All aspects of ALS can be controlled via the main window.
This includes controlling the ALS service, viewing the log files,
importing new licence files and editing the configuration. This window is
displayed when the ALS shortcut is run from the Start Menu. The full
list of commands is listed below:
This group box includes controls for the
ALS service, including buttons for controlling the service status,
and displaying brief information on the current status of the service.
Status
The status field shows the current status of the Altiva Licence Service. It also shows general errors and diagnostics.
Install
This button installs the ALS service to register it with the Windows
Service Control Manager. Once the ALS service is registered, it can
then be fully controlled by the SCM to start and stop the service, and
also restart the service automatically when Windows is rebooted. Note
though that installing the service does not actually start the service,
you will need to press the start button to actually begin serving
licences.
Uninstall
This button uninstalls and deregisters the ALS service. After the
service is removed, it will no longer appear visible to the Windows
Service Control Manager. This means the service will no longer be
restarted when Windows is rebooted. The Remove button should be used
when you are uninstalling Aliva Licence Server or upgrading to a newer
version.
Start
The start button begins the ALS service. Once the service is
successfully started, it will begin to serve licences to any requested
clients until it is stopped or removed. If the start process encounters
an error, then a brief description of the problem will appear in the
Service Status window. If the problem is not easily diagnosed, then
more information as to why the service could not be started can be
viewed in the debug log file. If the start succeeds, then the Start
button will become disabled and the Stop button will become enabled.
Stop
This button will stop the ALS service. This may be useful prior to
removal of the service, or to restart the service after a change to
either the configuration or the licence files. After the service is
stopped, it will no longer serve licences.
Log Files
Log files are kept to store the number of used licences, the number of
available (free) licences, the history of licence usage and also
diagnostic (debugging) information. Log files are viewed by the program
Windows has associated with the default operation for "*.log" files.
If no application is associated with log files, then Windows will
allow you to choose a program to open them with (such as Windows
Notepad). To view or change the program used for viewing log
files, open an Explorer window and click on the menu "View
> Folder Options > File Types" and locate the "LOG" file entry in
the list.
Current Licence
This button opens the licence usage log. This log shows all of
the licences available and what the current status is, such as whether
it is available, or which machine it is currently checked out to if it
is not available. This log file is rewritten each time a licence is
checked in or out, so it is effectively a dynamic view of the current
licence pool.
Access History
This button opens the licence access log. This log shows the
history
of which licences were checked out to various machines since the
service was first started. This log is overwritten every time the
service is rebooted.
Debug Log
This button opens the diagnostic / debugging log file. This log
contains additional information on ALS operation, including all licence
checkin/checkouts and in-depth diagnostic error messages if the service
fails to start. Under normal operation this log file is not
particularly useful, however it is a very important tool to help
pinpoint and rectify problems if the ALS service is either not starting
or not operarting as expected.
Expired Log
This button opens the expired licences log file. This log file is
usually empty, however if any of the licences have expired, then it
will contain a list of these licences.
Configuration File
The configuration file controls some aspects of the ALS service. This
file is read when the service is first started, so any changes to it
require the service to be restarted before the changes will take effect.
View / Edit
This buttons causes the current configuration file to be opened in the
default program associated with "CFG" files. If no application is
associated with CFG files then Windows will allow the user to pick a
program, such as Windows Notepad. Instructions on each variable are
contained within the confguration file as comments, and settings are
also explained in more detail in the "Configuration File" chapter of this manual.
Windows Firewall
These controls display the current status of the Windows Firewall, as
well as allow the user to interrogate the firewall and control certain
aspects of it. If a third party firewall is used then the Windows
Firewall will probably be turned off, and thus these settings are not
used. In this case the third party firewall should be manually
configured by the administrator to allow The ALS application "ALS.EXE"
as a program exception to the firewall rules, or alternatively allow
the port (1999 by default) to be used.
Check Port
This button tells ALS to interrogate the current status of the Windows
Firewall and test whether ALS is allowed to operate on the chosen port.
This should be performed by a user with administrator privileges. If
the port is closed, you will be prompted to allow access to it. There
are two options available in opening the port:
Allow any application to use the ALS port
Allow only the ALS application through the Windows Firewall
The first option opens the port (1999 by default) for any program to
use. This can be useful if the ALS software may get reinstalled in a
different location on the same server.
The second option allows only the ALS.EXE file to communicate through the firewall. This is the default option.
Licence Files
The Licence Files group box contains the command to import licence
files, as well as displaying the path to the licence folder. Multiple
licence files are supported, but files must have unique file names that
end with the "lic" extension. Licence files are only read when the ALS
service is started, and thus the service will need to be restarted
after importing a new licence file.
Import Licence File
This command button will import an existing licence file to the ALS
licensing folder through a standard Windows file selector dialog box. A
warning will be issued if the file name clashes with an existing file
name, and the user will be prompted to automatically rename the new
file or overwrite the existing one.
Show Licence Folder
This command button will open Windows Explorer at the location where
the licence files are currently kept. This allows the user to manually
view, edit, copy or delete licence files as required.
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This should be performed by a user with administrator privileges. If
the port is closed, you will be prompted to allow access to it. There
are two options available in opening the port:
