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:

# Command to activate collection of Honeywell ULM log data
openit_oconfinit -u "collect_license_honeywellulm-logs.root.scheduler.jobs.create_honeywellulm_printusagelog.general.active=true"

License Event Collection:

# Configuration for collecting license events
openit_poll2log -p "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Common Files\\honeywell\\simstation\\PrintUsageLog.exe" -o "C:\Program Files\OpeniT\Core\Log\temp\HoneywellULMDecoded\PrintUsageLog.log" -s "C:\Program Files\OpeniT\Core\Log\temp\honeywell_printusagelog.status"

Log File Collection Configuration:

# Command to collect log files
openit_logfilecollector -c "C:\Program Files\OpeniT\Core\Configuration\logfilecollector-honeywellulm.conf"

Product Name Mapping:

# Product mapping based on UniSim Competency Suite documentation
mapping.product.UniSimDesignEvaluation = "UniSim Design Steady State"
mapping.product.UniSimFlare = "UniSim Flare"
mapping.product.UniSimExchangerNet = "UniSim ExchangerNet"
mapping.product.UniSimThermoWorkbench = "UniSim ThermoWorkbench"
mapping.product.UniSimPressureReliefSystem = "UniSim Pressure Relief System"

License Type Classification:

# License type mapping based on deployment methods documented in UniSim Competency Suite
mapping.license_type.Network = "Network"
mapping.license_type.Standalone_PC = "Standalone (PC Hardware)"
mapping.license_type.Standalone_Dongle = "Standalone (Dongle)"

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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