factory talk activation customer

Copyright © 2008 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved.

FactoryTalk Activation

Danius Silgalis, Marketing ManagerNovember 2008

Copyright © 2008 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 2

Agenda

1. Benefits of New FactoryTalk Activation

2. What is FactoryTalk Activation ?

3. Commercial Literature & Tools

4. Advanced Topics


Benefits of FactoryTalk Activation

• Software Based Activations• Improve Software Asset Utilization• Simplified Software Management• Centralized License Management Console• Better model for multiple workstation environments• Reduced software costs• Provides ability to view FactoryTalk Diagnostics via the Event Viewer• Grace Period Support • Web Based Rehost (VIDEO available)• End-user Options File (VIDEO available)


Software Based Activations

• FactoryTalk Activations are delivered electronically; therefore, no more lost disks.

– Remove dependence on physical media (3 ½ inch floppy)• Floppy drives are difficult to come by and now optional on laptops

• All activations reside on an Activation Server, and all activations can and should be backed up.


Improve Software Asset Utilization

• Multiple users can connect over a network to a centralized computer running the FactoryTalk Activation Server to allow a single software activation to be shared easily among many users.

FactoryTalk Activation Client #1

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FactoryTalk Activation Server



Improve Software Asset Utilization

• Allows the ability to easily share licenses among various departments, thereby cutting costs by eliminating unused license purchases

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Simplified Software Management

• Improves License Administration allowing one network administrator to manage all servers and licenses.

FactoryTalk Activation Server

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Centralized License Management Console

• Provides the license administrator and all users a single console view for software asset management:

License availability License usageActivation expiration dates Hosting serversBorrowed ActivationsAll FactoryTalk Activations visible from single console across the enterprise.


Easier Support of Multiple Workstations

(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2008 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 9

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EVRSI (old)• A media disk was used to distribute activations to each computer.• In a distributed environment, a mapped drive had to be setup to share licenses

FactoryTalk Activation (new)• With a Centralized License Console FactoryTalk Activation more easily supports distributed or multiple workstation environments


FactoryTalk Diagnostics via Event Viewer

• Ability to track FactoryTalk Activation diagnostics via the Event Viewer


Grace Period Support ! ! !

• If an activation can’t be located, this period allows the software to run normally for up to 7 days.

• Introduced (CPR9 products and later) – This benefit exclusive to FactoryTalk Activation– Not available with FactoryTalk Activation products prior to CPR9

• Activations are checked when the software is launched – IMPORTANT NOTE: If an activation isn’t found in 7 days, the application will

continue to run until a power cycle or reboot is done to the computer and the software is relaunched.


How Does Grace Period Work ?

• If an activation is not found, the 7-day grace period clock starts.

• During this period, valid activations are rechecked every 4 hours, and the user receives notifications.

• As soon as an activation is found, the 7-day grace period clock stops and is reset, 4 hour rechecking stops, and software starts and runs normally.– Since the 7-day grace period clock

resets, the grace period can be reused.

• If grace period expires, products that support a demo mode may run in demo after 7 days.


RSLogix 5000 – Grace Period ! ! !

• IMPORTANT: Be sure to enter the correct serial number during the install of RSLogix 5000.

• Failure to enter valid serial number means RSLogix 5000 will be restricted to Service Edition functionality while running within a grace period.


What is FactoryTalk Activation?

• Technology purchased from Acresso Software– Formerly Macrovision - called FlexLM (now FlexNet Publisher)– Used by many companies (IBM / Rational, Adobe, Autodesk, etc.)

• Software-based activation management system:– Based on digitally-signed plain text Activation file– Can’t be forged or changed

Replacement for EVRSI Disk-Based

Activation

FactoryTalk Activation File

Implementation Started in April

2004


FactoryTalk Activation Overview

• All FactoryTalk branded products (and most RS branded products) now support FactoryTalk Activation (30+ products have adopted)

– Low volume products supported it 4 years ago, high volume products added last year

– Multi-million $ RA investment in product integration and business system infrastructure

• EVRSI disks no longer delivered with products but products still support it

– Existing customers (in support) continue to use it with the latest software

– Customers migrating at about 1000 serial numbers / month


Activation File – What is it?

• Digitally-signed plain text Activation file:– Contains serial number, product ID, Host ID and activation– Can’t be forged or changed– Can (and should) be backed-up to a safe location

• Multiple product activations of the same type can co-exist in one activation file

• Multiple activation files can co-exist on the same computer:– Node-locked and concurrent files– Mix of EVRSI and FactoryTalk Activation files

Node-Lock Activation Example

VENDOR flexsvrFEATURE rsntwcn3exe flexsvr 2.0 permanent uncounted HOSTID=1234 \

SIGN="0028 ADA5 ECC8 1EBA 2F06 91EE 3F30 9C0F BBE6 C4B1 3C03 \BB60 9D3D F222 77B6 7992 6E0E 60C6 DC85 7691 637B"


Assigning a Host ID :

• The Host ID is the key that enables the selected activation:

– It is a unique value that is used to identify the computer hosting the software product.

• Customer must select Host ID • Options available:

– Serial number of computer hard drive – Ethernet MAC ID of network interface

card (or NIC)– Serial number of a FTA dongle (mobile

key)• Customer must provide Rockwell

Automation with the Host ID:– Activation file is received in exchange for

the Host ID and serial number / product key


Host ID – Using Dongle

• A Rockwell Software dongle must be purchased separately from product software:– 9509-USBDONG

• The dongle will work as a Host ID for any activation type• The dongle does not store the activation file

– You will need to move the activation file another way

The dongle has a unique embedded Host ID number. You cannot use a standard USB memory drive.


Host ID - Using MAC ID

• Be careful when using the MAC ID of a computer network interface card (or NIC) as your Host ID:– Sometimes there are multiple network cards connected to a computer:

• One in the docking station• One built into the laptop• Virtual NIC on the VPN connection

– Selected NIC must be available to “unlock” the activation at the time of software use.

• PCMCIA NIC card is a valid Host ID.• USB NIC is a valid Host ID (even on

the other side of a USB hub).


Activation Types

• Node-Locked Activation:– Activation is locked to a single computer for the exclusive use

of a single user.

• Concurrent Activation:– Allows for the shared usage of a FactoryTalk product by many users on

different computers that are geographically separated.

Not all products support both types of activations.Product Support Chart can be found on KnowledgeBase


Capacity-based Activations

• A type of concurrent activation in which activation is based on some defined capacity of the product.

• By adding activations to the ones you already have available for a product, you can make a greater capacity of the product.

• Products priced and sold based on some measure of “system capacity” – The number of available activations determines the capacity, for example:

• FT Historian Classic – sold based on number of “reporting tags”• FT Batch – sold based on number of “units”

These products require an Activation Server and don’t support a Node-Locked Activation version.

Capacity activations cannot be borrowed


Node-Locked Activation

• Node-Locked Activation:– Locks the software activation to a single computer for the exclusive use of a single

user.– That computer holds the Host ID key to activate the software.– Network connection is not required for software usage.


Concurrent Activation

• Concurrent Activation – Activation Server manages pool of activations and shares them with client

computers over a network connection.− Activation file is stored on and locked to an Activation Server– Activation server holds the Host ID key used to activate the software – Network connection to the Activation Server is required to “check out” an

activation.


Concurrent Activation Check Out

• Concurrent activations can be either borrowed or floating.• Activations can be checked out by other computers:

– Floating activations require a continuous network connection. or

– Once a Borrowed activations is checked out, computer can disconnect from the network


Software

In Use

Check Out - Floating

• Floating Activation:– Automatically checked out to client computer when the

client computer runs the software– This is the default behavior for concurrent activations


Software

Not In Use

Check In - Floating

• Floating Activation:– Automatically checked back to activation server when the client

shuts down the software or loses its network connection


Check Out - Borrowed

• Borrowed Activation:– Borrowed activation retrieved from same pool of

activations on the activation server– Not all products support borrowing– Activation can be borrowed for up to 90 days (user

configurable)– Once a borrowed activation is checked out to a particular

computer, the computer can be disconnected from the network


Check In - Borrowed

• Borrowed Activation:– After expiration, activation will automatically reappear on

the server– Activation can only be returned early by the client

computer for others to use. – Server computer has no ability to prematurely retrieve a

borrowed activation.


