Rational FAQ

What is the Rational License Key Center?

The Rational License Key Center is an online software license key delivery and management service that provides easy access to the keys associated with your IBM Rational products. The License Key Center replaces the legacy AccountLink web tool and on-line ClearCase license key request forms. This new service is hosted by Intraware, Inc., a leader in the electronic licensing industry and is accessible through the Rational License Key Center.

How do I request a Rational License Key for the first time?

Follow these steps to request a Rational License Key:

1. Fill out the Rational Account Request Form.  This form will set up your Rational License Key Center account.  This step is required on your first visit and should be submitted only once.  Within 1-3 days after submitting the form, you will receive a welcome email from rational-license-keys@subscribenet.com that contains your password.
   
2. Connect to the Rational License Key Center and sign in using your email address and the password you received in the welcome email.  You will be required to change your password. Upon logging in, the License Key Center will present the license keys associated with your account.

After requesting the license key, you can proceed to the IBM Academic Initiative Software Catalog to download the software.

The quick start guides below will help you log into the License Key Center and will step you through the process of generating license keys.

        Quick Start Guide: English
        Quick Start Guide: Japanese
        Quick Start Guide: Korea

How do I request a Rational License Key if I have previously accessed the Rational License Key Center?

Connect to the Rational License Key Center and sign in using your email address and password. If you have lost or forgotten your password, you can request assistance by using the "forgot password" link under the login boxes on the Rational License Key Center page.

After requesting the license key, you can proceed to the IBM Academic Initiative Software Catalog to download the software.

The quick start guides below will help you log into the License Key Center and will step you through the process of generating license keys.

        Quick Start Guide: English
        Quick Start Guide: Japanese
        Quick Start Guide: Korea

Where can I get more information on licensing and Rational key requests?

The list of Rational products by license type shows which products require license keys or activation kits. You may also visit the Rational licensing support site.

The quick start guides below will help you log into the Rational License Key Center and will step you through the process of generating and moving license keys.

        Quick Start Guide: English
        Quick Start Guide: Japanese
        Quick Start Guide: Korean

Will I ever need to return a License Key and request a new one for a product I already have?

If you are moving your Rational product to a new host/machine, you will need to return your license key and request a new one for the new host/machine.  License keys are generated for a specific host name and host ID cannot be transferred or moved.  The only way to move the product to a new host/machine is to return the key and request a new one.

In the Rational License Key Center left-hand menu: 

1. Select View and Return Keys.
2. Select the product that needs to be returned.
3. Select the host that needs to be returned.
4. Mark the checkbox next to the Return button.
5. Click the Return button.

For older versions of Rational products, you may need to return a key file to the Rational License Key Center and request a new one to eliminate the expiration date tied to the key file.  This process should not affect the majority of users as most products that had expiration dates have already expired.

What Rational products require a license before use?

The list of Rational products by license type shows which products require license keys or activation kits. Most IBM Rational products require license keys in order to use them. You may also download an excel spreadsheet that contains the full list of Rational software offerings and the license keys used by each.

What is a license key?

License keys are required for certain products before they can be used.  If you downloaded a product requiring a license key, you would be unable to use the product until you request and receive the license key for it. The list of Rational products by license type shows which products require license keys or activation kits.

What is a license activation kit?

A license activation kit is available at no-cost and can be downloaded from the Software Catalog.  The license activation kit is a permanent license for products that require one and must be installed within the first 30 days after installing the product.  Although these products are available for immediate use as soon as you download them, if you do not install the activation kit, after 30 days you will receive a message that your trial license is about to expire. The list of Rational products by license type shows which products require license keys or activation kits.

What Rational products require a license activation kit and how do I get one?

A list of Rational products that require license keys or activation kits can be found on the Rational products page. Products that require an activation kit require that you download a license activation kit in addition to downloading the product itself.  Only version 7.0 of these products require a license activation kit.  Products are available for immediate use but require that the license activation kit be installed within the first 30 days of use. License activation kits are available at no cost, can be downloaded from the Software Catalog, and are a permanent license for the installed product.

If you install a Rational product without installing its activation kit, after 30 days you will receive a message that your license is about to expire. The simplest way to find the appropriate kit is to access the Software Catalog, then search for your product in the text field.  One of the available downloads will be the license activation kit for the product.

