Re: [Bulk] Re: AS/400e installation when hard disks are wiped -- MIDRANGE-L

Hi, Rob:

You may be thinking of the "System password" -- when someone changed(upgraded or replaced) certain critical hardware resources, the systemrequired entering a new "system password" -- usually the CE installingor repairing the hardware would take care of this.


As for license keys and their enforcement:

IBM APIs dealing with license keys have been in OS/400 since at least V2R3.

Prior to Version 4, most IBM LPPs with software licenses were notstrictly enforced by the software.

On CISC IMPI AS/400 systems, you had to "order" all software and IBMwould "cut a tape" containing only those LPPs you actually ordered.

When IBM migrated AS/400e to RISC they started using CDs for softwaredistribution, so this all changed. IBM created a "master set" of CDsthat contained the most commonly ordered LPPs on those CDs (so theycould be "mass produced").

Recall that during the lifetime of Version 3, some LPPs were usinglicense keys, but mostly for products like Client Access that had "peruser" or "per seat" licensing options.

With V4R1, IBM began to enforce the licenses using license keys acrossthe board. However, the "roll-out" was gradual. First, the "base" OSitself required a key. Then, one by one, each of the various LPPs thatwere keyed started to enforce the license.

t may not have been until V4R3 or V4R4 that most "keyed" LPPs actuallychecked and enforced the licenses.

So, by V5R1, most all LPPs that are "keyed" require a valid license keyto operate beyond the "grace" period (usually 70 days).


HTH,

Mark S. Waterbury

> On 5/13/2015 1:24 PM, rob@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

I remember from prior to V5 days a system processor key or some such
animal.


Rob Berendt