Check Out - Borrowed

• Borrowing limits:– A customer’s software administrator can further

restrict the maximum borrow time to <90 days

Borrowed activations can’t be manually “expired” if a computer is stolen or not working.


Does the activation server need to be a dedicated machine ?

• No, concurrent activations can reside on the same computer as the application– The activation server install is a very

“lightweight” application that can be hosted on practically any computer running a Microsoft operating system

– Simply one additional service added on the PC– “Server” does not mean server operating system– Activation Server is serving up licenses to itself

This enables concurrent activations to behave in the as node-locked activations.


Frequent Activation Moves

• If you need to move an activation frequently– Select a dongle as the Host ID– Load the software on any computer or server:

• Copy the License file to each computer• The software can only be used when the dongle is attached to the

computer


What You Need to Activate Your Product ?

• FactoryTalk Activation software

• Internet connection at your site– One computer with a web browser or e-mail at

each site. – If you do not have an Internet connection at

your site, you can still get the activation information by telephone or fax

• Activation Certificate– This document is enclosed in a red envelope

with the software CD. – It contains the Serial Number and Product

Key of your software product, as well as the Activation Type you have purchased.

• Activation Insert– This is included with the software CD as well


How can I download the latest FactoryTalk Activation Tool ?

• From the Internet browser – http://licensing.software.rockwell.com– Select downloads


Which FactoryTalk activation tool do I need ?

• Install FactoryTalk Activation Client Software– If ONLY node-locked activations purchased– On a client computer that is pointed to an Activation Server

• Install the FactoryTalk Activation Server software – If concurrent activations or mixture of both types of activations purchased


Data Required to Get an Activation File

• Information required to obtain an activation file:– Activation Certificate:

• Serial number• Product key

– Host ID(s)


Importance of Activation Insert

• Some FAQs that are answered – What you need to activate your product ?– Locating the Activation Certificate in your box– Getting activation file for a single stand-alone

computer (local or mobile node-locked)– Setting up your activation server (concurrent)– Setting up your activation clients (concurrent)– What if I don’t have Internet access on my

computer?– What if I don’t have Internet access on many

computers? Do I have to get activations for them one at a time?

Copyright © 2008 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 37(Confidential – For Internal Use Only) Copyright © 2008 Rockwell Automation, Inc. All rights reserved. 37

NEW - FT Activation – Process Flow

User Provides Serial Number, Product key and Host ID Redundant License Servers

@ Rockwell Corporate

Headquarters

24 / 7 / 365

https://licensing.software.rockwell.comServer Returns the Activation File

Your Software & FactoryTalk Activation Information Is Enclode

Step 1 Launch Wizard

Step 2

Enter Product Data

Done!

Step 4 Download Activation

Step 3

Select Host ID


Obtaining Activation Files

• Provide Rockwell Automation with Host ID and Activation Certificate data in exchange for activation file

• Easiest methods (require an Internet connection):– Activation Wizard – Web site: https://licensing.software.rockwell.com/

• Alternate methods– FactoryTalk Transfer Tool (to support non-networked computers)– Email, FAX, phone


Rockwell Software Activation Website

• Create a .LIC file using the Get Activations Tab• Download the latest FactoryTalk Activation Tool• Rehost an Activation• View FactoryTalk Activation Videos


What are the latest releases of the FactoryTalk Activation Tool ?

• FactoryTalk Activation (v 3.01 – CPR9 SR1) – released June 2008– Supports of the Windows Vista operating system, including Windows Vista and

Windows Vista SP1, Business and Home versions. – RSLogix5000 Professional, RSLogix5000 Standard both offered as concurrent

activation

• FactoryTalk Activation (v3.02 – CPR9 SR2)– released October 2008– Support of Windows Server 2008, Windows XP SP3– Ability to borrow multiple activations at one time– Ability to borrow activations as a service


New Directory location for Activation Files

• Identify the location on the FactoryTalk Activation Tool Settings tab. • The default activation directories for FactoryTalk Activation are:

– 3.0 and earlier - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Rockwell\Activations – 3.01 and later - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared

Documents\Rockwell Automation\Activations – 3.01 and later (Windows Vista only) - C:\Users\Public\Documents\Rockwell

Automation\Activations

• If an activation directory already exists when you upgrade to 3.01, the existing activation path will not be changed.

