callas License Server introduces a dynamic way of licensing callas solutions. It allows pdfToolbox, pdfaPilot, and pdfChip to not be tied to a specific computer (real or virtual), but rather get permission to process jobs from License Server. This enables the use of callas solutions in Docker and auto-scaling environments and overall provides more flexibility than traditional computer-based activation.
callas products such as pdfToolbox, pdfaPilot, of pdfChip, no longer have to be activated locally, if License Server is used. Instead, those products reach out to License Server and get the OK to process jobs from License Server.
This means that callas products can be hosted in a Docker environment, in a server-less environment such as Amazon Lambda, or in any auto-scaling platform where resources are created on-demand. The only requirement is that the products are capable of reaching License Server.
Because License Server uses two types of cartridges (processing modes), it can be used to respond to business needs in a more flexible way. Process cartridges provide a maximum number of parallel processes; this means that a set number of jobs can be processed in parallel. Credit cartridges contain an amount of processing time, and subtract the actual processing time needed for processed jobs (but they set no limits for the amount of parallel processing done).
In environments where required processing power is stable, process cartridges are the most economical solution. In environments where processing power is wildly unpredictable, credit cartridges may make the most sense. Both systems can be combined, to handle an average processing load in the most economical way, while using credits to cater for processing peaks.
Using traditional activation-based methods creates failure points, as licensing is tied to specific machines, and cannot be altered fully automatically (the activation process is manual). This potentially creates problems if machines go down.
License Server removes this single point of failure by allowing callas solutions to run on any machine, as long as that machine can communicate with License Server. In the cloud, License Server is hosted on a resilient Amazon AWS based platform to ensure uninterrupted availability. On-premise, License Server can be installed as a cluster that can handle problems with one of the machines in the cluster without interrupting service.
License Server offers an additional advantage for the callas desktop products (pdfToolbox Desktop and pdfaPilot Desktop). These products can also get their license from License Server. Desktop products ask for permission to run on startup, which removes the need to activate the product on each machine it’s running on.
This effectively means that the license becomes floating, and can be shared between a larger team. This increases flexibility and reduces the amount of licenses needed to make the desktop solutions available to the whole team.
callas License Server is a cloud-based, SaaS solution. It is hosted by callas software in a secure Amazon AWS environment. When using the solution, you get a wallet that holds all of your callas product licenses. Communication to License Server is done using the ID of that wallet.
In certain cases, customers have a requirement to have a local, on-premise, version of callas License Server. This is also available (for an additional cost), and can run as a standalone solution, or as a synchronized License Server cluster. Keep in mind that local License Servers do need to be activated on the machine they run on, and as such can’t be installed in certain environments (such as on Docker machines).
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