The Options File

The options file allows you to control various operating parameters of FlexLM. They include:

  • Allow the use of features based on user, hostname, or display name.
  • Deny the use of features based on user, hostname, or display name.
  • Reserve licenses based on user, hostname, or display name.
  • Control the amount of information logged about license usage.


  • Creating an Options File

    To create an options file:

    1. Use the appropriate options to create the options file using any text editor. You can put the options file anywhere; however, we recommend that the option file for our artwork daemon be placed in
    /usr/local/flexlm/options/artwork.opt
    Or for Windows
    C:\flexlm\options\artwork.opt
    
    2. Add the pathname to the options file in the license file. The fourth field on the DAEMON line for the application's vendor daemon. For example,
    VENDOR artwork c:\flexlm\artwork.exe C:\flexlm\options\license.opt
    or
    DAEMON artwork c:\flexlm\artwork.exe C:\flexlm\options\license.opt
    


    Customizing the Options File

    Here is an overview of the options available.

  • EXCLUDE - deny a user access to a feature.

  • EXCLUDEALL - deny a user access to all features served by this vendor daemon.

  • GROUP - define a group of users for use with any options.

  • HOST_GROUP - define a group of hosts for use with any options.

  • INCLUDE - allow a user to use a feature.

  • INCLUDEALL - allow a user to use all features served by this vendor daemon.

  • LINGER - causes licenses to be held by the vendor daemon for a period after the application checks them in or exits.

  • MAX_OVERDRAFT - Limits overdraft usage below the amount enabled in the license.

  • NOLOG - turn off logging certain items.

  • REPORTLOG - specifies that a logfile be written.

  • RESERVE - reserve licenses for a user.

  • TIMEOUT - specify idle timeout for a feature, returning it to the free pool for use by another user.


  • Example Options File

    Here is an example options file. The file is called license.opt and it is located in the C:\flexlm\options folder.
    RESERVE 1 ACS352O USER asmsc52
    RESERVE 1 ACSIO35 USER asmsc52
    RESERVE 1 ACS58IO USER asmsc52
    
    In this example, we reserve licenses to specific user. One license of features ACS352O, ACSIO35,ACS58IO are reserved for user on hostname asmsc52.

    EXCLUDE

    EXCLUDE featurename type name

    Excludes a user, host, display, or group from the list of who is allowed to use the feature. Excluded users will not be allowed to use the feature.

  • featurename - name of the feature being affected

  • type - one of USER, HOST, DISPLAY, GROUP or HOST_GROUP

  • name - name of the user or group to exclude



  • EXCLUDEALL

    EXCLUDEALL type name

    Excludes a user, host, display, or group from the list of who is allowed to use all features served by this vendor daemon.

  • type - one of USER, HOST, DISPLAY, GROUP or HOST_GROUP

  • name - name of the user or group to exclude



  • GROUP

    GROUP groupname usernamelist

    Defines a group of users for use in INCLUDE, INCLUDEALL, EXCLUDE, EXCLUDEALL, and RESERVE option lines.


    HOST_GROUP

    HOST_GROUP groupname hostnamelist

    Defines a group of hosts for use in INCLUDE, INCLUDEALL, EXCLUDE, EXCLUDEALL, and RESERVE option lines.

  • groupname - name of the group being defined

  • hostnamelist - list of host names in that group



  • INCLUDE

    INCLUDE featurename type name

    Includes a user, host, display, or group in the list of who is allowed to use the feature. Anyone not in an INCLUDE statement will not be allowed to use that feature.

  • featurename - name of the feature being affected

  • type - one of USER, HOST, DISPLAY, GROUP or HOST_GROUP

  • name - name of the user or group to exclude



  • INCLUDEALL

    INCLUDEALL type name

    Includes a user, host, display, or group in the list of who is allowed to use all features served by this vendor daemon.

  • type - one of USER, HOST, DISPLAY, GROUP or HOST_GROUP

  • name - name of the user or group to exclude



  • LINGER

    LINGER featurename interval

    This causes the daemon to `hold on' to the license for featurename for interval seconds after the application checks the license in or exits. This could be useful for short-duration programs which will be used many times in a row by the same user, to ensure that the user will be able to re-acquire the license repeatedly. This is only useful if the application uses duplicate grouping. Otherwise, LINGER will cause you to use extra licenses.


    MAX_OVERDRAFT

    MAX_OVERDRAFT featurename numlic

    Limits usage below the OVERDRAFT allowed by the license file.


    NOLOG

    NOLOG option

    Turns off logging of specific events by the FLEXlm daemons.

  • option - what to turn off; one of IN, OUT, DENIED, or QUEUED



  • REPORTLOG

    REPORTLOG filename

    REPORTLOG specifies the file which will contain the report-writer log for this vendor daemon. If filename begins with a '+' character, the file will be opened for append, otherwise the file will be overwritten each time the daemon is started.


    RESERVE

    RESERVE numlic featurename type name

    Reserves licenses for a specific user.

  • numlic - number of licenses to reserve

  • featurename - name of feature to reserve

  • type - one of USER, HOST, DISPLAY, GROUP or HOST_GROUP

  • name - name of the user or group to exclude



  • TIMEOUT

    TIMEOUT featurename seconds.

    Sets the time after which an inactive license is reclaimed by the vendor daemon.

  • featurename - name of the feature

  • seconds- number of seconds after which inactive license is reclaimed