Licensing
Understanding GoldSim Licensing
There are four different ways to license GoldSim. Which is most appropriate for you depends on how you (or your organization) would like to use GoldSim. The table below summarizes the basic differences between the various options. The four options are discussed in more detail below the table.
| Product | Desktop Standalone | Enterprise Standalone | Concurrent Network | Leased Standalone (1 year) |
Leased Standalone (3 months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Price (no modules) | $5250 | $7875 | $10500/seat | $2525 | $1250 |
| Annual Maintenance (no modules) after 1st year* | $1850 | $2775 | $3700/seat | ||
| License Duration | Perpetual** | Perpetual | Perpetual | One Year | Three Months |
| Share licenses via unlimited license transfers | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Share licenses (check in/check out) from pool on server | Yes |
* Maintenance is optional, and includes technical support and software upgrades. For leases, maintenance is provided for the duration of the lease.
** Provides perpetual entitlement to the last version released while license is under maintenance.
Desktop Standalone License
A Desktop Standalone License is the most common type of license, and probably what most people are familiar with for many software products they already use. The license is perpetual, resides on a single computer and is licensed for use on that computer. As such, it can be used by one person at a time. The license can be transferred between computers (quickly and easily), but the number of transfers is limited to six per year.
This is the option to choose if the license will be used on a single computer, and only needs to transferred infrequently.
Enterprise Standalone License
An Enterprise Standalone License is identical to a Desktop Standalone License (e.g., it is perpetual), with a single difference: there is no limit on how often the license can be transferred between computers. Because license transfers can be carried out very quickly and easily, an Enterprise Standalone License can be easily shared among a group of users. Note, however, that it can still only be used by one person at a time.
This is the option to choose if you need to transfer the license frequently (e.g., every day or every week) between computers.
Concurrent Network License
A Concurrent Network License is perpetual, and allows multiple computers to access GoldSim over a network (typically a LAN). For example, a 3-seat Network license would allow up to 3 computers from anywhere on the network to concurrently (simultaneously) access GoldSim. The cost of a Concurrent Network license is directly proportional to the number of seats (e.g., a 2-seat licenses is twice the cost of a 1-seat license).
In order to use a Network license, the users must have a persistent connection to the License Server (i.e., a server where the license is hosted). Concurrent Network Licenses also provide the ability for a user to temporarily "borrow" a license (such that it effectively becomes a Standalone License on the user's computer). Once a license is borrowed, a persistent connection to the License Server is no longer required. The borrowed license can be returned to the Server manually, and is returned automatically when the borrowing period expires (no more than 30 days, and can be further limited by your organization's License Administrator).
GoldSim uses Flexera's FlexNet Publisher licensing system to implement the Network (and Standalone) licenses. This is a widely-used system that will likely be familiar to IT staff in many organizations. This system provides a number of management tools for tracking and controlling usage. Detailed requirements and installation and configuration details can be found here.
This is the option to choose if 1) you have a large number of users, but only a subset of those users need to use GoldSim at any one time; and/or 2) your organization would like to track and control license usage.
Leased Standalone License
A Leased Standalone License is identical to an Enterprise Standalone License (i.e., it can be transferred between computers an unlimited number of times) with a single difference: the license is not perpetual, and expires either one year or three months after the license is purchased. If you wish to use the software after the lease period expires, you would need to purchase the Leased Standalone License for another one year or three month period. During the lease period, you have access to all software upgrades and technical support.
The Annual Leased Standalone license is priced such that there is a "break-even" point of about 3 years that determines whether it is more cost-effective to purchase a permanent license as opposed to a lease. In particular, if you expect to use the software (and purchase annual maintenance) for more than 3 years, it would be more cost effective to purchase a Desktop Standalone License rather than a Leased Standalone License. Otherwise the Leased Standalone License is the more cost effective option. A three-month Lease is intended to provide a license when you have a very short-term need.
The Annual Lease is the option to choose if you wish to minimize your up front costs and/or you do not expect to use the software for more than 3 years. The Three Month Lease is intended to provide a license when you have a very short-term need and is not cost-effective if you have a longer term need for the software.