FLEXnet Publisher

Infobox Software
name = FLEXnet Publisher



caption =
collapsible =
author = GLOBEtrotter Software and Highland Software
developer = Acresso Software
released = 1988
latest release version = 11.6
latest release date = May 2008
latest preview version =
latest preview date =
frequently updated =
programming language = C/C++, Java
operating system = Any Unix-like
platform = Cross-platform
size =
language = English
status = Active
genre = software license management
license = proprietary
website = [http://www.acresso.com/products/installation/flexnet_publisher.htm acresso.com/]

FLEXnet Publisher (formerly known as FLEXlm) is a common software license manager from Acresso Software which implements license management and is often used in corporate environments to provide floating licenses to multiple end users of computer software.

Computer software can be licensed in a variety of ways. A license to use a piece of software may be associated with a specific machine (in FLEXlm speak, "node-locked"), permitting it to only run on that machine (node in a network); alternatively, a company may buy a pool of "floating" licenses and these licenses may be allocated dynamically to machines, a license being "checked-out" when a user begins using the software on any given machine and "checked-in" when the user finishes using the software. In this way, for example, a company might buy a pool of 50 licenses but support a user community of hundreds of occasional users of the software (so long as no more than 50 users ever want to use the software simultaneously).

FLEXlm supports both usage models.

FLEXlm was originally a joint development by GLOBEtrotter Software and Highland Software in 1988. Highland's rights to the FLEXlm product were acquired by GLOBEtrotter in 1994; Highland continued as a reseller of 3rd party software. GLOBEtrotter was then acquired by Macrovision in 2000; Macrovision subsequently renamed FLEXlm to FLEXnet Publisher.

On the 1st of April 2008 Macrovision's Software Business Unit, which includes FLEXnet Publisher, was sold to the private equity company Thoma Cressey Bravo and subsequently relaunched as Acresso Software. It was a cash transaction valued at approximately $200 million. [ [http://www.acresso.com/company/newscenter/pressreleases/1434_8572.htm Acresso Software Press Release] ]

The original FLEXlm development team moved on to develop the Reprise License Manager (RLM) at [http://www.reprisesoftware.com/ Reprise Software] in 2006.

This FLEXlm product is currently marketed by Acresso Software as FLEXnet Publisher.

References

External links

* [http://www.globes.com/ Acresso Software] Acresso Main Site