FlexLM (Flexible License Manager)

What is FlexLM?

FlexLM (Flexible License Manager) was the original name for FlexNet Publisher, the versatile software licensing system trusted by global technology companies for over 30 years.

If you’ve ever managed enterprise software licensing, you’ve likely encountered this widely adopted platform, which many software producers and device manufacturers regard as the industry standard software licensing service. 

Built on a rich history of innovation, FlexNet Publisher allows you to:

• Customize pricing and packaging for a broad range of software licensing models.
• Prevent revenue leakage by securing against overuse and misuse.
• Extend compliance into virtualized environments, allowing tailored enforcement strategies based on customer trust levels.

History of FlexLM Software

FlexLM was initially developed by Globetrotter Software in the late 1980s. It quickly became known for managing node-locked and floating licenses across multiple industries, including engineering, CAD/CAM, and enterprise applications.
 
The core innovation of FlexLM license manager was its ability to provide software vendors with a flexible and scalable approach to licensing, which enabled controlled distribution and compliance enforcement.

Key dates in the history of FlexLM software:

• 2000: Macrovision Corporation acquired Globetrotter Software.
• 2008: Macrovision rebranded as Acresso Software.
• 2009: Acresso became Flexera Software, and FlexLM became FlexNet Publisher.
• 2020: Flexera Software relaunched as Revenera, a division of Flexera.

Despite rebranding almost 20 years ago, FlexLM (often written as FLEXlm) became so connected with software licensing management that many technology professionals still use its original name. Some also blend the old with the new, calling it ‘FlexNet FlexLM’.

One company that has relied on FlexNet Publisher since the FlexLM days is InnovMetric, and over 25 years later, the platform remains pivotal to the company’s growth strategy: 

Read the full case study:
InnovMetric Expands User Base and Grows Recurring Revenue with Floating Licenses.

Transition from FlexLM License Manager to FlexNet Publisher

While FlexLM license manager software laid the foundation for robust licensing, FlexNet Publisher introduced significant enhancements, making it more adaptable to modern business strategies.
 
Core innovations include:

• Support for New Licensing Models: Beyond perpetual, node-locked, and floating licenses, FlexNet Publisher supports subscription, capacity, and user-based models.
• Enhanced Security: Enhanced encryption, tamper resistance, and compliance tracking prevent unauthorized use and overuse.
• Improved Analytics: Advanced reporting provides valuable insights into feature utilization, peak usage, and daily denials, allowing producers to have insightful conversations at renewal time.

Key Benefits of FlexNet Publisher

FlexNet Publisher continues to be a leading solution for software licensing, empowering producers with a straightforward way to license and safeguard applications. 

Key features include:

Trusted Storage

• Combines license counts from multiple sources through incremental licensing.
• Quick restoration of licenses from the entitlement system if trusted storage is lost.

Virtualization Support

• Ensures compliance by detecting and reporting virtual machine cloning.
• Provides accurate usage tracking across virtual environments.

Containerization Support

• Detects applications or license servers running in containers.
• Helps producers capture accurate usage insights across containerized environments.

Software Protection

• Secure Data Types prevent unauthorized changes.
• Anti-Debugger Technology makes reverse engineering extremely difficult.

High Availability

• Ensures uninterrupted service with a three-server redundancy model.
• Enables rapid failover between servers in the event of system errors.

Read this case study for insights on how FlexNet Publisher can benefit your business:
SimCorp Grows Annual Recurring Revenue with Capacity-Based Subscriptions
 

FlexNet Publisher / FlexLM Alternatives

As deployment models and monetization strategies evolve, various FlexLM alternatives are now available, and FlexNet Publisher is one of several advanced software licensing solutions offered by Revenera.

FlexNet Publisher

Best for: On-premises software licensing with support for hybrid models.

Key Capabilities: Certificate-based licensing, advanced tamper resistance, virtualization support, high availability, optional time-out mechanisms for security, and the ability to enable license borrowing so users can disconnect from the network and travel to different sites.

Ideal Use Case: Traditional applications needing robust license enforcement and the ability to interact with cloud-based entitlement management.

FlexNet Embedded

Best for: Software and IoT device licensing across connected and disconnected environments.

Key Capabilities: Lightweight, flexible licensing with support for edge devices and SaaS.

Ideal Use Case: Embedded systems and applications requiring flexible hybrid licensing.

Cloud Monetization API

Best for: Managing and enforcing licensing in cloud-native and SaaS environments.

Key Capabilities: The API approach enables licensing transactions where the use of an SDK isn’t the preferred implementation.  

Ideal Use Case: SaaS products requiring comprehensive tracking and compliance.

Dynamic Monetization

Best for: Pay-per-use pricing strategies with credit-based drawdown.

Key Capabilities: The ability to provide Elastic Access and real-time usage reports, allowing technology companies to layer consumption options on top of base subscriptions.

Ideal Use Case: Businesses offering pay-per-use options for peak bursts or premium features, such as AI functionality. 

Flexible Licensing for the Future

The evolution from FlexLM License Manager to FlexNet Publisher – and the introduction of newer alternatives – reflects the changing landscape of software monetization.
 
As businesses increasingly adopt hybrid, subscription-based, and usage-driven models, FlexNet Publisher continues to deliver a secure, adaptable, and scalable platform to meet modern demands.

Whether you’re aiming to offer flexible access for on-premises applications or prioritize compliance and IP protection, FlexNet Publisher remains a powerful choice for comprehensive software license management.

Discover more about Revenera’s software monetization services in this short video: