. At final stage, it registers its License Manager Service to your server. You will see following CMD window show up. Press Enter to finish the process.

Uninstallation

To uninstall this product in Windows 10:

  • + Open System Settings > Add or Remove Programs
  • + Find product name in the list and click uninstall

To uninstall this product in Windows 7/8:

  • + Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features
  • + Find product name in the list and click uninstall

To uninstall this product in Windows XP:

  • + Open Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs
  • + Find product name in the list and click uninstall

The process of uninstall JTB License Server in your server is a bit different: it unregisters the License Manager Service first. You will set following CMD window show up. Press Enter to continue the process

Known Issues

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