Find the Best Licensing

Option for Your Business

Dr. Laurie Wang
Technical Support
SimSci by Schneider Electric

Process Simulation
Process simulation is widely used for:
Process design, to ensure safety, reliability, and efficiency of the production
process
Trouble-shooting and debottlenecking of operational challenges to reduce
risk and improve productivity
Identifying the best response to the changes in the process to keep the
operation in the optimized condition

Challenges
Millions are invested in

Process design
Simulation
Operator training
Process optimization
Advanced process control

Silos
Repetition of the modeling effort
Inconsistency in model development
Increased demand on resource
Taking advantage of the commonality
of process models between design
and operation excellence

Design

Well Integrated Tools

Steady State Simulation Process Design
Fluid Flow & Upstream
Dynamic Simulation

Operate

PRO/II, HEXTRAN, INPLANT, VISUAL FLARE, DATACON,

PIPEPHASE, DYNSIM

Operator Training Systems

Dynamic Simulation

Optimize

OTS, DYNSIM, EYESIM, SCP, TRISIM Plus

Online, Offline Optimization

Advanced Process Control
ExxonMobil Reactor Models
ROMeo, ARPM, MBM, APC, Offsites

Operation Cycle in Refinery

HQ Planning/Sales
Crude Selection
Demand/Sales/Supply
Exchange

Technical
Process Design
Operational Improvement
Bottleneck
Optimization Studies

Refinery Planning/Schedule
Investment plan (Long term Plan)
3 Month Plan (Mid term)
1 Month Plan (Short term)
Operation Guide/Instruction (Weekly)
Control Logistics
Control Tank Inventory
Planning Vectors

Control
Optimization
Performance Monitor

Extensive Industry Applications

Refining
Chemicals
Power
Mining
LNG
Oil and Gas

Best Licensing Option

a Key Enabler for Integrated Modeling Approach
One of the key aspects of enabling integrated modeling approach is to
have the license option that is the best for your business
This presentation will focus on this topic from both the business and the
technical aspects

What is a License for?

Using SimSci software products is entitled by a valid license agreement
and enabled by a soft license
You cannot launch or run a SimSci software product without a valid
license

Available Licensing Options (1)

Network license (LAN and WAN)

Product based and can cover multiple products

Controlled by available seats
Installed on a server machine
Can be accessed by all end users who are connected to the network

Available Licensing Options (2)

Network license (LAN and WAN)
Local Area Network (LAN) is applicable for 3 continuous time zones
(US has 6 time zones)

Wide Area Network

(WAN) is applicable
globally

Available Licensing Options (3)

Network token license (LAN)

Product independent
Each SimSci product has an associated token value
Tokens can be shared among all SimSci products
The size of the token pool is defined in the license agreement
Installed on a server machine
Can be accessed by all end users who are connected to the network

Available Licensing Options (4)

Single user license tied to a specific machine

Product based
Can cover multiple products
Tied to a specific computer
Can be accessed from other computers in the network
as the licensed computer can server as a server
network can be as small as a single co-current license

Single user license tied to a USB key

Product based
Can cover multiple products
Can be used on different application machines
Simple plug-in, no setup required

What Can be my Option(s)?

Q: Can I select multiple license options?
A: YES
License server supports the combination of network license and network
token license
Single user license options can be selected aside from or in addition to the
network license arrangement

Which option(s) can I choose?

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)

Option A
Option B
Option C
Options A and B
Options B and C
All of above

Business Advantages of Using

Network Licensing Option
Shared license across the organization and across the globe
Boston

(WAN)

Japan

Reduced overall cost

Product options tailored to your business needs
Flexible and easy to set up
Easy to monitor the level of usage
Ability to add new license seats when needed

Best if you know exactly what your business needs

Business Advantages of Using

Network Token Licensing Option (LAN)
Flexibility to respond to changes in business challenges
No need for utilization forecasting
Reduced shelf ware expenses
Ability to utilize an application on demand in situations where something
is needed immediately
Higher overall software utilization, especially when some key
applications need to used less frequently
Pay for fewer license overall
Flexibility to learn less frequently used products
without the need for more licenses
Ability to add more tokens as needed

Best in responding to changes in business challenges

Business Advantages Of Using

Single User Licensing Options
The license is always available to the assigned user
No potential issues of network connectivity
Uninterrupted usage of the applications
Lower license cost

Best for dedicated power users and for controlled cost

Dedicated License
Online applications require
uninterrupted license usage
ROMeo for online optimization
APC to allow operations to be
closer to the operating limits
Dedicated license server
recommended

Best for online applications

What is a FlexNet Server?