• To avoid the need for elevated user permissions when activating software on Windows Vista, save all activation files in the Vista default directory.


Borrow/Return Multiple Activations at One Time:

• Activation files can be borrowed individually or as a group.

• Borrow All button

• Ctrl and Shift functionality supported


Borrow Duration Time Displayed

• The Borrow Activation dialog box displays the Maximum time activation can be borrowed using the days and hours format.


Benefits to Refresh button

• If you add or remove activation files or make changes to the configured paths on an activation server that has borrowed activations, you will need to refresh the activation server because the activation server cannot be stopped and restarted.

• You can use the Refresh button on the Settings tab to check for any changes to the activation files or their configured paths while the activation server continues to run.


Rockwell Software Web Site

• http://www.rockwellautomation.com/rockwellsoftware/factorytalk/activation.html– FactoryTalk Activation Videos, – Product Profile, Activation FAQ, Knowledgebase Answers– Migration Paths


“Get Support Now” Activations Support

• http://www.rockwellautomation.com/support/activations.html– EVRSI Master Disk Knowledgebase Articles– FactoryTalk Activation Knowledgebase Articles– Factory Talk Activation Server and Client installs– Rockwell Automation Activation Forums


FactoryTalk Activation Videos:

• Integrated Architecture Tools (IA Tools):– http://www.rockwellautomation.com/soluti

ons/integratedarchitecture/resources4.html

• Software Videos:– http://www.rockwellautomation.com/rock

wellsoftware/videos.html


Advanced Topics


Factory Talk Activations with Terminal Services & Remote Desktop

• Node-Locked Activations:– Cannot be used in a Remote Desktop or Terminal Services session, whether those node-

locked activations are installed on the local or remote computer.– Flexlm license agreement

• Concurrent Activations:– May be used by remote computers during a Remote Desktop or Terminal Services session

when those computers can make a TCP/IP connection to a FactoryTalk Activation Server. – Must have the concurrent activations for the number of terminals.– Rockwell Terms of Agreement – End-User License Agreement– Configure the remote computer’s Client Activation Path (via the FactoryTalk Activation Tool)

to point to the appropriate server name.


“Best Practice” Suggestion FactoryTalk Activation with Remote Desktop or Terminal Services?

• For users connecting to a Terminal Server, a concurrent activation must be available for each user even if all of the users are logged in using the same account name.

• For example, if five users all log in to the same Terminal Server as administrator and all five wish to use RSLogix 5, the FactoryTalk Activation server needs to have at least five concurrent activations available for RSLogix 5.


Set up a backup activation server

• You may want to set up two computers as the activation server so that one can serve as a backup in case the other fails.

• This will require setting up the activation software and activation files on both computers and locking the activations to a dongle so that the dongle can be moved to the second computer in the event that the first computer fails.

• You will also need to configure the client computers to look at both server computers.


To set up backup activation server:

• Install the FactoryTalk Activation Server software on both server computers.

• Retrieve activation files for one of the server computers using the dongle as the Host ID .

• Copy the activation files just retrieved to the activation directory on the backup server computer.

• Configure the client computers to recognize both server computers. To expedite checkouts, place the primary server at the top of the list of servers.

• Attach the dongle to the primary server computer.


What to Expect during Failure with a backup activation server ?

• In the event the primary server computer fails, simply move the dongle to the secondary server computer.

• You may want to move the secondary server computer to the top of the list on the Settings tab of the FactoryTalk Activation Tool.

• This may speed up checkouts.


Ghosting Computers and FactoryTalk Activations

• Allows the ability to restore a configuration of a computer– OPTION #1: Ghost the computer with all the desired software

loaded but not activated.

• What if activations are included on the Ghost image ?– OPTION #2: Create a Ghost image for every machine in the

facility and post backup images on a file server.


Questions? E-mail to

[email protected]

factory talk activation customer

Engineering