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Q199745: SMS: Ensuring SW Metering Does Not Start Out of License Apps

Article: Q199745
Product(s): Microsoft Systems Management Server
Version(s): winnt:2.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbsms200
Last Modified: 13-MAR-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Systems Management Server version 2.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

In Systems Management Server (SMS) version 2.0, the Software Metering component
can be configured to monitor the use of applications and restrict use when
necessary. When configuring Software Metering, you can set it to block any
attempts to open a file after a set number have been opened. For example, if you
have 100 licenses for Notepad and you currently have 100 users using Notepad,
then the next user that attempts to open Notepad will not be able to. However,
if the user renames Notepad.exe to N.exe either by way of copying or by
renaming, they can circumvent the license restriction.

If, on the other hand, you have selected under "Program Name Policy" the
"Original" name, your users will not be able to rename the .exe file to get
around the license enforcement. This method pulls information from the
executable's header, which can not be modified by the end user. This method will
stop the 101st user attempting to open Notepad.exe regardless of what it has
been renamed to.

Also, check the Software Metering server itself. There are two options to select
when specifying the Software Metering Properties in the Systems Management
Server MMC Administrator console under the following:

Site Database\Site Hierarchy\site name\Site Settings\Component Configuration\Software Metering

If you have chosen to monitor under "Program Name Policy" the "Standard" name of
the application, then the name that appears in Explorer is what is monitored. If
you have not set up your Software Metering server to monitor for N.exe, then
your users will be able to rename Notepad.exe to anything and continue to use
it.

Software Metering can also be configured to handle applications such as virus
checkers that have multiple executables. Software Metering monitors the task
list for these .exe files as it does for Notepad.exe, so if the end user renames
several of the .exe files and you have configured Software Metering to monitor
based on the "Original" name, you will still be able to track the number of
instances of an application that are running.

Additional query words: prodsms swmeter

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Keywords          : kbsms200 
Technology        : kbSMSSearch kbSMS200
Version           : winnt:2.0
Issue type        : kbinfo

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