# Arm Software Licensing

Most Arm commercial tools are license managed. Arm is migrating to user-based licensing (UBL) which greatly simplifies license configuration.

A user-based license is cached locally for up to 7 days, enabling remote or traveling users to access tools without connecting to their license server.

Starting any UBL enabled tool when the server is available will renew the license for 7 more days. This renewal attempt is performed once per 24 hours.

If the license is not renewed within 7 days, it is automatically returned to the pool of available licenses. When you next use a UBL licensed tool, it will automatically attempt to check out a new license.

User-based licensing can be managed with:
- Local License Server (`LLS`), an internally managed license server, likely only accessible from your internal network or VPN.
- Cloud License Server (`CLS`), a license server managed by Arm, accessible from anywhere.

Legacy product versions do not support UBL licensing and use [floating licensing](https://learn.arm.com/install-guides/license/flexnet) instead. See the below table.

| Arm Development Tool                   | Earliest version supporting UBL | SSK | HSK |
|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------|-----|-----|
| Arm Compiler for Embedded              | 6.18                             | X   | X   |
| Arm Compiler for Embedded FuSa 6.16    | 6.16.2                           | X   | X   |
| Arm Development Studio [`1`]            | 2022.0, 2022.a                  | X   | X   |
| Keil MDK                               | 5.37                             | X   | X   |
| Arm Fast Models                        | 11.17.1                          | [`2`] | X   |
| Arm Socrates [`3`]                    | 1.7.0                            |     | X   |
| Arm Performance Models Library         | 1.2                              |     | X   |
| AMBA Viz                               | 1.1.25                           |     | X   |

[`1`] Arm Development Studio versions indexed with letters after the period are for those users with access to non-publicly announced IP.

[`2`] A license to run pre-built platforms, including Fixed Virtual Platforms, is provided with SSK. HSK license is necessary to build virtual platforms.

[`3`] Some functionality of Arm Socrates requires an appropriate [Arm IP license](https://developer.arm.com/documentation/101400/010710/Setting-up-licensing/Required-licenses), which may also require a [floating license](https://learn.arm.com/install-guides/license/flexnet) to be setup.

## User-based Licensing Video Tutorials

In addition to the set up and install instructions below, a collection of video tutorials are available on [Arm Developer](https://developer.arm.com//Tools%20and%20Software/User-based%20Licensing).

## Select a specific tool for install instructions:

- UBL Local License Server (LLS) setup

- UBL LLS End-user setup

- UBL Cloud server setup

- FlexNet Publisher Floating license setup