Introduction
Overview of Honeywell and UniSim Design Suite
Honeywell International Inc. is a global technology leader with a strong footprint in process automation and control solutions. Through its Honeywell Connected Plant division, the company offers the UniSim® Design Suite, a comprehensive process modeling software portfolio designed for design, optimization, and business planning across oil, gas, and chemical industries.
The UniSim Design Suite has evolved to become a flagship solution within Honeywell's Advanced Solutions product line, providing engineers with powerful simulation tools that enhance plant efficiency, safety, and profitability. The software enables users to develop both steady-state and dynamic models for plant design, performance monitoring, operational improvements, and business optimization.
Key Components of UniSim Design Suite
The software portfolio includes several integrated products:
UniSim Design Steady State: Core simulation environment for process modeling and optimization
UniSim Flare: Specialized tool for flare system design and analysis
UniSim ExchangerNet: Heat exchanger network design and optimization
UniSim ThermoWorkbench: Fluid property analysis and regression
UniSim Pressure Relief System: Safety system design and validation
These applications are managed through Honeywell's Unified License Manager (ULM) oversees these applications, which provides the licensing infrastructure for various deployment configurations including network-based, standalone PC-locked, and hardware dongle options.
The importance of proper software license management for these high-value engineering tools is crucial, as organizations aim to maximize their investment returns while ensuring their engineering teams have appropriate access to critical simulation capabilities across their engineering teams.
Vendor Software and Licensing Overview
UniSim Design Suite Licensing Structure
Honeywell's UniSim Design Suite implements a multi-tiered licensing model that blends token/user-based entitlements with flexible deployment options. The licensing framework supports various organizational requirements, from individual engineering workstations to enterprise-wide implementations across multiple locations.
Each license carries a unique Order Key (e.g., "64d7-5137-71f1-4411-YYC") that functions as the primary identifier throughout the licensing lifecycle. All license management is facilitated through Honeywell's Unified License Manager (ULM) facilitates all license management, providing the necessary infrastructure for license request, activation, and monitoring.
UniSim Applications, Deployment Methods, and License Types
| Application | Deployment Methods | Available License Types |
| UniSim Design Steady State | Network, Standalone (PC Hardware), Standalone (Dongle) | New (Commercial), Evaluation (30-day), Academic |
| UniSim Flare | Network, Standalone (PC Hardware), Standalone (Dongle) | New (Commercial), Evaluation (30-day), Academic |
| UniSim ExchangerNet | Network, Standalone (PC Hardware), Standalone (Dongle) | New (Commercial), Evaluation (30-day), Academic |
| UniSim ThermoWorkbench | Network, Standalone (PC Hardware), Standalone (Dongle) | New (Commercial), Evaluation (30-day), Academic |
| UniSim Pressure Relief System | Network, Standalone (PC Hardware), Standalone (Dongle) | New (Commercial), Evaluation (30-day), Academic |
Deployment Method Characteristics
Network License:
Server-based deployment with centrally hosted licenses
Multiple users can access licenses across the organization
Requires ULM License Server component installation
Enables efficient license sharing and management
Standalone (PC Hardware Locked):
Licenses bound to specific workstation hardware
Single-user access on designated computer
Requires internet connectivity for activation
Suitable for dedicated engineering workstations
Standalone (Dongle Locked):
Licenses tied to physical USB security key
Provides portability between computers
Requires special USB device drivers
Ideal for engineers working across multiple workstations
Entitlement Models
The licensing system supports both token-based allocation (specific number of tokens per product) and user-based allocation (defined number of concurrent users per product). For example, an organization might be allocated one token/user for UniSim Design Steady State and one for UniSim Flare, both with network access permissions.
Vendor-Provided Reporting and Management Tools
Honeywell Unified License Manager (ULM)
Honeywell provides the Unified License Manager (ULM) as the primary tool for managing and reporting on UniSim Design Suite licenses. This proprietary system offers basic administrative capabilities for license deployment, activation, and monitoring.
ULM Components and Tools
The ULM ecosystem consists of several integrated components:
ULM Config Wizard: The primary interface for license configuration, allowing users to:
Install licenses using Order Keys
Connect client machines to license servers
Generate license request files for offline activation
Configure network licensing connections
ULM Admin Tools: Administrative utilities for license server management, including:
Server status monitoring
License service configuration
Basic diagnostics and troubleshooting
ULM Print Allowed Licenses: A utility that generates reports of currently available licenses on the system
ULM Print Alternate Hosts: A tool for viewing and managing alternate host configurations in network deployments
ULM Commute Wizard: Facilitates license borrowing for temporary offline use from network license sources
License Management Capabilities
The ULM provides several core license management functions:
License Activation: Processing initial license requests and installations
License Usage Monitoring: Basic visibility into which licenses are currently checked out
License Status Reporting: Information on license expiration and availability
License Server Administration: Tools for managing network license servers
License Borrowing: Capabilities for temporarily transferring licenses for offline use
Reporting Limitations
While the ULM delivers essential functionality for license administration, it has notable limitations in its reporting capabilities:
Limited historical usage data collection
Minimal analytics for identifying optimization opportunities
No automated reporting capabilities
Absence of detailed user activity tracking
Limited integration with enterprise reporting systems
No built-in forecasting or capacity planning tools
Online License Management System
Honeywell also maintains a web-based license management portal (https://honeywellsps-fno.flexnetoperations.com/flexnet/operationsportal/logon.do) that provides supplementary capabilities:
License request processing for environments without email access
License file downloads
Evaluation license applications
License rehosting requests
License administration for organizations with multiple installations
This web portal bridges the gap between customers and Honeywell's licensing operations, particularly for manual processes that cannot be completed through the local ULM utilities.
How Open iT Enhances License Metering and Reporting
Addressing Honeywell ULM Limitations
Open iT's license management solutions effectively address the limitations of Honeywell's Unified License Manager by providing comprehensive metering, reporting, and optimization capabilities specifically configured for UniSim Design Suite products.
Enhanced Monitoring Capabilities
Open iT LicenseAnalyzer™ offers several advantages over the native ULM tools:
Comprehensive License Tracking: Monitors all Honeywell ULM-managed applications, providing complete visibility across the entire software portfolio
Multi-level Usage Analysis:
Level 1 (Runtime Usage): Captures license checkout data including duration, user information, and workstation details
Level 2 (True Active Usage): Measures actual application activity beyond simple checkout times
Level 3 (Optimization): Provides actionable data for license harvesting and optimization
Centralized Management: Integrates Honeywell license data with other engineering applications for holistic license management across the organization
Historical Data Collection: Maintains detailed usage histories for trend analysis and capacity planning
Integration with Open iT Core Server
Open iT Core Server functions as the central collection and processing hub for Honeywell ULM license data:
Flexlog Collector: Monitors network license servers through specialized collectors
Data Processing: Performs transformations including renaming, mapping, and categorization
Configuration Management: Centralized configuration of monitoring parameters
Data Repository: Secure storage of historical license usage statistics
Advanced Analytics and Reporting
The Open iT Analysis Server delivers powerful capabilities beyond basic ULM reporting:
Interactive Dashboards: Provides real-time visibility into license utilization patterns
Customizable Reports: Creates tailored views for different stakeholders and purposes
Usage Pattern Analysis: Identifies usage trends, peak periods, and optimization opportunities
Forecasting Tools: Offers predictive analytics for capacity planning and procurement
Cost Allocation: Attributes license costs to departments, projects, or business units
Alerts and Notifications: Proactive monitoring of critical license metrics
User-Centric Monitoring
Open iT's approach extends beyond simple license tracking to include the user dimension:
User Activity Tracking: Detailed logs of individual usage patterns
Project Association: Links license usage to specific business activities
Workload Analysis: Understanding how engineers utilize applications
Efficiency Metrics: Identifies optimization opportunities at the user level
Integration with Enterprise Systems
Open iT provides extensive integration options lacking in the native ULM tools:
API Connectivity: Data exchange with enterprise systems
ServiceNow Integration: Ticket generation and workflow automation
Reporting Services: Scheduled distribution of usage reports
Custom Data Export: Flexible data extraction for business intelligence systems
Special Configurations and Mappings
Vendor-Specific Configuration: Honeywell Unified License Manager (ULM)
Integrating Open iT LicenseAnalyzer™ with Honeywell's Unified License Manager requires specific configurations to ensure accurate license tracking and comprehensive reporting. These specialized settings enable the system to properly collect, interpret, and process data from the ULM license servers.
