License Server

License Server

Centralized Licensing

Scalable Processing

In modern environments, binding software licenses to specific hardware or virtual servers no longer works. callas License Server addresses this by decoupling where software processes files from where it is licensed, supporting containerized and auto-scaling deployments.

For automated CLI and SDK products, licensing can be based on parallel processes or processing time to handle both baseline load and peaks. Desktop products are licensed as floating licenses, with concurrent use centrally managed.

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Avoid local activation

callas products such as pdfToolbox, pdfaPilot, of pdfChip, no longer have to be activated locally, if License Server is used. Instead, those products reach out to License Server and get the OK to process jobs from License Server.

This means that callas products can be hosted in a Docker environment, in a server-less environment such as Amazon Fargate, or in any auto-scaling platform where resources are created on-demand. The only requirement is that the products are capable of reaching License Server.

Flexibility in licensing

Because License Server uses two types of cartridges (processing modes), it can be used to respond to business needs in a more flexible way. Process cartridges provide a maximum number of parallel processes; this means that a set number of jobs can be processed in parallel. Credit cartridges contain an amount of processing time, and subtract the actual processing time needed for processed jobs (but they set no limits for the amount of parallel processing done).

In environments where required processing power is stable, process cartridges are the most economical solution. In environments where processing power is wildly unpredictable, credit cartridges may make the most sense. Both systems can be combined, to handle an average processing load in the most economical way, while using credits to cater for processing peaks.

Floating desktop licenses

License Server offers an additional advantage for the callas desktop products (pdfToolbox Desktop and pdfaPilot Desktop). These products can also get their license from License Server. Desktop products ask for permission to run on startup, which removes the need to activate the product on each machine it’s running on.

This effectively means that the license becomes floating, and can be shared between a larger team. This increases flexibility and reduces the amount of licenses needed to make the desktop solutions available to the whole team.

In the cloud, or, on-premise

callas License Server is a cloud-based, SaaS solution. It is hosted by callas software in a secure Amazon AWS environment. When using the solution, you get a wallet that holds all of your callas product licenses. Communication to License Server is done using the ID of that wallet.

In certain cases, customers have a requirement to have a local, on-premise, version of callas License Server. This is also available (for an additional cost), and can run as a standalone solution, or as a synchronized License Server cluster. Keep in mind that local License Servers do need to be activated on the machine they run on, and as such can’t be installed in certain environments (such as within Docker containers).

Removing your single point of failure

Using traditional activation-based methods creates failure points, as licensing is tied to specific machines, and cannot be altered fully automatically (the activation process is manual). This potentially creates problems if machines go down.

License Server removes this single point of failure by allowing callas solutions to run on any machine, as long as that machine can communicate with License Server. In the cloud, License Server is hosted on a resilient Amazon AWS based platform to ensure uninterrupted availability. On-premise, License Server can be installed as a cluster that can handle problems with one of the machines in the cluster without interrupting service.

License Server variants

callas License Server offers flexible license management, available as a cloud-based SaaS solution or a local on-premise variant.

SaaS On-premise

License Server SaaS is the preferred way to deploy callas License Server. It is hosted in the resilient AWS cloud and only requires internet access from your processing environment. callas handle everything else.

Keep everything in your wallet

You don’t pay for License Server SaaS itself, only for the resources it allows you to use. The keys to those resources (how many parallel processes and how many credits you have available for what products) are kept in a … wallet. This is simply an identifier that is passed to License Server SaaS so it can find your resources, and check whether you’re staying within limits.

No installation necessary

Starting to use License Server SaaS is a matter of minutes, as there is no installation whatsoever. Once you have your wallet ID that identifies what you have purchased in processing resources, License Server is ready.

In the desktop versions of the callas products, enter the wallet ID in the activation dialog. You now have a floating desktop license! In the automated versions, provide the wallet ID (for example on the command-line for the CLI products) and you can start processing immediately.

Floating licenses

License Server SaaS enables fully floating licenses. You can use it with the callas desktop or automated product versions, without activating these on a specific machine.

Do you have 20 prepress operators, but only five will ever need pdfToolbox Desktop at the same time? With License Server SaaS, you can easily set up a floating license: minimal cost, maximum flexibility!

All of your production is Dockerized, or hosted in an auto-scaling AWS or Azure environment? License Server SaaS doesn’t care where you process files; no local activation is necessary!

If License Server SaaS is not an option because you need to run everything within your own firewall, License Server On-premise provides an alternative. In this case you have to host License Server (or a triad of three License Servers) and are responsible for all maintenance and upgrades.

Keeping things local

While callas License Server SaaS is the quickest way to get going with License Server, sometimes you have no other choice than to keep things local. callas License Server provides exactly that. It is supported on any modern Windows, Linux, or macOS system and has to be activated on that computer.

To avoid a single point of failure, License Server On-premise can be installed as a triad of three communicating License Servers. At no additional license cost, this provides fault-tolerance.

Separating processing

The callas License Server uses cartridges (with a number of parallel processes, or a number of credits) to determine whether you can process files. With License Server On-premise, those cartridges can be grouped in cartridge pools.

If you want to set up guaranteed resources for different divisions or workflows, processing a file that specifies a cartridge pool ensures that only products registered for that cartridge pool are used. A great way not to bog down time-critical tasks with processes that can be done « when there’s time« .