Software licensing management has become increasingly important for software vendors in recent years. Software licensing management solutions help software vendors manage their licenses effectively, protecting their intellectual property and maximizing revenue. One popular software licensing management solution is Flexnet publisher (FNP), developed by Flexera, a leading software company. This blog will explore what FNP licensing is and how it works.
Floating or Concurrent Licensing
FNP licensing is a floating or concurrent licensing type that allows multiple users to access and use software products simultaneously, up to the number of licenses purchased. This licensing model is particularly useful for software vendors who want to maximize their revenue by offering their products to many users without requiring each user to have a dedicated license.
How FNP Licensing Works
FNP licensing allows the software vendor to define the number of licenses available for their software product, which can be installed and used on multiple machines. The software vendor can also define the licensing rules, such as the number of concurrent users, the license expiration date, and the license rehosting policies.
The Role of License Server
Flexnet publisher licensing uses a license server to manage the allocation and consumption of licenses. The license server is a central control point for all licenses, communicating with the client machines to determine whether a license is available. The license server can be installed on a dedicated machine, or it can be installed on the same machine as the software product.
Flexibility in Licensing Rules
One of the significant benefits of FNP licensing is its flexibility. The software vendor can define licensing rules based on specific needs, such as allowing users to transfer licenses between machines, defining license borrowing policies, and specifying license server configurations. This flexibility allows software vendors to create licensing models that best suit their business model and the needs of their customers.
Usage Tracking and Reporting
Another essential feature of FNP licensing is the usage tracking capability. FNP licensing software tracks the usage of each license, including the number of times the software has been used, the duration of use, and the features of the software that has been used. Software vendors can use this information to analyze usage patterns, identify areas where the software is underutilized, and make informed decisions about future software development and licensing strategies.
Security Features
The FNP licensing software also includes various security features to ensure that licenses are not tampered with or copied illegally. Licensing software uses encryption to protect license files and can also use digital signatures to verify the authenticity of license files. This helps to prevent software piracy and protect the revenue of software vendors.
Benefits of FNP Licensing:
● Maximizes revenue by offering products to many users without requiring each user to have a dedicated license.
● Provides a flexible licensing model that can be customized to suit the software vendor’s and their customers’ needs.
● Includes usage tracking and reporting tools that can be used to optimize software usage and licensing policies.
● Includes security features that protect software vendors’ revenue by preventing software piracy and illegal copying of license files.
Conclusion
In conclusion, FlexNet publisher licensing is a powerful software licensing management solution offering various features to help software vendors manage their software licenses effectively. It provides a flexible licensing model that allows multiple users to access and use software products simultaneously, and it includes usage tracking and reporting tools that can be used to optimize software usage and licensing policies. With its security features, FNP licensing helps to protect the revenue of software vendors by preventing software piracy and illegal copying of license files.
