Enabling runtime licenses for testing
IBM® Rational® Performance Tester requires two types of licenses: product activation and runtime licenses. Product activation licenses permit you to run the product. Runtime licenses are unique to Rational Performance Tester. Runtime licenses consists of protocol keys and virtual tester license key packs. Runtime licenses permit you to run performance tests on specific protocols with multiple virtual users. You use different tools to manage and configure product activation licenses and runtime licenses. You manage product activation by using Installation Manager. You manage runtime licenses by using IBM Rational License Key Administrator.
With product activation licenses, you can start the product. There are two forms of product activation licenses: a product activation kit that is installed on the computer where the product is installed or a floating product license that users check out from a Rational License Server. You can download the product activation kit from IBM Passport Advantage® for authorized user purchases. For floating product licenses, your license server administrator must log in to the Rational License Center to download a floating license key and import it to your Rational License Server. Make sure to use the version of Rational License Server that comes with the product. Earlier versions of Rational License Server might not support all the required licensing functions. For more information about the Rational License Server, see Managing licenses with Rational Common Licensing.
The Rational License Server supports floating license keys, so that administrators can manage licensing throughout the enterprise. Administrators can install the Rational License Server from Passport Advantage or from the product media. To learn more about product activation, including the Rational License Server, see the product installation guide.
In addition to product activation, Rational Performance Tester also checks for runtime licensing when you run a performance schedule. Runtime licensing consists of the correct protocol keys and virtual tester license key packs. You must have a protocol key to run performance tests with any protocol other than HTTP. You must have a virtual tester license key pack to run tests with more than five virtual users. You can check out these keys from the same Rational License Server that you use for floating license product activation.
To check out protocol and virtual tester license keys in Windows, you must use the IBM Rational License Key Administrator program to point to a Rational License Server. Use the version of IBM Rational License Key Administrator that was installed with Rational Performance Tester. Click . Type the name or IP address of your Rational License Server. Protocol and virtual tester license keys are available from the Rational License Key Center in the form of .upd files. If you double-click a .upd file in Windows, the License Key Administrator program starts automatically and imports the license keys. To learn more about IBM Rational License Key Administrator, click .
There is no Linux version of the IBM Rational License Key Administrator. To check out protocol and virtual tester license keys in Linux, you must create and edit the .flexlmrc file. Create the file .flexlmrc in the home directory of every user who runs more than five virtual testers, uses a protocol other than HTTP, or uses the floating license product activation. Edit the .flexlmrc file, adding a line with the computer name or the IP address of the Rational License Server. For example, add the line RATIONAL_LICENSE_FILE=@license-server-name.com or RATIONAL_LICENSE_FILE=@license-server-ip-address.