How do I install a Rational license activation kit?

After downloading the appropriate kit, unzip the package. Bring up the Installation Manager for the Rational product installation. The main panel will offer an option for license installation; select it. When the Installation Manager has started, the program will ask for the location of the license file. The license file location will be where you saved the unzipped activation or enablement kit file. Import the license file to complete the activation.  Visit the Rational support page if you have further questions.

How long are license keys active and do they have an expiration date?

Academic Initiative members receive permanent license keys.  Keys are valid for use on a single host/machine and cannot be transferred or moved.

What are Floating license keys?

To use Floating licenses with most Rational products, you must obtain Floating license keys and install them on a IBM Rational License Server. The server responds to end-user requests for access to the license keys. To generate a Floating license key, you will enter the quantity of keys you want and the host information of the license server machine. Floating keys have a quantity of keys associated with them so the server can count concurrent license key usage. The list of Rational products by license type shows which products require license keys or activation kits.

What are Authorized User license keys?

Authorized User license keys do not require a license server like Floating keys. You will need to generate a key for each host on which you will actually use the Rational product. The key gets installed onto the host and is read by the Rational product at run time. The exception to this is the PurifyPlus family of products for Linux or UNIX. Authorized User license keys of those products use a license server like Floating license keys.

Additional information regarding different types of keys can be located on the Selecting the correct IBM Rational software product page.

Where can I download Rational software?

The Academic Initiative Software Catalog contains all of the products available for download or on CD only.  Most IBM Rational products require license keys in order to use them. You can explore the full list of Rational software offerings and the license keys used by each. The list of Rational products by license type shows which products require license keys or activation kits.

** Please refrain from downloading products that have the word "evaluation" in the title. These products are not fully functional versions of the product and are not intended for Academic Initiative members.

What is the welcome email?

The welcome email is sent to you before you can access the Rational License Key Center.  It  contains important information and instructions for accessing the Rational License Key Center including your account number and a temporary password.

You must be an Academic Initiative member in order to request access to the Rational License Key Center.  If you have not already signed up for the Academic Initiative, then join now.  You will need your IBM user ID and password as well as the password sent to you in the welcome email in order to access the Rational License Key Center.

The first time you log in to the Rational License Key Center, you will use the temporary password that was sent in the welcome email.  Please note that this email will be sent from rational-license-keys@subscribenet.com and might possibly be in your SPAM folder.  Please be sure to check if you do not see it in your main email in-box.  

After logging in for the first time, you will receive the following message: "Your password has expired. A new password must be established before you can proceed."   This indicates that you will need to update and create a new permanent password. 

Please do not cut and paste the temporary password because sometimes it will not be accepted by the Web site.  Instead, manually type in the password. After changing your password, please save it in a secure place for future access to the Rational License Key Center.

Where can I get Rational technical support and more information?

Visit the IBM Rational licensing support site.

The quick start guides below will help you log into the License Key Center and will step you through the process of generating and moving license keys.

        Quick Start Guide: English
        Quick Start Guide: Japanese
        Quick Start Guide: Korean

Where can I find out more information about the Rational License Server?

Visit the Rational License Server delivery and support page.

What is my account number and what should I do if I lost it?

Academic Initiative users do not have account numbers.  Your school name serves as your account reference.  To access your account, all you need is your email address and your password.  If you have forgotten your password, you can request that it be sent to you by email by using the forgot password link on the License Key Center page.  Please do not click the "do not have a password" link; this link is not for Academic Initiative members.

What is host information?

The host ID and hostname are attributes associated with your host machine. The License Key Center will ask you to enter the host name and host ID of the host on which you will install the keys. The page that asks you to enter your host information is equipped with pop-up help that will give you specific instructions. Select the name of the item (for example, Host Name) to view the pop-up help.

What is Disconnected Mode?

If the license key type is Floating and it is applied to a main license server, the students can point to the main server and obtain a key.  If they choose to use the product at home, they can use Disconnected Mode, which would allow the student to check out a key from the server and run that product key for 72 hours.  When 72 hours have expired, they would need to re-connect to the license server again to obtain a key.