FlexNet Server refers to the FlexNet Publisher (FNP) process, not the
machine on which the FNP license server runs
It doesnt have to run on a network server machine or a file server
machine
FNP

FNP

FNP
FNP

FNP

FNP

FNP

More on the FlexNet Server

The administrator can restart the FNP
license server without rebooting the
machine on which the FNP license
server runs
An FNP license server maintains the
FNP license file and handles requests
for the FNP licenses
Execution of the FNP license server is
handled by the generic FNP daemon
LMGRD.EXE and the vendor-specific
daemon IPASSI.EXE for SimSci
Its default install location is C:\Program
Files (x86)\IPASSI\FNP1112

Multiple FNP Servers on the

Same Machine
Q: Can I install and run two or more FNP servers from different vendors
at the same time on the same machine?
A: YES
The same machine can host multiple copies of FNP servers from different
vendors
All FNP servers should be installed into different locations on the hard drive,
so they dont interfere with one another
C:\Program Files (x86)\IPASSI\FNP1112 is the default location for SimSci
applications

SimSci FNP server doesnt need its own host machine

FNP License Server on a

Virtual Machine?
Q: Can an FNP license server be hosted on a virtual machine?
A: YES
An FNP license server can be hosted on either a physical machine or a
virtual machine tied to a physical machine
An FNP license server with a network license or a network token license can
be hosted on any machine that is connected to the network

Physical machine

How to Secure an FNP License

Server?
Q: How do I prevent users on other machines from shutting down the FNP
license server?
A: The administrator can do the following:
1. Launch the LMTOOLS utility from C:\Program Files (x86)\IPASSI\FNP1112
2. Stop the server
from the Start/Stop/
Reread tab
3. Click the Advanced
settings button
4. Check the Restrict
lmdown to work
only from node
where lmgrd is
running option
5. Click the Start the
Server button

What is a FlexNet Client?

It refers to the FNP-licensed application
It is embedded in the application and serves as a medium through
which the application communicates with the FNP license server for
validation
The FNP server and client can co-exist on the same machine

Client or Application Machine

SimSci products, such as PRO/II and DYNSIM, are installed
A system environment variable IPASSI_LICENSE_FILE is created
which points to the FNP server

Lmgrd
port

Server
name

How to Deal with Firewall?

Q: Do I need to disable the firewall on the server machine?
A: NO. For the application machine to access the license server without
being blocked by its firewall, the system administrator needs to make
sure that there are two ports open and available on the server for enduser access.
1. Open the license file ipassi.lic in C:\Program Files (x86)\IPASSI\FNP1112
2. Define two open ports for lmgrd and the vendor (ipassi)

3. Open the Windows Firewall

utility from Control Panel, to
make sure the two items are
selected

Can I Use Network License Offline?

Q: Can I acquire network license seats or tokens for offline usage?
A: YES
You can use the license checkout feature to take out network license seats
and tokens for a period of time
The borrowed license enables you to run SimSci products offline

License Seats/Tokens Checkout

Use the Security Selection
Tool to checkout license
seats or tokens
Use this tool to switch
between FNP and USB
licenses
The license checkout utilities from the C:\Program Files (x86)\
Common Files\SimSci\SIMSCICFI42\VC090x32\bin folder can also be
used

Where do I Get the Install Package?

Register and log on to our Global Customer Support (GCS) website
Download the latest install package from the Product Hub

Get the Server Ready in Three Steps

1. Install the server
Run the setup.exe application from the install package, as an administrator

2. Place the license file to the C:\Program Files (x86)\IPASSI\FNP1112

folder
3. Configure the FlexNet Server with the LMTOOLS utility from the same
folder

How to Get a License?

Temporary license
1. A temporary license ipassi.lic is usually sent to you first, so that you can
test the server setup
2. You need to update the temporary license with the server name

3. Place the updated temporary license to C:\Program Files

(x86)\IPASSI\FNP1112

Commercial license
1. Find the file ipassi.txt from C:\Program Files (x86)\IPASSI\FNP1112
2. Email it to Simsci.productrequest@schneider-electric.com
3. Once you receive the commercial license, also named ipassi.lic, drop it to
the same folder to replace the temporary license

Do I Need to Run the Retrofit Utility?

YES. If the client machine has old versions of SimSci products installed
The Retrofit utility will update these old versions of applications so that they
meet all the requirements of the latest licensing technology
Pick the security type to match that of your license

Manage License Usage

Optimize the return on your investment through better management of
license usage
The administrator can customize the FNP license usage by establishing
rules in the FNP License Server options file
To allow certain users to obtain or borrow licenses
To prevent certain users from obtaining or borrowing licenses
To reserve licenses for certain users or user groups
To set a limit for a group of users for the number of license requests at one
time for a specific application or for any application
To set a maximum period of time for which users can borrow a license

Customize Options File

Here is an example of customized options file ipassi.opt

License Usage Reporting

License usage reports can be generated from the report log file ipassi.rl
You can send the log file to us for reports, as the Report Generator
requires a separate license to run
# of license seats

Best practice in license management and planning

We are Here to Help

Your license agreement comes with the coverage for technical support
Send us an email or give us a phone call when you need a helping
hand
1-800-SIMSCI-1 (1-800-746-7241)
support.simsci@schneider-electric.com