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Application

In Snow License Manager, an application is defined as software installed or run on a computer or device. Each application is associated with filtering rules, which are used to identify programs installed on the inventoried computers.

Applications are normally created by the SRS team and distributed to all subscribers of the Software Recognition Service. As a complement, there may also be customized applications, created locally in Snow Management and Configuration Center (Snow MACC).

Application bundle​

Some applications can be installed both as a stand-alone product and as part of a product suite. Normally, different licenses are required depending on the type of installation. For example, even though Photoshop is included in the Adobe Creative Suite, a stand-alone installation of Photoshop cannot be covered by a license applicable to the Adobe Creative Suite.

For a correct compliance calculation, Snow License Manager needs to be able to determine if an identified application is a stand-alone or product suite installation. The mechanism used to identify installations that are part of a product suite is called an application bundle. Application bundles are administered via the Software Recognition Service.

License bundle components individually​

In some cases it may be allowed to use the installation media of a product suite to install single components, for example components included in the Adobe Creative Suite. These stand-alone installations are then licensed individually instead of via the application bundle.

In Snow License Manager this is achieved by manually removing the application bundle from the computer. All installed bundle components will be regarded as stand-alone installations when compliance is calculated. For more information, see Bundle options.

Application family​

Upgrade and downgrade refer to the extended right to use a license also for the preceding and/or subsequent versions. For more information, see Upgrade and downgrade.

The way to manage upgrade/downgrade rights is referred to as application family. An application family contains all products from the same product family. Application families are administered via the Software Recognition Service.

Application type​

An application type is a classification based on function, according to the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC). This enables listing of for example all virus applications in the IT environment, without having to know the manufacturer or the application name. The application types are administered via the Software Recognition Service.

Application category​

Application categories are created in Snow MACC for a set of applications that have something in common. Application categories can for example be used to specify the standard applications that, according to the IT policy of the organization, should be installed on all computers and laptops.

The report Computers that do not comply to application categories lists all computers/laptops that are missing the applications specified by the application category.

Application use rights​

Application use rights can be assigned to applications, for example in order to monitor and ensure correct usage of expensive applications. Users without use rights of the application are high-lighted. Application use rights are managed in the SLM Web UI.

Stock-keeping Unit (SKU)​

Stock-keeping unit, or SKU, is a code used to identify and track products, and most manufacturers assign SKUs to their applications. A unique SKU is assigned to each variant of the application, such as different versions, bundles, metric, etc. This means that an application can have one or several SKUs. In Snow License Manager, licenses can be identified by the SKU of the application it applies to. There is also SKU intelligence when registering a license purchase and when importing licenses.