Install a floating license

In this chapter, you will find out how to install floating licenses in the Ranorex License Manager on server machines with or without an internet connection. Also, find out how to install the Ranorex License Manager, which manages floating licenses, about the different types of floating licenses, and how to connect client machines to the server machine so they can lease floating licenses.

In the Licensing chapter, the server machine is “the server” and the client machines are “the client(s)”.

Install the Ranorex License Manager

Normally, the Ranorex License Manager is installed automatically when you install Ranorex Studio on a machine. However, if you do not want to install Ranorex Studio on the server, you can also install only the License Manager.

When you buy a floating license, you will receive an email with instructions. It also contains a download link for the License Manager.

To install only the License Manager:

1. From the link in the email for your floating license, download the License Manager to the server.

2. Install the License Manager following the instructions in the installation wizard.

Note: C++ libraries will be installed if not already present on the server and the server may have to be restarted during the installation.

Note Always install the latest version of the License Manager, the License Manager works with networks based on IPv4, IPv6, and a mix between them. Also, port 7266 TCP/UDP must be open

After the installation, the License Manager starts:

In rare cases, the Windows service (Windows Task Manager > Services) for the License Manager may not start, review the Troubleshooting section for some licensing solutions.

To install floating licenses:

1. Under Install licenses, paste the license key(s) you received by email.

2. Click Install license(s).

3. Click OK.

4. The floating license(s) appear in the list of installed licenses. This means they have been authenticated by the Ranorex License Authentication Server and installation is complete.

In this case, do the following:

1. On a machine with an internet connection, go to http://auth.ranorex.com/license/

2. Under License Key, enter your license key

3. Under Machine Name, enter the machine name of your server

4. Click Authenticate and confirm the machine name of your server
   
   
   The Ranorex License Authentication Server creates an authenticated license file based on your data. You need to download this file and transfer it to the offline machine.

5. Click Download Authenticated License File and transfer the downloaded file to the offline machine, e.g. using a USB stick
6. In the License Manager, click Load license…
7. Browse to the authenticated license file
8. Click Open.
9. Click OK. The license appears under the installed floating licenses
   

Once the license has been installed and authenticated on the server, clients can lease it. The server doesn’t have to be connected to the internet for normal operation. (It must be connected to the same network as the clients, however.)

Make sure the client is connected to the same network as the server and can access it.

To configure a client:

1. 1. On the client, open Ranorex Studio

   2. Go to Help > Licensing. The license configuration dialog opens

   3. Click Floating
      
      

   4. Under Server, enter the machine name or IP address of your server, or click the Refresh icon to see a list of machines with installed Ranorex License Managers in the network.

   5. The other fields are configured automatically.
      

1. 1. Click this button to reset all fields. Useful if you also have a node-locked license installed on the machine and want to use only it.

License types

There are three types of floating licenses: Runtime, Professional, and Premium.

When configuring a client, you can use the Type drop-down menu to specify the type of license you want this client to use. For example, if you plan to only run tests on this client, then Runtime would suffice. However, we recommend you leave Type on Auto.

• Auto (recommended)
  The client automatically requests the correct license for the current operation from the server.
• Runtime
  The client can only request a Runtime Floating License. This license type is limited to running tests via an Agent, the command line, or the Ranorex Test Suite Runner.
• Professional (discontinued)
  The client can only request a Professional Floating License. This license types is limited to Runtime Floating operations and using Ranorex Spy and tracking.
• Premium
  The client can only request a Premium Floating License. This license type has no limitations and is required for using the full functionality of Ranorex Studio, e.g. starting it, recording tests, or editing test suites (including through the API).

Leasing works based on what you’re doing in Ranorex Studio or one of its tools. For example, simply starting Ranorex Studio triggers the lease of a Premium Floating License. Running a test on a Ranorex Agent, on the other hand, triggers the lease of a Runtime Floating License, but if that isn’t available, it can also use a Premium Floating License. To see what the different license types allow, see License types above.

When a client has leased a license from the server, the license becomes unavailable to other clients. After the triggering operation is finished (e.g. the test run has finished, Ranorex Studio is closed), the client returns the license to the server and it’s available to other clients again.

Note: If a floating license can’t be returned to the server because of a network error, it will be blocked for 5 minutes, meaning it’s completely unavailable for lease during that time. We therefore strongly recommend a stable network infrastructure.