How to configure EAM as a license manager?

Ignition
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1

I was curious if its possible to setup the EAM as a license manager for leased licensing?

Here is the situation. I have gateways that are being built into derived docker images and when they spin up a backup is restored. I need them to be licensed after they boot. Since they are running in docker I can't have the license on the gateway in case power goes out or the container goes down for some reason. I can't use a docker volume with the container because if a new image is released I will need to be-able to use that new image and the gateway backup contained inside of it will need to be restored and if there is a docker volume, the backup inside the new image will not be restored.

I know that the EAM can store hardware keys and leased licenses. Is there a way to set it up, so that when one of these gateways comes online it can lease a specific license to that gateway? the EAM can be the stateful docker container we use and it would be helpful if it could also hold the licenses.

2

Hey Derek,

EAM won't be able to act as a license manager for containerized gateways, but I think what you're looking for may be in place through environment variables and java parameters. Specifically:

  • IGNITION_LICENSE_KEY
  • IGNITION_ACTIVATION_TOKEN
  • wrapper.java.additional.1=-Dignition.license.leased-activation-terminate-sessions-on-shutdown

Those should allow you to apply licenses at startup to otherwise unlicensed gateway backups and without use of a volume. Setting ignition.license.leased-activation-terminate-sessions-on-shutdownto true ensures the session is terminated on graceful shutdown.

For ungraceful shutdown, such as power outages, sessions can be manually terminated in the license manager portal. You can also work with your sales team to explore adding sessions to your leased licenses.

3

Thank you so much Allen!

I did no know that licenses can be manually terminated through the portal.

4

Does this mean that the docker gateways need to be connected to the internet in-order to use leased licenses? In my case all these containers will not be connected to the internet

5

Yes.

You should reconsider using containers. Use VMs or bare hardware so you can use permanent licenses.