Named Licensing on Multi-User Computers

[bwilkerson217]

I recently went through an onboarding call with Adobe and I am in the process of getting my organization set up so that it can use named licensing instead of serial licensing.   I have my organization federation all set up and that is working and I am in the process of setting up the tool that will sync user accounts from my Active Directory to Adobe Creative Cloud Admin console.

I have asked this question of Adobe during my phone calls and no one can seem to help me.   We are an environment where we supply a device to our teachers and students for their individual use but we also have a few computer labs with more powerful desktops for things like Graphic Design, Video Editing, and AutoCAD.  These are multi-user computers where a different student will sign in every class period so I am curious how that would work with the named licensing limitations.   I know that a user can sign into up to 2 devices at one time and if they exceed that they will get prompted to sign out of other devices but it seems if a student signs into a multi-user computer and then signs out of that computer (but leaves themselves signed into the Adobe apps) the next user that signs in is still using the license of the previous user and does not get prompted to sign in.   I was hoping that once I had the federation and SSO set up and working that it would automatically sign users out of their Adobe ID when they signed out of the computer but I do not think that is the case.

I think this whole named licensing model with user accounts is going to cause a whole new level of support headaches for organizations such as schools where they have teachers and students that move around a lot and potentially can use many different computers

[kglad]

[ moved from Adobe Creative Cloud to Deployment for Creative Cloud for Team, Enterprise, & CS]

[alisterblack]

Hi,

I can confirm that currently there is not a mechanism to automatically log out a user from a CC instance.

Normally the solution to a lab/classroom environment is to use either serialized deployments or device licenses. Serial numbers are only available for enterprise ETLA customers by exception. Device licenses license the device rather than the user. You may want to speak to your Account Manager to see what your options are to use those.

We are looking at a new licensing model for education which will address these issues which is currently scheduled for early next year.

One thing you can do regarding deployment is to disable cloud synching when creating a package from your Admin Console. This will prevent a new user assets folder being created each time a user logs in to the machine.

[bwilkerson217]

Alister,

     Thank you for your reply.  Our plan is a Enterprise plan shared amongst a few school districts in my area.  I was told that we cannot do device licenses and that serial number licenses are being discontinued all together.

Can you confirm that device based licensing is not eligible for Enterprise plans? 

When Adobe ends serial based licensing will device base licensing still be an option along side with user based licensing?

[alisterblack]

Hi,

It really depends on what is in your agreement, and it is true that Device licenses are not normally a part of an enterprise ETLA. Serial numbers are, as you say, being discontinued.

We will be bringing forward a new multi-user lab license early next year which will give the benefits of named user use (access to services and storage, ease of administration) with the ability to use in a lab/classroom environment.

This is being piloted in October - let me know if that is of interest to you.

[bwilkerson217]

The multi-user lab license is of interest to me.  I would love to be able to use the user based features with my students and teachers and have them available on all the computers they could possibly use.  

Based on this I am wondering if I should just use the Serial licensing for my labs for first semester this upcoming school year and re-evaluate licensing options late fall or early winter.   I forget the date that serial licensing is ending but I believe it is not until early to mid 2019.

[alisterblack]

Hi, I can forward your details for the pilot program. For your existing serial number make sure that your own serial number does not expire before the end of serials generally.

[bwilkerson217]

Yes that would be very helpful. I would like to discuss this with my boss and the rest of my tech team before we make a final decision.   I spoke with our Licensing rep and we do not have any device based licensing available in our Enterprise agreement.  

[alisterblack · Accepted solution]

Hi,

I have started that request so hopefully you should hear further in the next few weeks.

[benjaminn2876812]

Did anything ever come of this? I was thinking of creating a dummy user for each station in the lab just to license the software. I believe the students will still be able to sign into their adobe account if they want to sync settings but I am guessing the license will only count against the first user who signed in.  Is that correct?

[j_dizl]

No. The user is assigned the licensing through the console and is entitled as soon as you do that - doesn't matter if they never, ever sign in.

[stephenl21992373]

Ive just come across this issue.

Going to have to make it clear to students and staff that they will need to sign out of CC before they log off.

Already spent way too much time on getting ADFS to work, was very strange, followed instructions to the letter, and then all of a sudden it springs into life several hours later.

[alisterblack]

Hi,

If a student signs in to a workstation that already has another Adobe ID signed it to it, then a new entitlement check happens. It the student ID has no entitlement then the apps on the workstation will revert to trial until you sign in with an entitled ID again.

[tomb58273462]

Hi Alister,

Has the multi-user lab license benefits that you mention above been made available yet? We have just switched from Device to User licenses for CC apps which are going to be used in a classroom lab environment.

[bwilkerson217]

No the information on a multi-user license has not been made available.  We are still fighting with Adobe over licensing.  Part of the problem is we have a shared license that is for multiple municipal organizations in my area so it is a royal pain to get anything to happen.  My boss is very frustrated and is trying to see what it would take to get us on our own plan that we can at least manage ourselves so for right now I just installed my labs with the serial number and have my fingers crossed that it does not expire before a new solution can be determined.

[alisterblack]

Hi,

No these are not released yet, this is still in the development and testing phase and we will be making a wider announcement regarding availability once this is complete.

[tomb58273462]

Thanks for the update, that's a real shame. You mentioned that there is a pilot program running, are you able to send me information on this?

[MasoninDenver]

Hello,

I know my organization would also be very interested in this pilot program if it is still around. If there is any more information available would it be possible to send it to me as well?

Thanks in advance

[alisterblack]

Hi,

The pilot is closed now for new participants.

[teronu22761513]

Has there been any headway made on this.  My school is very interested in deploying in a lab environment as well.

[alisterblack]

The new solution for labs will be available in early 2019.

[tammy_noyes]

Hi Alister,

Our K-12 school district just purchased named-user licensing which we've configured so that our users sign in with federated ids. All is working well there, but we're looking for the solution  for a computer lab where multiple users log into the stations. We'd like for the students who work there to be able to access the files they have been working on that they've saved in their CC libraries. Is that possible yet?

[jpeters36]

in case you don't get a response, its called the "Shared-Device License" that should be available in February 2019.. acts like a concurrent license were you are entitled to a specific amount of sign ins ( it seems no one knows how many of these they are getting). User can still use their own log on and sync settings with out counting against their install

[alisterblack]

Shared Device Licensing is a 'bring your own services' model. The machines (in a lab or classroom) have the SDL packaged apps installed. The user can then sign in with their own ID and will get the services associated with that ID. More information will be coming out in the new year.

[jpeters36]

Here is additional information that I have been passed, Im surprised the Adobe People aren't circulating this more

https://spark.adobe.com/page/P2Pp0UfrueMuj/