The Sparx Systems Key Store server has been available for many years, providing users of Enterprise Architect with the ability to manage their floating licenses. In version 2.1 of Pro Cloud Server the same Floating License functionality offered by the "Keystore Service' was integrated into the Pro Cloud Server and enhanced to support SSL and IPv6.
This services is included in the unlicensed ProCloudServer free of charge.

Learn more...

Floating licenses are licences stored in a keystore from which they can be checked out by Enterprise Architect users who use floating licenses to temporary access Enterprise Architect.
Enterprise Architect connects to the Keystore only at program startup and shutdown to check out one (1) floating license per user computer, or to return it – multiple instances of EA may run with this license in the user’s account on this computer.
A floating license can also be used for offline work by eliminating the step of returning the key online – it is then active, or usable, offline for a maximum time period set by the administrator; when this time period has run out, the key is automatically inactive on the Client and re-released for use by other EA users. Floating licenses simplify the licensing administration, as an administrator can insert or delete them in the Keystore using a maintenance program.
Floating licenses are available for the Corporate, Ultimate, Systems Engineering and Business & Software Engineering editions.
A simultaneous implementation of Enterprise Architect with “Named Licenses”, for users that need EA on a permanent basis, is also possible. When you wish to upgrade existing Enterprise Architect (EA) licenses to floating, please send us an email with your license keys and access details to sales(at)sparxsystems.eu. We will be happy to submit a quote.
Once floating licenses have been acquired, the software for Keystore creation and maintenance is supplied. The codeword for starting the installation or maintenance program is also included.

Keystore/Floating licenses in Enterprise Architect 7.5 (up to Build 850)

Included in delivery: SSKeyStore.exe – an installation program compatibe with Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista/Windows7. The installation program installs a program of the same name with which Keystores can be built and maintained. The current status of the borrowed license can also be seen. Key files are given the name sskeys.dat, and can be stored on a Windows, Samba, Wine or Novell based file system. Usually, a single user team can be created for a single key file. The individual users need read/write/modify rights for the directory with sskey.dat and for sskeys.dat themselves. Concurrent use of floating licenses is regulated through the number of floating licenses in the Keystore.
When Enterprise Architect is used on a client computer for the first time, the license is requested: the path to the Keystore is to be entered. The “Deployment of Enterprise Architect” document explains how you can pre-set the path to the Keystore during an automatic (msi) installation, so that this entry can be omitted for the user.
The change from Named user to Floating does not require a new installation of Enterprise Architects on the user’s computer and can be configured on that computer via the license menu (Help | Register and Manage License Key(s)…).

The first icon allows an additional keystore to be created; the second icon allows the as-yet unlinked Keystore to be added to the list of managed keystores.
In the File menu one can also delete a keystore.
The linked keystores are shown in the upper window and can be selected there.
As soon as a keyfile is selected, the contained licenses are shown including the current assignment status. Insertion, release and deleting of keys is then possible – the activating icons are placed in this order.
When a keystore has been selected, the following can be set in Tools | Options:

• The maximum checkout period
• Dialog options: Query (unchecked) or Silent (checked)
Note: The “Query” option is not very well liked among administrators because licenses are often not returned due to lack of experience. A license can also be inadvertently retained in the “Silent” option: when powering Enterprise Architect down, to connection to the Keystore might be established. An offline user receives a notice one day previous to expiration of the checked-out license that the license will expire. Once the pre-set period has run out, the checked-out license is no longer usable and another user may check this license out in the Keystore from that time forward. All MDG floating (plugin) products may also be administered via the Keystore / with SSKeyStore.exe.
 
When opening the complementary application (VS Studio, Eclipse,...) you will be asked whether the plugin should also be opened. Upon confirmation, a key from EA and the plugin will be required.
  
Attention:
When you wish to move the sskeys.dat file into another directory or disc, this must be done via SSKeyStore.exe by creating a new keystore and transferring the licenses into the new keystore on the user interface.
Moving the file over the operating system is possible, but the next time the program is used the Keystore will be marked in its new position as corrupt and is no longer usable! Therefore, the Keystore should not be installed on redundance systems that automatically mirror to other hardware positions.

System Requirements:
3 MB disc space
Windows NT/2000/XP.
Note: The Keystore is not compatible with Windows 9x
EA as of Version 5.0 Build 768
 
Keystore / Floating Licenses under Enterprise Architect 8.0 (as of Build 855)

The previous Keystore mechanism is still available to floating license users under Enterprise Architect 8.0.

The upper setting effectuates the same Keystore file usage that has been available up to Version 8.0. This is mostly sensible when not all floating license users want to convert to Version 8.0 and you wish to keep the floating licenses usable for all users.
The option shown below has to do with a new feature available as of Enterprise Architect Version 8.0: the Sparx Systems Keystore Service

System requirements for Sparx Systems Keystore Service
Please take a look onto the system requirements

Instead of a passive keystore file, a Windows Service can now be used. This service can then also protocol the continual checking out and return of licenses, making the use history easy to follow.
The new installation program, which can be used for setting up the service as well as installing the license maintenance program (“KeyStoreManager”), is available to registered users under: Dowload SSKS. The corresponding user manual can be found at: User Guide for Keystore Service(pdf document). General information can be found on the Floating License Editions page. The keyword for starting the installation program is the same as in previous versions – they have received this together with the floating-licenses.

Floating License Server within the Pro Cloud Server
Since the release of ProCloud Server 4.2 is a Floating License Server integrates with Active Directory available.
Read more


Summary
With new floating licenses you receive all links and keywords for the installation of the new Sparx Systems KeyStore Services. In case you lose the keyword or other information: sales(at)sparxsystems.eu can help.
The service as well as the maintenance program (“KeyStoreManager”) can be installed with the downloadable SparxKeystoreService.exe. Both programs can also be installed on different systems and, where needed, multiple times.
The KeyStore service can be stopped, started or deactivated on the system on which it was installed, in Windows via Control Panel | Administration | Services.
Should settings other than the standard settings be desired, the service can be configured via parameters in keystoreService.config (in the service directory). This is where the directory and the logging parameters can be set. A detailed description can be found here in the Help as well as in the User Guide (pdf document).

Summary
In addition to the following funtionalities,
• Selection of a KeyStoreService
• Adding of licenses
• Deletion of licenses
• Termination of licenses

The KeyStoreManager maintenance program also encompasses a funtion to automatically take over licenses from a classic license Keyfile (sskeys.dat).