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Determining the FME License Type to Install

Safe Software offers flexible licensing options for FME.

The type of license that you receive (fixed or floating) is determined at the time of your request for evaluation or purchase.

Single-Fixed License

A single-fixed FME license (also known as node-locked or CRC license) enables FME to work on a single specified computer. The FME Licensing Assistant generates a unique registration key for that computer, which is used to create the license. If FME is installed on more than one computer, each computer requires its own license.

By default, all evaluation licenses are single-fixed, unless you specify otherwise.

We recommend using a floating license when installing FME on a virtual machine. Safe Software may not provide updated license files if the registration key of the physical machine is no longer valid due to frequent hardware changes. For more information, see About Floating Licenses.

Floating License

A floating license means that a single computer is provided with a number of licenses and acts as a server by issuing these licenses to any other computer that requests one. A floating license is a common way for a company to share a limited number of licenses among its FME users.

A FlexNet software license manager provides the floating license capability to FME. The FlexNet software is installed on a computer that acts as a license server. Every time FME is started on a computer, the server issues a license, provided there is one still available. When a computer closes FME, that license is returned. For example, consider a five-seat floating license and 30 workstation computers. Each workstation has FME installed. Any workstation can run FME, but only a maximum of five at any one time.

To install FME on a server for use with a thin-end client (for example a Citrix/Winframe installation), it is highly recommended that you use a floating license. Fixed licenses can be used, but keep in mind that you will need a fixed license for each user who will be making use of the software.

For failover purposes, there is an additional option to install an array of three licenses on three separate servers.

For more information, see About Floating Licenses.