This approach is suitable for both short term remote access and permanent operation of the remote computer.
remote desktop can be used for displaying the desktop of remote physical computer or remote desktop
There are multiple ways of achieving that. Most commonly, the instruments integrated in
versions (e.g. server) allow to offer the
3. hwkey - Hardware (USB) licence key
a) For new HW Keys distributed since 1.5.2022 and for the PROMOTIC system since version
Pm9.0.21 Windows Remote Desktop (RDP protocol) works without limitations, see
hwkey - Hardware (USB) licence key.
The PROMOTIC system has direct access to the licence on this carrier. The number of running applications in
RDP mode is monitored locally directly by the PROMOTIC system.
Information about RDP support for a particular licence key can be found:
- in the
PmManager program - see Licence/Available HW Keys (
hwk=rdp:1;)
- in the application log file on the licence number line (hwk=rdp:1;)
b) For older HW Keys distributed before 1.5.2022 and/or for the PROMOTIC system older than version
Pm9.0.21 Windows Remote Desktop (RDP protocol) does not work.
PROMOTIC does not have direct access to the licence on this carrier. The licence can be read by the local licence server
PmLicServer.
In the
RDP mode, the number of running applications is monitored by the local licence server.
The main problem connected with operation of the PROMOTIC system via
Windows remote desktop by the
RDP protocol is the limitation of permissions of the program launched in user mode by the remote user.
The PROMOTIC application launched this way does not have access to the
HW Key (
USB) and therefore cannot read its licence. PROMOTIC behaves as there is no licence key present in the
USB port of the computer (physical or virtual).
On the other hand, a program running as service, launched by the
Windows remote desktop (remote user session), can access the HW Key. This can be used in order to solve the licece access problem of the PROMOTIC system via the
Windows remote desktop.
PmLicServer licence server (included in the PROMOTIC installation) is usually running as
Windows service thus having access to the HW Key even in
Windows remote desktop mode (
RDP).
This is important because
PmLicServer itself is protected by its HW Key and this protection is functional even in remote desktop session.
PmLicServer provides network licences to PROMOTIC applications via the network protocols
HTTP or
HTTPS.
The applications can be located on the same computer (
localhost) or on other computers in the network.
The practical solution for licencing PROMOTIC application that are managed or operated via
Windows remote desktop (
RDP) is to run the
PmLicServer licence server simultaneously on the same computer with the specific PROMOTIC application.
This way it is possible to overcome the limitation of the PROMOTIC application problem on
Windows remote desktop while all necessary
software and
hardware components are concentrated on a single computer.
This is a standard solution of licencing local PROMOTIC application by
PmLicServer that provides the application with a licence either on
hwkey - Hardware (USB) licence key or
netkey - Network licence key.
This is a recommended solution for
Windows remote desktop (
RDP) limited access
to the HW Key (older keys).
This solution requires the computer (service) to have access
to the HW Key (
USB). If this is a virtual computer, then it is necessary to let it have access to the
HW Key in
USB permanently.
This can be achieved either by software means (accesing the USB on physical
HOST of the computer as USB on a virtual computer
GUEST) or by means of another HW device that allows to operate virtual USB ports via Ethernet.
Accessing licences contained in the HW Key via the local licence server:
PmLicServer.ini:
[Config]
Medium=none
Application ini file:
[Licence]
UseLicServerHwk=1
Medium=hwkey:k1234