Common FAQs Related to PowerScale Licensing

Table of Contents 

How to generate or retrieve activation files from Isilon cluster UI.

1. Click Cluster Management > Licensing.
2. In the OneFS License Management area, click Open Activation File Wizard.
3. Click the checkboxes next to the software modules to select or clear the contents of your activation file.

Modules that are preselected are in your license file. You can clear a module to remove the license.

To undo the changes made to the list, click Revert changes at the bottom of the page.

4. Click Review Changes.
5. Review the changes that you are planning to make to the activation file.

The contents of the activation file contains a list of all licenses that are in the activation file. This page also lists licenses that you selected to remove from the activation file, and licenses that you have selected to add.

6. Click Create file.
7. Review the full contents of the activation file.

Your OneFS license and a summary of your hardware tiers are also displayed on this summary page.

8. Click Accept.
9. Click Download Activation File.

Save the activation file to your local machine.

10. Click Complete Process.

The steps to follow to get a permanent Isilon Gen6 license for a Dark Site.

To obtain your license:

1. Activate Using Dell Digital Locker
   1. Retrieve your License Activation Code (LAC) from Dell Digital Locker.
   2. Click the Activation hyperlink, which takes you to the activation page.
   3. Follow the on-screen steps to complete the activation process.
2. If Activation Cannot Be Completed:
   1. Open a Service Request with the Dell Licensing team.
   2. Include the following details in your request:
      • Sales Order or License Activation Code (LAC)
      • GUID or Cluster ID
      • Node Serial Numbers
      • Features and Capacity to be activated

How to request an evaluation license for PowerScale (Isilon).

Isilon evaluation licenses allow customers to test features before purchase to ensure compatibility with their environment. You have multiple options to request an evaluation license:

Option 1: Through OneFS

1. Click Cluster Management > Licensing.
2. In the Manage trial versions of software modules area, click Manage Trials.
3. Click the checkbox next to the Software Modules that you want to evaluate.
4. Click Start Trial.

Option 2: Through Sales

1. Contact your Sales Account Manager and request an order for the required features.
2. This option is useful if you prefer not to use the Manage Trial section in OneFS.

Option 3: Through Dell Licensing Team

1. Open a Service Request with the Dell Licensing team.
2. Provide a copy of the Activation File with your request.

How to Generate PowerScale (Isilon) Licenses Using a TLA Order.

Generating PowerScale (Isilon) licenses with a TLA order involve four steps using the License Activation by File Wizard:

1. Upload Activation File - Upload the Activation XML file using the License Activation by File Wizard in MyAccount
2. Apply LAC - Enter the TLA License Activation Code (TLA LAC#) in the Apply LAC section.
3. Review Products - Verify the products and features listed for activation.
4. Activate Licenses - Complete the activation process by following the on-screen instructions.

What to do if the OneFS License Status shows "Under-Licensed."

OneFS may report certain Licensable Features as underlicensed, if or when the affected Feature are licensed only on some and not all Nodes on the Cluster. Or, when the Nodes on the Cluster are partly licensed with Permanent Entitlements and partly with Evaluation Entitlements.

If relevant Licenses have been procured for all the affected Nodes on the Cluster, then this can be remedied by reprocessing the Activation-by-File and Applying the LAC with the corresponding Licensing Entitlement during the Activation Process, or you can engage Licensing Support to validate and advise accordingly.

What to do if the Activation-by-File Transaction Fails.

Activation-by-Fail Transaction may fail due to multiple reasons - such as Site or Company Mismatch, or when the Activation Wizard is unable to identify corresponding Licensing Entitlements for the Nodes (Serial Number or Service Tags) listed in the Activation File, or the Transaction may also be affected due to failed Rehosts, IT Issues, and so forth. If a Transaction Fails or if you do not receive the updated License File for the Transaction, then it is recommended that you make note of the Transaction ID to report back to the Licensing Support Team to have it analyzed or investigated further.

What to do if the following Message or Error is received: You cannot activate this cluster, because your Secure Remote Services gateway is associated with a different company.

This Message or Error typically suggests that it could be a Site or Company Mismatch, Discrepancy with the Licensing Entitlements, and the Software ID associated with the Transaction. This needs attention from Licensing Support to validate and correct any Account Hierarchy or Site mismatches before reattempting the Activation process.