License behavior on server crash

[Emilien J.]

Hello, We are currently interested in the monthly subscription and are wondering how the license validation works in ephemeral instance scenarios.

If I am using a license on a container in server A, but an unexpected crash occurs and the license didn’t have time to deactivate. If we then try to recreate the container in server B and activate the same license, will it be able to boot properly? Will flashphoner consider that two server are running with the same license and charge us more?

Does the healthcheck route return an error if the licensee failed to activate?

Best Regards,

 

[Max]

Hello

Each running and activated server sends pings. 3-4 pings per hour.
If at least one ping sent within the hour, the billing system will calculate this as a unit.

Example1
10:01 AM - Server A sends ping
10:15 AM - Server B sends ping
10:30 AM - Server A was crashed
10:45 AM - Server B sends ping
10:50 AM - Server C (restored A) is running
10:51 AM - Server C sends ping

--
Result: 3 billing units A, B, C, because pings received from 3 (three) different servers within 1 hour

Example2
10:01 AM - Server A sends ping
10:15 AM - Server B sends ping
10:30 AM - Server A was crashed
10:45 AM - Server B sends ping
11:01 AM - Server C (restored A) is running
11:02 AM - Server C sends ping
11:03 AM - Server B sends ping
--
Result: 2 billing units because pings received from 2 (two) different servers A and B within 1 hour 10 AM, and from 2 (two) different servers B and C within 1 hour 11 AM

So you have to restore/launch new container in the beginning of the new hour to prevent additional billing.
See also billing rules.

Does the healthcheck route return an error if the licensee failed to activate?

No. The healthcheck just says that server process is up and running. It does not know about license.