Great News! As you might have already seen, Arbortext Editor 6.0, Arbortext Styler 6.0 and Arbortext Publishing Engine 6.0 are now available for download from the PTC support site.
This is the same issue as above, Flex licensing does not allow client applications connected to a locked license to be launched over Remote Desktop or terminalservices connections. This would be allowed if the client is connected to a floating license server.
Based off these last few messages, we will make a point to ensure all the worldwide Technical Consultants have a refresher on the Flex Licensing support issues, specifically dealing with remote desktop. Many of these issues have been addressed are documented online at PTC.com. A search on RDP will bring up a number of support bulletins addressing these concerns. Please keep in mind many other PTC products have been using Flex licensing for the past 10 years, many of these issues have come up with those other applications. The product references may not be the same but the resolution to the issues are typically the same or similar.
As always, Andy, if you are not satisified with a TS response, there is a feedback tool or you canuse call escalation to get the issue resolved.
Thanks
Susan
In Reply to Andy Esslinger:
Adepters,
The recent knot of related and unrelated threads confused me a little as the flurry of threads whipped past me too densely to interpret, but it reminded me of a question I have been meaning to ask (adepters first; then Arbortext tech support when I have time to explain to them what a distributed doctype is.
Background *too wordy" I know. Please enjoy: I telecommute and typically use Arbortext Editor, Document Architect, Print Composer, Import and (as rarely as I can manage it):some other publishing stuff. For Arbortext, these are all node-locked licenses attached to my PC and usually to the Remote PC (and I have a couple of floating licenses for editor/print composer if necessary. I run the Remote Desktop Session (%SystemRoot%\system32\mstsc.exe) and identify the machine I want to connect to. By now I have a folder full of short cuts that I can click and go to access a remote PC anywhere inside our firewall..
I had to use a Remote Desktop Connection to install Arbortext IsoDraw on a new PC. The setup and installation went well and the license file was obtained and stored in the correct directory, The environment variable PTC_D_LICENSE_FILE was set to point to the license file (C:\Program Files\Arbortext\IsoDraw 7.1\License.dat) and everything looked good. I installed the software, rebooted the remote machine and figured I was almost done with the installation. However, when started a Remote Desktop session and I attempted to start Arbortext three was a fail message and IsoDraw wouldn't run. At first I thought it was me, because an exclusive Remote Desktop session would not allow the installed license to be used more than it would if I drive fifty miles and sit at the console. So, the bottom line is that I did drive the fifty miles and IsoDraw worked fine at the console but not via Remote Desktop Connection.
I called Arbortext tech support and was connected to someone in India, but we weren't able to communicate enough to establish anything. He or she was very concerned about whether the weather made for a nice day, but much less so with anything to do with Arbortext.
Bottom line: Does Arbortext work via an exclusive Remote Desktop Connection?
Thanks, -Andy \ / Andy Esslinger LM Aero - Tech Order Data _____-/\-_____ (817) 279-0442 1 Lockheed Blvd, MZ 4285 \_\/_/ (817) 777 3047 Fort Worth, TX 76108-3916
I hope discussion of this issue can be held openly on the list. Given the significant difference in cost of fixed versus floating licenses, the restriction you describe may have serious financial and operational consequences for many Arbortext users.
It is still not clear why there is a perceived difference between an Arbortext user sitting at a PC with a node-locked license, and the same user accessing the same PC via Remote Desktop. There is still only one license available.
With the increase in telecommuting, installing Arbortext on an office PC (with a node-locked license) and using Remote Desktop to connect from home is becoming common. A floating license should not be necessary under this scenario.
Thanks,
David
David S. Taylor
Project Manager, Structured Information Institute for Research in Construction National Research Council Canada Bldg. M-23A, Room 239 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6
Is there a diplomatic way to ask if there is any good reason that the node-locked licenses won't work over Remote Desktop? I mean, is this a design feature or a bug?
If it's a bug can you fix it?
If design feature what is the rationale? Using one license on a remote desktop is still only one license in use and it's installed on the correct PC.
Thanks, -Andy \ / Andy Esslinger LM Aero - Tech Order Data _____-/\-_____ (817) 279-0442 1 Lockheed Blvd, MZ 4285 \_\/_/ (817) 777 3047 Fort Worth, TX 76108-3916
A
Anonymous
March 25, 2011
So I guess my next question is how does the licensing work for Arbortext PE? Is it not licensed through FlexLM?
There is no way for me to access PE except for RDP for installation, configuration, and of course, diagnostics.
Will I still be able to get to the PE through terminal services/RDP?
That certainly applies to us. Our PE server is in Milford, Ohio, and I'm in Shoreview, Minn. ALL of our access to the server is via Remote Desktop Connection.
Dave Siemens
A
Anonymous
March 25, 2011
On another note, I tried just now to go to the PTC.com site to check my current license count, and apparently the site is down.
I used a browser, not RDP...
Was this scheduled maintenance? This thread has required me to schedule some awkward conversations with the purse-string-holders today (we're at the tail-end of locking down budget for the rest of the year), and I'm going to need that info...
PTC.com being down today is truly a coincidence. It is a known issue and is being actively attended to, we hope it will be back functioning soon.
Thanks
Susan
In Reply to Jason Buss:
On another note, I tried just now to go to the PTC.com site to check my current license count, and apparently the site is down.
I used a browser, not RDP...
Was this scheduled maintenance? This thread has required me to schedule some awkward conversations with the purse-string-holders today (we're at the tail-end of locking down budget for the rest of the year), and I'm going to need that info...
There are clearly many, many questions and concerns. Foremost, PTC wants to provide the best support possible, and I want to ensure that all these Flex related licensing questions are addressed with answers made available back through Adepters (and also on PTC.com). I believe I have answers to all the questions, PE does work fine with node locked or current licenses, PE does work when connected via RDP, PE does work via VPN or RDPeven if the PE is in a different geographical location, etc. Costs, PTC has that addressed too.
The transition to Flex willbenefitcustomers, nofuncationality or capabilites are lost, no new costs,in fact a few new features are now available. I expect challenges during the migration, there should not be anything we cannot find a solution for.
What I would like to ask, Adepters, if you have a question, feel free to post to Adepters, but please send it directly to me (-). Then early next week I can make a posting to Adepters (and hopefully include links to PTC.com) so the question and answers are easier to sift through. I would also be open to a live Web Discussion if that would be benefical, please let me know.
Thanks,
Susan
In Reply to Martin Bushby:
It seems that at 6.0 the PE license is issued as a floating license so access via Remote Desktop works fine.
