Clustered Node License Self-Unlock via Shared Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing software licenses in a clustered environment is time-consuming and requires special administrative operations, as licensed software products often need to be managed across multiple nodes, which can be cumbersome and require external assistance.
Innovation Solution
A method that unlocks a product on a first node in a clustered environment, indicates the unlocked status on a shared storage device, and transmits a self-unlock message to other nodes, allowing them to self-unlock the product without external assistance, enabling seamless product unlocking across the cluster.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional license management is used in a clustered environment, then software licensing control is maintained, but the management process becomes time-consuming and requires special administrative operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling nodes to automatically detect and execute unlock operations based on shared storage status. When a node is unlocked, it automatically notifies other nodes through the shared storage device, allowing them to self-unlock without requiring manual administrative intervention on each node individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the shared storage device stores unlock status information that is read by multiple nodes. This feedback loop ensures that when one node is unlocked, the status is propagated to other nodes through the shared storage, automatically triggering their unlock operations without continuous administrative oversight.
2Ease of operation
If manual unlocking operations are performed on each node, then product unlocking is achieved, but external administrative assistance is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables automated self-unlocking by having nodes monitor the shared storage device for unlock status indications. When a node detects that it has been unlocked (through the shared storage), it automatically notifies other nodes, which then automatically unlock themselves without requiring external administrative assistance on each node.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the unlocking operation into a single action performed on the shared storage device rather than requiring separate manual unlocking operations on each node. This consolidation allows one unlock operation to propagate automatically across all nodes in the cluster.
3Reliability
If separate license management is performed for each node, then node-specific control is maintained, but administrative burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shared storage device serves multiple functions: it stores unlock status information for all nodes, facilitates communication between nodes, and enables the propagation of unlock operations across the entire cluster. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for separate complex management systems for each node.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for product license management for a clustered environment having a plurality of nodes is disclosed. The method includes unlocking a product on a first node of the plurality of clustered nodes; responsive to unlocking the product on the first node, indicating an unlocked status of the product on a shared storage device accessible to the plurality of clustered nodes; and transmitting a self-unlock message from the first node to remaining nodes of the cluster to enable the remaining nodes of the cluster to self-unlock the product on the respective remaining nodes based on the status indication of the shared storage device.