JTB World License Server

JTB World Inc.

General

Description

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

+ Single License is delievered to specific single PC. You can not use it in other PC.
+ Therefore, you might prefer to purchase a Network License. Network License can activate app in any PC in your LAN 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 LAN network, you need to install License Server apps to your server and 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 your admin PC(s). This app is to view and manage the License Server service running on server

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

The Network

There are 3 types of machine in a network:

1. The Server machine: this is where License Server Service runs. There should be 1 Server machine only. It save 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 SheetSetCreator. There can be many User PCs. An app if runs base on 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: this is where the Dashboard runs. The License Server Service doesn't have an UI. You control it via the License Server Dashboard in an Admin PC. 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 excluded 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 to server

2. Import license file: after purchase network licenses, you will receive a license file. Open it, then import license file to your License Server. Repeat these steps if you make new purchase with 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.

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 Dashboard all the time. Once connections are setup, you can close Dashboard.

How it works in detail

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

If not, goto 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, open JTB License Server Dashboard. At first run, most tabs and commands are grey out because the connection between dashboard and server hasn't established.

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

Goto 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 different PC, 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.

7. Switch to License Table tab.

8. If you have purchased network licenses from JTB World Inc., you will received a license file (file extension is ".lic").

Click "Open Your New License File", select your license file. Your purchased network licenses will shown up.

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

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

11. Open activation form from the app. If it is an AutoCAD plugin, normally, just run JTBW_Activate_Apps command. You will see following windows bring 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"

12. Back to admin PC, open License Server Dashboard, you can see a PC checked in and acquired 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.

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

+ 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. This app is for manage the License Server Service in your server machine.

Run these installers. If the OS asked, give the setup privileged permission to process.

The JTB License Server Setup has a minor different in its process. At final stage, it registers its License Manager Service to your server's OS. You will see following CMD window brings 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 has a minor different: it unregisters the License Manager Service first. You will set following CMD window brings up. Press Enter to continue the process

Known Issues

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