AVEVA Enterprise Licensing FAQs

What is Borrowed Time?

If a node does not or cannot communicate with the Licenses Server to renew the license, then it will expire after certain time. This time duration is called borrowed time.

There are two types of licenses:

• Backend type license: This license is acquired by our server products. Some server products may have infinite borrow time if the license is Permanent. However, products like AVEVA Plant SCADA have a fixed borrow time of 14 days. This means if the license server becomes inaccessible, the license remains valid for up to 14 days before expiring. If the license has an expiry date, then the borrow time is the license expiry date.

• Client type license: This licenses is acquired by our client products and has borrowed time of 20 minutes. This means that if the node does not or cannot communicate with the license server to renew the license, then it will expire in 20 minutes. It will become unusable on the node and the License Server will automatically release it, allowing to be acquired by another node.

Give examples for server products

Window Maker, InTouch Run Time Standalone Window Viewer, InTouch Web Server, Application Server, Historian Server.

Note: AVEVA Plant SCADA is a server product but does not have infinite borrow time. It has a fixed borrow time of 14 days.

Give examples for client products

SupvClient OMI, Historian Client, InSight

How does the License System handle network outages?

When a license is acquired, a 'borrowed time' counter starts counting down. This 'borrowed time' is periodically reset by product refreshing their licenses on a periodic bases with the License Server.

For most company SCADA networks, the licensed nodes will be in permanent contact with the License Server over the SCADA network. However, sometimes the network may be down or disconnected for some time.

When a disconnect occurs, the product software that acquired the license continue to run. But, after the borrowed time is exceeded if the product software shuts down, it cannot be restarted. Once the borrowed time is exceeded the acquired license is automatically released by the License Server making it available for use.