Sassafras - KeyServer/KeyCheckout

Overview

LFCDS takes its legal obligation to abide by software licensing seriously. In order to ensure license compliance while avoiding the expense and administrative burden of buying software licenses for each and every computer, LFCDS uses a concurrent software metering program called KeyServer. KeyServer enables LFCDS to save time and money by tracking the number of concurrent uses of a given application allowing the School to only purchase the number of licenses that will actually be in use at one time.

KeyServer performs software monitoring over the network and is transparent to network-connected users, who will only encounter KeyServer messages in the unlikely event that all licenses for a particular software application are checked-out.

Users who want to use KeyServer controlled software on a laptop or tablet PC while disconnected from the network must follow the steps below to “check-out” a license using the KeyCheckout software.

Controlled Software

Many commercial applications owned by LFCDS are controlled by KeyServer:

Other software applications do not need to be checked out prior to use off of the network. The procedure below outlines the steps needed to "check out" a software license for use while not connected to the LFCDS computer network.

Known Issues

Issue:
When disconnected from the network (working off-line), if you try to open a KeyServer controlled application or open a file created in it without checking out a key to it, you will see the following KeyAccess screen.

Solution:
To be able to open the program either (1) make sure you are connected to the school's network and try opening the program again or (2) prior to disconnecting from the network, check out a portable license using the procedure outlined below under Checking Out a License so that you can access the program while working off-line.

Notes:
If you have checked out a license, when a software key expires you will not receive a message or see a warning. When you try to launch the affected application, unless you are connected to the LFCDS network, you will see this same message and screen. Also, the clock used to track the time you have checked a key out for is on the Key Server, not your machine’s clock. Resetting your machine’s clock will not affect the expiration of software keys.

Procedures

Checking Out a License

Start on your laptop or tablet PC with your connection to the LFCDS network active.

6. Indicate the amount of time you want to check this key out for by typing a value (e.g., 3 days, 1 week) in the Use for box.
   • NOTE: The maximum time period for which you can sign out a key is dependent on the specific software package.
   • The Use until box shows the new expiration date and time based on the value you typed in Use for.
7. Click on OK.
8. The item appears in the lower box under C: with a timeline symbol next to it, indicating a successful checkout.

Adjusting Checkout Length For An Already Checked Out License

Start on your laptop or tablet PC with your connection to the LFCDS network active.

1. Under the Start button, highlight Programs -> Accessories -> KeyCheckout.
2. The KeyCheckout window is displayed.
   • In the top box, the software packages for which portable keys available for checkout are listed.
   • In the bottom box, the software keys you currently have checked out are listed.
3. In the bottom box, click on the square box on the timeline symbol next to the checked-out key you wish to adjust and move it to the left or right to increase or descrease the checkout time as you desire. The new expiration date and time are displayed to the right between the top and bottom boxes of this window as you move the box.
4. After adjusting the checkout time, a window is displayed in which you can adjust the time period for which you are checking the key out. The new expiration date and time is displayed in Use until.
5. When you are finished revising the checkout time period, click on OK.
6. On the KeyCheckout screen, the timeline symbol is adjusted accordingly.

Returning a License

Note: Keys are automatically returned when your checkout time is up

Start on your laptop or tablet PC with your connection to the LFCDS network active.

1. Under the Start button, highlight Programs -> KeyServer Client -> KeyCheckout.
2. The KeyCheckout window is displayed.
   • In the top box, the software packages for which portable keys available for checkout are listed.
   • In the bottom box, the software keys you currently have checked out are listed.
3. Click on the key you want to return and drag it to the top box.
4. A window is displayed, confirming the return of the key
5. Click OK to confirm