Method and system for management of licenses
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving a request to access a network resource accessible through each of a plurality of servers, wherein licenses to access said network resource are distributed to each respective said servers and wherein a total of said licenses distributed to said servers corresponds to a maximum limit of allowed licensed connections to said network resource;
determining whether granting the requested access to the network resource provides a number of licensed connections equal to or less than said maximum limit;
granting the requested access to the network resource if it is determined that the granting of the requested access provides said number of licensed connections equal to or less than said maximum limit;
load balancing according to license availability by directing said granted requested access to one of said servers having at least one of its said respective licenses available for said requested access; and
providing a warning message if a threshold limit, of a number of licensed connections less than said maximum limit of licensed connections, is reached.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Licensed connections to network resources or services, such as servers or applications, are managed, including setting, limiting, monitoring, enforcing, recording, reporting, or otherwise managing licenses across multiple network resources. Real-time information that tracks license usage is logged. Reporting features are provided to allow a system administrator, vendor, network operator, or other entity to access the log information to determine license usage and compliance. Layer 7 information is used for determining distribution of licensed connections, including an implementation where connection to mail servers is distributed according to username. License management may be performed with or without using load-balancing technology.
111 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving a request to access a network resource accessible through each of a plurality of servers, wherein licenses to access said network resource are distributed to each respective said servers and wherein a total of said licenses distributed to said servers corresponds to a maximum limit of allowed licensed connections to said network resource; determining whether granting the requested access to the network resource provides a number of licensed connections equal to or less than said maximum limit; granting the requested access to the network resource if it is determined that the granting of the requested access provides said number of licensed connections equal to or less than said maximum limit; load balancing according to license availability by directing said granted requested access to one of said servers having at least one of its said respective licenses available for said requested access; and providing a warning message if a threshold limit, of a number of licensed connections less than said maximum limit of licensed connections, is reached. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10)
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3. (canceled)
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5. (canceled)
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9. (canceled)
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11-36. -36. (canceled)
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37. An apparatus, comprising:
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a network device adapted to load balance traffic amongst a plurality of servers according to a number of paid permitted connections to a network resource available through said plurality of servers, wherein said network device is further adapted to provide a warning if a threshold limit, of a number of paid permitted connections less than a maximum limit of paid permitted connections, is reached. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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41. (canceled)
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42. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a storage medium storing instructions that are executable by a network device to; determine a number of paid permitted connections to at least one network resource accessible through each of a plurality of servers, wherein said number of paid permitted connections to said at least one network resource is distributed amongst said servers; load balance traffic amongst said plurality of servers according to said number of paid permitted connections; and provide a warning if a threshold limit, of a number of paid permitted connections less than a maximum limit of paid permitted connections, is reached. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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45-47. -47. (canceled)
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48. An apparatus, comprising:
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a network device adapted to load balance traffic amongst a plurality of servers according to a number of paid permitted connections to a network resource available through said plurality of servers, wherein said network device is further adapted to provide a warning if a threshold limit, of a number of paid permitted connections less than a maximum limit of paid permitted connections, is reached, and wherein said servers include mail servers and wherein said paid permitted connections available through said plurality of servers include licenses allocated to said mail servers based on usernames assigned to said mail servers. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
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Specification