Contents

Prerequisites

The use of a Charon VE License Server has a number of prerequisites:

1. The VE license server itself

   1. VE license server package

   2. A suitable Linux instance to be used as the VE license server. This instance must run

      1. in a supported cloud environment,

      2. in a supported VMware environment, or

      3. on a supported physical server.

2. Correct firewall settings

3. The VE-capable Charon emulator software

   1. For general VE mode: must run on a Charon host with appropriate network access to the VE license server (see restrictions for VMware environments in the section Charon VE-Capable Emulator and Management Software below).

   2. For AutoVE mode: a Charon instance launched from a compatible Automatic Licensing marketplace image. Please note that the AutoVE definitions must be added before the first launch of such an instance.

These requirements are described in more detail below.

VE License Server Package

The Charon VE License Server package is delivered as an RPM package. Stromasys or your Stromasys VAR will provide you with the software or a download link.

Package name:

Where <version> indicates the version of the software, for example, 2.0.1.

Linux Instance for the License Server

The license server package must be installed on a supported Linux instance. This instance can run in a supported cloud, in a supported VMware environment, or on a physical host.

Currently Supported Cloud Providers

At the time of writing, the following cloud providers are supported by the VE license server:

• Amazon AWS

• Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)

• Microsoft Azure

• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

• IBM cloud

• Nutanix AHV

Please refer to your cloud provider's documentation for configuring and launching an appropriate instance. A description of the basic steps of launching a cloud instance can be found in Additional Information and in the cloud-specific Getting Started guides on the Charon-SSP and Charon-PAR documentation pages.

Depending on the cloud environment, Stromasys may offer prepackaged Charon VE images on selected cloud marketplaces. Such images include the Charon VE-enabled emulator software (already installed) and the VE License Server RPM package (can be installed optionally). An instance launched from a prepackaged image can also be used as a VE license server. Newer versions of Charon-SSP AL marketplace images also contain the VE License Server RPM that can be installed optionally.

Currently Supported VMware Platforms and Requirements

Below are the VMware Platforms supported by the VE license server at the time of writing, and the associated requirements:

Requirements for direct ESXi host binding

• The VE license server must run in one of the VMs on the ESXi server.

• Any Charon emulator using the VE license server must run either on the same VM as the VE license server or on a VM running on the same ESXi host.

• ESXi/vSphere version 6.5 and above.

• Valid license that supports the vSphere API feature. Otherwise the license server fails to start with the message
  Failed to detect ESXi/vCenter Server.

• Ports 443 (TCP) and 902 (TCP, UDP) on the ESXi system must be accessible to the VE license server host.

• 100 MB of free disk space on the ESXi server to be used by the VE license server host.

• User and password on the ESXi/vSphere host used for the binding between license server and ESXi/vSphere host.

The user used in the esxi_bind command must have at least the following permissions that are assigned via a custom role definition (please note that the permission paths/names can be slightly different depending on the vSphere version):

Requirements for vCenter Server binding

• The VE license server must run in a VM on one of the ESXi systems managed by the vCenter Server.

• Any Charon emulator using the VE license server must run either on the same VM as the VE license server or on a VM on an ESXi host managed by the same vCenter Server.

• vCenter Server version 6.5 and above.

• Valid license that supports the vSphere API feature. Otherwise the license server fails to start with the message
  Failed to detect ESXi/vCenter Server.

• Ports 443 (TCP) and 902 (TCP, UDP) on the vCenter system must be accessible to the VE license server host.

• 100 MB of free disk space on the vCenter Server to be used by the VE license server host.

• User and password on the vCenter Server used for the binding between license server and vCenter Server.

The user used in the esxi_bind command must have at least the following permissions that are assigned via a custom role definition (please note that the permission paths/names can be slightly different depending on the vSphere version) :

Please note: vMotion for the virtual machine running the VE license server can only be used if the license server binds to the vCenter Server. The target system must be managed by the same vCenter Server.

The VE license server for VMware environments has also been tested successfully in a Google GCVE (Google Cloud VMware Engine) environment. Please contact Stromasys to discuss your requirements if you need this product combination.

Currently Supported Physical Servers

At the time of writing, the following physical platforms are supported by the VE license server:

• Modern Intel x86 or AMD platform with sufficient resources for the required Linux operating system

Linux Host Requirements for the VE License Server

The Linux system on which the VE license server runs must fulfill the requirements described below.

Linux Hardware and Software requirements

Software requirements for the VE License Server itself: