License information for iSeries Access for Windows

Learn about the licensing requirements for iSeries™ Access for Windows®.

IBM® eServer™ iSeries Access for Windows is a licensed program. Some components of iSeries Access for Windows require an iSeries Access Family (5722-XW1) license before you can use them. All components are installed with the iSeries Access for Windows program.

To use the iSeries Access for Windows Family licensed program (5722-XW1), you must determine the usage limit of the license, update the usage limit on your iSeries server, and enter the license key information.

The following components require an iSeries Access Family license and an i5/OS™ license before you can use them:
  • PC5250 Display and Printer Emulation
  • Data Transfer
Important: A software license key is required for iSeries Access Family 5722-XW1. iSeries Access Family is included on the Keyed Stamped Media that comes with all i5/OS software orders for the specific release. You receive a license key if you order 5722-XW1. If you have not ordered 5722-XW1, you can evaluate the product from the keyed stamped media for 70 days. At the end of the 70-day evaluation period, the product will be disabled if you have not ordered the product and received a software license key. The software license key is an 18-digit authorization code that allows the software product and feature on the keyed stamped media to be used on a specified iSeries server.

All components other than PC5250 Display and Printer Emulation and Data Transfer components require only an i5/OS license before you can use them.

The type of installation you choose to perform determines which components are installed. Following are the types of installations you can choose and whether or not the component requires a license to install:
  • The Typical, PC5250 User, and Full installation choices include components that require an iSeries Access Family license.
  • With the Custom install choice, you can choose which components to install. Depending on the components you select, you might not be required to have an iSeries Access Family license. The setup program lists the components that require a license.
Note: A license is not required to install the PC5250 Display and Printer Emulation component or the Data Transfer component, but a license is required to run these components.
Parent topic: iSeries Access for Windows: Installation and setup

Usage limit for a license

iSeries Access for Windows clients are licensed by the number of concurrently active PCs accessing iSeries servers. A PC running iSeries Access for Windows holds a license through the duration of the licensed function plus additional time that is specified in the iSeries Access for Windows properties page. When this time expires, the license is available for another PC to use. If a PC accesses a licensed program on more than one iSeries server, that PC requires a license on each iSeries server to which it connects using a licensed function.

When using iSeries Access for Windows on a PC, more than one session to the iSeries server can be established on that PC, but only one iSeries Access Family license is used. For example, you can start many 5250 emulation or Data Transfer sessions, but the PC requires only one license.

iSeries Access for Web (5722-XH2) is another product that requires iSeries Access Family licenses. Be aware that if the iSeries Access for Web product is being used on the same PC as iSeries Access for Windows, each of those products will use a separate license. Therefore, when using both products, one PC will use a minimum of two iSeries Access Family licenses. For more information about license usage for iSeries Access for Web, see the iSeries Access for Web license information topic.

Licensing is managed at the iSeries Access Family level, not at the individual client level. Therefore, any combination of the iSeries Access for Windows and iSeries Access for Web clients is allowable up to the license limit.

To determine the iSeries Access license usage limit, do the following:

  1. Type the WRKLICINF command on the iSeries server to which you intend to connect. A list of products appears.
  2. Type 5 in the entry field next to the product 5722XW1, Base, Feature 5050. This will display the details for the iSeries Access Family License product, including the usage limit. The usage limit should be equal to the number of licenses that are purchased for iSeries Access Family. Any number exceeding the purchased limit violates the IBM license agreement.

Use the iSeries Access for Windows Family licensed program

To use the iSeries Access for Windows Family licensed program (5722-XW1), you must update the usage limit and enter the license key information.
  1. To update the usage limit for the 5722-XW1 product on your server, do the following:
    1. Type the WRKLICINF command on the iSeries server to which you intend to connect. A list of products appears.
    2. Type 2 in the entry field next to the product 5722XW1 Base, Feature 5050. Change the usage limit to the number of licenses that you have purchased for iSeries Access. If you have purchased the processor-based option for iSeries Access, enter the value *NOMAX for usage limit. Entering any number that exceeds the purchased limit violates the IBM license agreement.
  2. To enter the license key information, do the following:
    1. Type the WRKLICINF command on the iSeries server to which you intend to connect. A list of products appears.
    2. Type 1 in the entry field next to the product 5722XW1 Option 1, Feature 5101.
    3. Enter the license key information. For information about entering license key information, see Required and optional programs to install.