This topic describes how to utilize the available credits to unlock a licensed resource in HOME.

It is assumed that you have transferred some credits to the HOME system (as described earlier).

Overview

To start or activate a licensed resource in HOME, the system must have enough perpetual licenses and/or valid credits. 

By default, HOME uses any available perpetual licenses first and then tops up with credits. This means that there is no fixed credit value for a licensed resource, as this varies according to the customer's setup and needs.

For HOME Apps, there are three factors that may affect the licensing requirement:

  • the configuration of the app;
  • the license type of the app;
  • the number of available perpetual licenses (in a mixed licenses + credits system).

By opening the HOME UI you can check the available perpetual licenses and credits (from HOME's 'Licenses' page), plus the licensing requirement for each function or app. 

Please note:

When credits are transferred to a HOME system, they have a default validity period of 30 days. At the end this period, HOME must "check-in" with the Lawo Flex account to obtain a new copy of the credits. If HOME has an online connection to the licensing cloud, then this happens automatically (24 hours before the date of renewal). However, if HOME is disconnected from the licensing cloud, then a credit refresh must be performed manually from HOME's 'Licenses → Credits' page (as described here).

Note that the monthly check-in process needs to occur even if the underlying subscription lasts for more than one month. This is to prevent credits from becoming stuck in a HOME system that is out of action (e.g. an OB van in transit) as, at the end of the validity period, the credits are automatically removed from HOME and returned to the customer's Lawo Flex account.

Important: If HOME does NOT have an online connection to the licensing cloud, or you are planning to take the system offline, then it is important to check the validity of the credits and, if necessary, perform a refresh (by opening HOME's 'Licenses → Credits' page and clicking on Refresh Now).

Tip: The Auto Revoke option (in the licensing portal) can be used to set an auto-revoke date. This allows the user to assign credits to HOME on a temporary basis (e.g. for the duration of a production). When the auto-revoke date is reached, the credits are automatically removed from HOME and returned to the customer's Lawo Flex account. For more information about this feature, please see Revoke Credits from HOME.

Instructions

The instructions below describe how to check the available credits (in HOME) and the licensing requirement for an individual app.

Check Available Credits (in HOME)

The number of available credits can be checked from HOME's Licenses page and Credits tab:

  • Open a HOME web UI session.
  • Open the 'Licenses' page and Credits tab.

  • Use the Credit Total, Credits in Use and Credits Remaining values to check the current status.

  • The bargraph shows a visualization of the available credits over time. The bars are lit in different colors to indicate the current and future usage as follows:

    • Blue bars  indicate the overall credit balance until the day of renewal; no action is required.
    • Light grey bars  indicate that the underlying subscription allows for a next lifecycle, after the renewal date and that the credit refresh will happen automatically (via the licensing cloud); no action is required.
    • Yellow bars  can appear if HOME is disconnected from the licensing cloud. In this instance, the credit validity must be refreshed manually by the user, before the date of renewal.
    • Pink bars  will appear if the credit usage is (or will be) exceeded; please take note of the date or expiry and the alerts at the bottom of the page.
  • If any actions are required, then these appear as alerts at the bottom of the page.
  • The Refresh Now button can be used to refresh the validity of the credits (as described here).

The screenshots below show how the credits assigned (earlier) from the licensing portal correspond to the Licenses page in HOME. In this example, there are 60 credits available to use. 

If you have any perpetual licenses running on the HOME system, then these can be checked from the Licenses page and Perpetual tab in HOME. See HOME - Managing Perpetual Licenses.

Check the Licensing Requirement of a function or app

The instructions below describe how to open the 'Start App' dialog to check the licensing requirements of a HOME Apps Multiviewer. The same principles can be applied to any licensed resource that is managed by HOME.

1.     From HOME's 'Devices' page, select the app and choose Start App.

The 'Start App' dialog opens. From here, you can check the licensing information (as shown below).

Important : If there are not enough perpetual licenses or credits, then a warning indicator appears beside the perpetual licenses or credits icon. In this instance, if you continue, the app will fail to start.

2.    Click on the arrows to interrogate the perpetual licenses or credits. If you hover over an icon, then this shows how many are missing:

If there are not enough available credits, then the user has three possible courses of action:

  • Top-up the available credits by assigning more credits to HOME using the my.lawo.com licensing portal. To do this you may need to activate a new Lawo Flex subscription or revoke some credits from another HOME system.
    For more information, please see Assign Credits to HOME, Activate the Subscription(s) and Revoke Credits from HOME.
  • Sacrifice an existing resource to release its credits (e.g. by disabling an option elsewhere or stopping an app).
  • Reduce the licensing requirement by editing the configuration of the app.

Alternatively, the user can choose to install one or more perpetual licenses to meet some or all of the licensing needs. Providing the license type of the app is set to use perpetual licenses + credits, this will reduce the amount of credits required. For more information about this process, please see HOME Apps - Managing Perpetual Licenses. 

3.    Once you are happy with the contents of the 'Start App' dialog, enter the confirmation text and click on Start App.

The 'Devices' list updates and the app Status changes from Inactive to Online. At this point, the perpetual licenses and/or credits are now in use.

4.    If you now re-open the 'Licenses' page and Credits tab, the totals (at the top of the page) update accordingly.

In our example, the Multiviewer is using 55.5 credits and so there are now 56 Credits in Use and 4 Credits Remaining.

You can repeat the previous steps to start/enable more resources and, if necessary, assign more credits.

In the next chapter, we describe how to manage the available credits and return credits from a HOME system to the customer's Lawo Flex account (using Revoke).