Mini Appliance Ensuring Software License Compliance

• US 20130019316A1
• Filed: 07/13/2011
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quest Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Kacin, Martin, Kloba, David Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 9,396,311 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/105 Arrangements for software license management or administration, e.g. for managing licenses at corporate level

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method comprises: collecting software information from one or more network devices; and analyzing the software information to ensure software license compliance for the one or more network devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

by a mini appliance,

collecting software information from one or more network devices; and

analyzing the software information to ensure software license compliance for the one or more network devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising reporting any violation to the software license found on the one or more network devices.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein ensuring software license compliance for the one or more network devices comprises:

for each software application installed on the one or more network devices;

determining a total number of copies of the software application installed on the one or more network devices;

comparing the total number of copies of the software application with a total number of licenses of the software application; and

if the total number of copies of the software application is greater than the total number of licenses of the software application, then reporting a license violation for the software application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein ensuring software license compliance for the one or more network devices comprises:

determining all software applications installed on each network device;

grouping the software applications installed on the or more network devices into one or more groups, such that each group comprises one or more related software applications;

for each group of related software applications;

determining a total number of the related software applications in the group;

comparing the total number of the related software applications with a total number of licenses for the group; and

if the total number of the related software applications is greater than the total number of licenses for the group, then reporting a license violation for the group of related software applications.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein ensuring software license compliance for the one or more network devices comprises:

for each software application installed on the one or more network devices;

determining a total number of network devices on which the software application is installed;

comparing the total number of network devices with a total number of licenses of the software application; and

if the total number of network devices is greater than the total number of licenses of the software application, then reporting a license violation for the software application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein ensuring software license compliance for the one or more network devices comprises:

for each software application installed on the one or more network devices;

determining all network devices on which the software application is installed; and

for each network device on which the software application is installed;

determining if a license key of the software application has been assigned to the network device; and

if no license key of the software application has been assigned to the network device, then reporting a license violation for the software application in connection with the network device.

7. A system comprising:

a memory comprising instructions executable by one or more processors; and

the one or more processors coupled to the memory and operable to execute the instructions, the one or more processors being operable when executing the instructions to;

collect software information from one or more network devices; and

analyze the software information to ensure software license compliance for the one or more network devices.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more processors are further operable when executing the instructions to report any violation to the software license found on the one or more network devices.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein ensuring software license compliance for the one or more network devices comprises:

for each software application installed on the one or more network devices;

determine a total number of copies of the software application installed on the one or more network devices;

compare the total number of copies of the software application with a total number of licenses of the software application; and

if the total number of copies of the software application is greater than the total number of licenses of the software application, then report a license violation for the software application.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein ensuring software license compliance for the one or more network devices comprises:

determine all software applications installed on each network device;

group the software applications installed on the or more network devices into one or more groups, such that each group comprises one or more related software applications;

for each group of related software applications;

determine a total number of the related software applications in the group;

compare the total number of the related software applications with a total number of licenses for the group; and

if the total number of the related software applications is greater than the total number of licenses for the group, then report a license violation for the group of related software applications.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein ensuring software license compliance for the one or more network devices comprises:

for each software application installed on the one or more network devices;

determine a total number of network devices on which the software application is installed;

compare the total number of network devices with a total number of licenses of the software application; and

if the total number of network devices is greater than the total number of licenses of the software application, then report a license violation for the software application.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein ensuring software license compliance for the one or more network devices comprises:

for each software application installed on the one or more network devices;

determine all network devices on which the software application is installed; and

for each network device on which the software application is installed;

determine if a license key of the software application has been assigned to the network device; and

if no license key of the software application has been assigned to the network device, then report a license violation for the software application in connection with the network device.

13. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software operable when executed by one or more computer systems to:

collect software information from one or more network devices; and

analyze the software information to ensure software license compliance for the one or more network devices.

14. The media of claim 13, wherein the software is further operable when executed by the one or more computer systems to report any violation to the software license found on the one or more network devices.

15. The media of claim 13, wherein ensuring software license compliance for the one or more network devices comprises:

for each software application installed on the one or more network devices;

determine a total number of copies of the software application installed on the one or more network devices;

compare the total number of copies of the software application with a total number of licenses of the software application; and

if the total number of copies of the software application is greater than the total number of licenses of the software application, then report a license violation for the software application.

16. The media of claim 13, wherein ensuring software license compliance for the one or more network devices comprises:

determine all software applications installed on each network device;

group the software applications installed on the or more network devices into one or more groups, such that each group comprises one or more related software applications;

for each group of related software applications;

determine a total number of the related software applications in the group;

compare the total number of the related software applications with a total number of licenses for the group; and

if the total number of the related software applications is greater than the total number of licenses for the group, then report a license violation for the group of related software applications.

17. The media of claim 13, wherein ensuring software license compliance for the one or more network devices comprises:

for each software application installed on the one or more network devices;

determine a total number of network devices on which the software application is installed;

compare the total number of network devices with a total number of licenses of the software application; and

if the total number of network devices is greater than the total number of licenses of the software application, then report a license violation for the software application.

18. The media of claim 13, wherein ensuring software license compliance for the one or more network devices comprises:

for each software application installed on the one or more network devices;

determine all network devices on which the software application is installed; and

for each network device on which the software application is installed;

determine if a license key of the software application has been assigned to the network device; and

if no license key of the software application has been assigned to the network device, then report a license violation for the software application in connection with the network device.

19. A system comprising:

means for collecting software information from one or more network devices; and

means for analyzing the software information to ensure software license compliance for the one or more network devices.