ClearCase Licensing

ClearCase Licensing uses an active-user floating license scheme. A user must obtain a license, which grants the privilege to use DevOps Code ClearCase® on any host served by the same license server.

When a user runs a DevOps Code ClearCase client utility, such as cleartool or a GUI program, that utility attempts to obtain a license. If it gets one, the user can keep the license for an extended period. Entering any DevOps Code ClearCase command renews the license. If the user does not enter a DevOps Code ClearCase command for a substantial period—by default, 60 minutes—another user can take the license.

A few commands and GUIs, primarily ones that are used for administration, do not require a license to run.

One or more hosts in the local area network are designated as DevOps Code ClearCase license server hosts. Each license server host maintains a list of license keys, as described in License database format. Whenever a user runs a DevOps Code ClearCase command that requires a license, a license-verification check is made. If the user has a license, the command runs. If the user does not have a license, the following steps occur:
  1. The DevOps Code ClearCase client software looks for the name of the license server host.
  2. The command communicates with the license server process on the license server host, to see whether the user can get a license. (The license server process is actually the albd_server, performing these duties in addition to its other tasks.)
  3. If a license is available, the license server grants the user a license and the command runs. The license remains valid as long as it is used at least once per time-out period. (The default time-out period is 60 minutes.)
  4. If no license is available, the command displays an error message and exits.
Note: ClearCase Licensing is available when using ClearCase provided by IBM or HCL.