Checkpoints

[Previous] [Next]

The Software Metering tool is a new feature in SMS 2.0, and as such it is still experiencing some growing pains. As mentioned, SMS 2.0 Service Pack 1 resolves some of the anomalous activity some SMS administrators have experienced when they've used the Software Metering feature.

Several "notes" and "cautions" have appeared throughout this chapter. These represent the most significant "gotchas" you may experience when you are configuring and using the Software Metering tool. Let's review some of these issues.

Remember that the software metering server and the Software Metering process thread must both be completely configured before you configure and install the Software Metering Client Agent. The software metering server data cache requires about 10 MB at the start and additional space to store metered data. Be sure that you have ample disk space, as always, and that the drive on which you are installing the data cache is not compressed.

When you register a product to enforce license restrictions, the default setting is for SMS to calculate product trends for seven days, balance licenses across software metering servers based on these trends, and only then begin to enforce licenses for clients. If you intend to begin enforcing licenses right away, be sure to clear that option. However, clearing that option also means disabling SMS from performing license balancing for you—it's a trade-off.

Otherwise, check your license settings, check to see whether licenses have been properly balanced, be sure that your software metering servers are accessible to the clients, and don't forget to monitor your status messages and log files.