Connection Configuration
To connect Open iT with Honeywell ULM, several key configuration steps are required:
License Server Identification:
Registering Honeywell ULM servers in the Open iT Core Server configuration
Configuring proper network paths and access permissions
Setting appropriate polling intervals (typically 10-15 minutes)
Data Collection Setup:
Configuring the Flexlog Collector to monitor ULM license logs
Establishing secure data transfer protocols between license servers and Open iT Core Server
Setting up specialized collectors for ULM license server event monitoring
Authentication Configuration:
Establishing appropriate service account credentials
Configuring necessary permissions for log file access
Implementing secure credential management
Core Server Configuration File Modifications:
Adding ULM-specific directives to the Open iT Core Server configuration files
Customizing polling parameters for optimal data collection
Setting appropriate data retention policies
Example Mappings for Improved Reporting
Based on the Open iT documentation for Honeywell Unified License Manager (ULM) integration and the UniSim Competency Suite Licensing Guide, the following mapping configurations enable effective license tracking and reporting for Honeywell products:
Activating Log Data Collection:
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License Event Collection:
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Log File Collection Configuration:
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Product Name Mapping:
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License Type Classification:
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These configurations enable Open iT to collect and process data from the Honeywell ULM system, producing the following aggregated data types for historical reporting:
(89) Total License Use Licenseevents
(90) Individual License Use Licenseevents
(91) Usergroup License Use Licenseevents
(104) License Logfile Events v2.0
(107) Denied License Use Licenseevents
(108) Host License Use Licenseevents
(109) Hostgroup License Use Licenseevents
The Open iT client polls the PrintUsageLog.exe utility in the Honeywell installation directory to obtain license usage information, which is then processed through the standard Open iT data collection pipeline, enabling comprehensive reporting and analysis capabilities that extend well beyond Honeywell's native ULM tools.
Special Monitoring Considerations
Several aspects of Honeywell ULM require specific monitoring approaches:
License Borrowing Tracking:
Custom collection mechanisms for tracking borrowed licenses
Methods to identify and record offline usage periods
Reconciliation of borrowed vs. returned licenses
Dongle-Based License Monitoring:
Correlation of physical dongles with user accounts
Tracking of dongle movement between workstations
Special handling for disconnected dongle scenarios
Token Consumption Tracking:
Tools to monitor token depletion rates in real-time
Methods to correlate token usage with specific product applications
Analysis of token utilization efficiency
License Expiration Handling:
Proactive monitoring of license expiration dates
Alert mechanisms for approaching expiration
Historical tracking of license renewal patterns
Integration with Analysis Server
ULM data collection and processing requires specific configuration in the Open iT Analysis Server:
Custom Data Views:
Specialized dashboard configurations for ULM data visualization
Custom report templates designed specifically for UniSim products
Specific visualization tools optimized for token and user allocation analysis
Alerting Rules:
License utilization thresholds specific to UniSim products
Usage pattern anomaly detection
Proactive notification of potential license issues
Data Processing Rules:
Specialized ETL processes for ULM data
Custom aggregation methods for usage metrics
Specialized protocols for managing historical data
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