Tuesday, 17 July 2018

Autodesk Licensing an Overview


As Autodesk has stopped selling perpetual licensing and transitioned to subscription based model. Companies which have large estate of Autodesk footprint in the environment have questions in mind
What about my existing perpetual licenses?
What are my new options?
What about my existing perpetual licenses?
So, if you choose not to switch and stay on maintenance, you will continue to receive the benefits of that plan, including support and product updates as long as you continue to renew. You can switch to subscription on your next renewal.
What are my new options?

SUBSCRIPTION-BASED OFFERINGS
Formally Known as
Now referred to as  
Desktop Subscription or Cloud Service Subscription
A subscription with single-user access
Network Subscription
A subscription with multi single-user access

OFFERING AVAILABLE FOR A PERPETUAL LICENSE
Formally Known as
Now referred to as  
Maintenance Subscription
a maintenance plan

Point to remember:
Perpetual licenses on maintenance will be replaced with subscription licenses.
·         Subscriptions with single-user access require internet connectivity once in 30 days.
·         Standalone licenses cannot be switched to network licenses and vice-versa
·         Term is fixed. So, you can not change the term twice. If you decided, at the time of switch for (1, 1-2, 1-3) years.  It will be renewed for the same terms at the time of renewal.
·         Your Perpetual licenses rights terminates and replaced with term-based licenses rights
·          
Licensing options
Auto desk offers two types of subscription access, each with its own licensing technology.
Stand-alone licenses (included in subscriptions with single-user access)
Single-user access is a good choice for organizations that need one or more stand-alone licenses. These licenses are assigned to individual users and can’t be shared. Customers must connect to the internet every 30 days to validate their Autodesk ID. These subscriptions cost less than subscriptions with multi-user access.
Network licenses (included in subscriptions with multi-user access)
Multi-user access is a good choice for companies with multiple teams that need access to the same software deployed through network licenses. Network licenses aren’t assigned to individual users and can be shared. Network licenses do not require an internet connection to activate or use.
A subscription with multi-user access supports the use of Autodesk products up to a maximum number of users, or seats, connected to a server network. The products can be installed on as many computers as you want. However, you can use the software simultaneously only on the number of purchased seats. For example, if you have 6 subscriptions seats and 8 users, all users have access, but only 6 can use the product at any one time. Because you can install the products on more systems than the number of subscription seats purchased, you get true floating licenses across your entire organization.
Using the Network License Manager
Administrators must install the Network License Manager (NLM) to assign licenses to users, up to the number of seats purchased. If all network licenses are in use, no more computers can run the Autodesk product until a license is returned to the NLM. The NLM supports 3 server models. When purchasing a subscription with multi-user access, you specify and set up the server model that best suits your needs.
Single License Server Model
The single license server model is the most basic configuration available. The Network License Manager is installed on only one server, which means all license management and activity is restricted to one single location. A single license file represents the total number of licenses available on the server.
Advantages
Because all license management takes place on one server, you have just one point of administration and one point of failure.
Of the three license server models, this configuration requires the least amount of maintenance.
Disadvantages
If this single server license fails, the Autodesk product(s) cannot run until the server is back online
Distributed License Server Model
In the distributed license server model, your software licenses are divided across more than one server. Each server contains a unique license file, representing a portion of your total number of licenses. The Network License Manager is installed on each server so all license activity and management is distributed among the number of servers that best suits your needs. The group of servers that make up your distributed network is called the “server pool.”
Advantages
Servers can be distributed across a wide area network (WAN) and do not need to exist on the same subnet.
If one server in the distributed server pool fails, the licenses on the remaining servers are still available.
If you need to replace a server in the distributed server pool, you do not need to rebuild the entire pool.
Server replacement is easier than in a redundant server pool, where you must reactivate the entire pool.
Disadvantages
If a server in the distributed server pool fails, the licenses on that server are unavailable.
This model can require more time for setup and maintenance than other models.
Redundant License Server Model
In the redundant license server model, all of your software licenses are configured on three different servers. Each server contains the same license file, so all your software licenses are available on each server. The Network License Manager is installed on each server and can monitor and issue licenses if at least two of your three servers are functional. In the redundant license server model, all three servers must be located on the same subnet and have consistent network communications.
Advantages
If one of the three servers fail, all licenses that are managed in the server pool are still available.
Disadvantages
If more than one server fails, no licenses are available.
All three servers must reside on the same subnet and have reliable network communications. The redundant server pool does not provide network fault tolerance.
If one of the three servers are replaced, the complete redundant server pool must be rebuilt.

Some most common definitions
Global Travel Rights:
Global Travel Rights are a benefit of maintenance plans and subscriptions which permits the use of products and services covered by those maintenance plans or subscriptions worldwide while traveling outside the country of purchase. For Global Travel Rights to be applicable, the maintenance plan or subscription must have been purchased in the individual or legal entity's Home Country**. Global Travel Rights are provided as part of the subscription or maintenance plan contract.  There is no form to fill out or process required to enable the benefit.
Examples and Scenarios
Examples where Global Travel Rights are permitted:
Purchases in home country:  If the customer is an end user and purchased a subscription, or a perpetual license with an active maintenance plan in his/her home country, then that individual can use the product/service globally.
 
Individual is a Named User: If the customer is an individual and purchased a subscription with single-user access in his/her home country, then that individual is the Named User and can use the product/service globally.
 
Purchases by an incorporated legal entity: If a company purchases a subscription, or a perpetual license with an active maintenance plan and the company is an incorporated legal entity, then any employee or onsite contractor of that legal entity, in the company's home country, may use the product globally.
 
Subscription to cloud service and cloud services which are benefits of subscriptions and maintenance plans: Provided the subscription is purchased in the customer's home country, then the cloud service may be accessed by any authorized third party, globally.
Examples where Global Travel Rights are not permitted:
Customer wishes to grant access to employees of its Parent or a Sister Company or a Subsidiary in different country: Only employees of the purchasing legal entity may use the covered software (and any other benefits) globally. Employees of parent or sister companies or subsidiaries may not use the covered software (or any other benefits) globally.
 
Customer wishes to grant access to employees of its Parent or a Sister Company or a Subsidiary in the same country: Only employees of the purchasing legal entity may use the covered software (and any other benefits) in the same country. Employees of parent or sister companies or subsidiaries may not use the covered software (or any other benefits) in the same country.
 
Customer purchases from an Authorized Reseller outside the Home Country: The individual customer, or employees of the purchasing legal entity customer, may only use the software in the country of purchase. The individual or employees of the purchasing legal entity may NOT use the software product globally
Internet Requirement
Internet connectivity is a requirement of subscription with single-user access. Connectivity is required the first time you run the software and every 30 days thereafter. If your site does not have internet access, you can still take advantage of subscription if you are switching to a subscription with multi-user access. In this case, internet connectivity is required only to generate and maintain the license file for the license server on your local network, and end-user access to the internet is not required.

Is reinstalling existing software required immediately after you switch
For more detail:
Why to move to a subscription:
What to Consider Before Moving from Maintenance to Subscription
Move to a Subscription Overview

FAQs




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