A network-based installation of DBT is simply an installation in which all the instances of DBT, on as many machines as they are installed, are all activated through a single server machine on your network. Only the server computer needs to be officially activated; all other DBT’s on the network become activated as its clients. Naturally, in this set-up the server must be activated for multiple users.
This topic is fairly dense technically. Here is an outline of the steps:
Now we will go through these steps in detail.
We say, “server" or "master workstation,” because the computer you choose as the master for DBT activation need not be running a server operating system. This gives you a wider choice of which computer to use as your master for activation. If the computer you choose is not a Windows Server machine, then it must be at least a Windows XP computer or later, and you need to be willing to leave it powered on whenever DBT is needed by any user on the network
Once you have chosen a server machine, install DBT onto it by following the Simple Installation instructions.
The next step is to activate DBT on the server machine. When you launch DBT, you will see the “Activate” button on the splash screen. When you click that (or the like button in the “About” box), it invokes the Activation Wizard. Or the Activation Wizard can be invoked directly from the DBT home folder (actwiz.exe).
On the Wizard’s main page is a radio button labeled, “Set up this server to host the network license.” Select that choice and click the “Next” button. From there you can simply follow the instructions in the Activation Wizard, but here are some helpful tips.
Activating by Internet, if possible, is by far the quickest and most convenient method.
If you are not using port 8080, the Wizard will direct you where to enter your selected port number.
On one page you will need your license text, computer name, and user name. The license may be pre-populated for you. To avoid confusion, we suggest you enter the same computer name as the DNS name that client machines will use to address this server (but this is not a requirement). In the User Name field, you may want to enter the name of the organization instead of an individual. Whatever name you use here, keep track of it to enter it again from the DBT client machines.
To see page-by-page instructions for using the Activation Wizard see Registration and Activation .
Note: This is the only activation you need to do. Do not attempt to activate the client machines separately, instead they will be “connected” your server.
Just the same way DBT is installed from an installer package (an .msi file), you need to install the Shared License Service from its .msi file, duxsls-0100.msi. The completion of installation automatically initiates the network license service that is needed for sharing your server activation. This service allows other machines on the network to obtain their DBT activations from your server. The duxsls-0100.msi file is available from http://www.duxburysystems.com/downloads/duxsls-0100.msi or from the root directory of your DBT 11.2 (SR4) CD-ROM.
The installer guides you through each step, beginning with the End User License Agreement, which you must accept to enable the Next button, and that we recommend you read at least once. By default it places the service files in the “Duxbury\Shared License Server” folder. We recommend you accept the default location.
Finally, on the last page it pre-checks a box prompting you to configure and start the service. This opens the Duxbury SLS Editor. If your installation includes multiple versions of DBT, or includes other Duxbury products like NimPro, or uses third-party software that is activated using “Sheriff,” you need to configure them using the Editor. Even if you have no complications, you must invoke the Editor to build the required initialization files and start the service. If you uncheck this box, you will have to start the Editor manually to complete your installation.
In the the Duxbury SLS Editor, you are prompted for the port number you wish to use for the Shared License Service. As previously noted the default is port 8080, and you can use that if it is not already in use or unsuitable for some reason local to your own network. If you chose a different port number in the Activation Wizard, enter that same port number here.
On this same screen, the editor builds a list of checkboxes that allows you to indicate which Duxbury products are to be shared from this server. In the most common case, that list contains only the single version of DBT that you have just activated. In the most complicated case, the list may include a range of Duxbury products and even third-party software.
Unless necessary, we do not recommend running third-party products (should any be listed) under the same port number as your Duxbury applications. In the most complex case, conflicts between Duxbury and third-party software may possibly be resolved by editing the content of the .ini files per the next screen in the Editor. Consult your local IT personnel if you need to do this. Normally no editing of these settings is needed.
Finally, you click the “Start Service” button to launch the Duxbury Shared License Service. You can confirm this service is running by finding it under this name in your Administrative Tools: Services screen.
The Duxbury Shared License Service is not added to the list of rules (or programs) in your firewall automatically. You must edit the Inbound Rules of the Windows Firewall (or similar program list on your third-party firewall) to add this service.
Using Windows 7 as an example:
In the Windows Firewall, you need to access the “Advanced settings” (administrative level) functions.
To avoid confusion, we suggest you name the new entry, “Duxbury Shared License Service.”
Assuming you have installed the Shared License Service in the normal default location, the program you need to allow is under the “Duxbury\ Shared License Server” folder. The program you need to allow is named slsServer.exe.
Once you make the new entry, you can open the specific port number that this service communicates on. In the Windows Firewall this setting is found under the Properties of the Duxbury Shared License Service.
Consult your specific firewall documentation for additional guidance.
For each client computer, install DBT by following the Simple Installation instructions.
Then you need to connect the client machine to the server. To do this, launch the DBT Activation Wizard. You can do this by running DBT and then clicking the “Activate” button on the splash screen or in the DBT “About” box, or by invoking the Activation Wizard (actwiz.exe) directly in the DBT home folder.
On the Wizard’s main page is a radio button labeled, “Connect to the network license server on your LAN.” Select that choice and click the “Next” button.
To complete your connection on each client machine, you need to fill in:
Once you have entered this data, click the Test button. Test attempts to complete the connection. This lets you know the data you entered are valid. Then click Next.