SPSS Modeler 18.1 Lightweight License: Can it be Shared Across VMs?

Question

Goal: Reduce Licensing Costs for Low‑Traffic Workloads
SPSS Modeler 18.1 introduced a lightweight license that allows per‑instance activation, eliminating the need for full enterprise licenses. This feature is attractive for environments that run only a few jobs each month.
Current Constraints
The lightweight license permits 30 days of continuous use before reactivation, but it explicitly does not support multi‑user concurrent sessions within a single instance. Moreover, the license server automatically deactivates a license if the application remains idle for 90 days, which can disrupt intermittent workloads.
Unresolved Decision Point
When deploying SPSS Modeler in a containerized environment, it is unclear whether the lightweight license can be shared across multiple virtual machines without triggering license violations or unintended deactivation.
Specific Questions

Is the lightweight license intended to be used concurrently on separate VMs within the same container cluster?
Will the license server detect overlapping activations and automatically deactivate one or more instances?
What configuration changes, if any, are required in the license.config file to maintain a single active license across multiple VMs?

Tasadduq Burney · Answer

Answer: No – the lightweight license cannot be active on multiple VMs at the same time.
Each activation is tied to a specific host identifier (MAC address, UUID or similar). The IBM SPSS License Manager allows only one active instance of a lightweight license; launching SPSS Modeler on a second VM while the first remains active will either fail to activate or cause the server to deactivate the first activation.
Confirmed facts from the licensing guide and admin console behavior

The lightweight license is host‑bound; the license file stores only the key and activation timestamp, with no option to enable floating or concurrent use.
License server tracks activations by host; a second activation on a different host triggers a conflict event.
If a VM stays idle for 90 days, the license is automatically deactivated for that host, regardless of activity on other VMs.

Likely explanation of what happens when you try to share it
When the license manager detects overlapping activations from two hosts presenting the same license key, it treats the situation as a duplicate activation. The server will return an error to the second client and may mark the first activation as “returned” or deactivated, leading to intermittent loss of service.
Steps to remain compliant

Activate the lightweight license on only one VM at a time.
Before moving the license to another VM, deactivate it on the current VM using the IBM SPSS License Admin Console (return the license).
Activate the license on the target VM; the console will record a fresh activation tied to that VM’s host identifier.
Ensure each VM presents a unique host identifier (different MAC address or UUID). If you are using cloned VM images, change the network adapter MAC or regenerate the UUID to avoid false conflict detection.

Missing diagnostic detail: Are the VMs cloned from the same template resulting in identical host identifiers? If yes, you must alter the MAC/UUID or re‑host the license; otherwise the steps above are sufficient.

SPSS Modeler 18.1 Lightweight License: Can it be Shared Across VMs?

Goal: Reduce Licensing Costs for Low‑Traffic Workloads

Current Constraints

Unresolved Decision Point

Specific Questions

1 answer

Answer: No – the lightweight license cannot be active on multiple VMs at the same time.

Confirmed facts from the licensing guide and admin console behavior

Likely explanation of what happens when you try to share it

Steps to remain compliant

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