Patent ID: 7856664
Filing Date: 2010-12-21
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling use of software products in a system including a plurality of client data processing units, the system including at least a first server data processing unit, hosting a main license server for granting use of a limited number of concurrent instances of at least one product, and a second server data processing unit hosting a backup license server, the method including the steps of: enrolling a set of licenses for at least one product on the main license server and on the backup license server such that each of the main license server and the backup license server can grant any license from the set of licenses; preventing the backup license server to grant any license while the main license server is active, the preventing including indicating the set of licenses on the backup license server as being in use at the backup license server; monitoring the activity of the backup license server; responsive to a detected failure of the backup license server, suspending the activity of the main license server until activity of backup license server is restored; and responsive to a detected failure of the main license server, granting a license in the set of licenses from the backup license server, the granting occurring after freeing the license by the backup license server.