Service Activation and Billing in Air-Gapped Environments

Provides information for administrators about HPE Ezmeral Unified Analytics Software activation and billing in an air-gapped environment, including activation steps.

An administrator needs the following information to activate Unified Analytics in an air-gapped environment:
Information Description
Platform ID Unique, system-generated ID assigned to the HPE Ezmeral Coordinator instance during installation. The ID is displayed when you go to the Unified Analytics URL provided after installation.

Activation key

The license file that the administrator uploads to complete the installation of Unified Analytics. The administrator can download the activation key in their MY HPE SOFTWARE CENTER customer portal. The activation key file is a signed XML file.
Activation code A unique code that HPE Ezmeral Customer Support gives to the administrator every 30 days to keep clusters in an active state. Automatically deactivated after 45 days (includes a 15-day grace period). The activation code file is a signed JSON file. See Billing Process in Air-Gapped Environments and Renewing the Activation Code.

Service activation and billing in an air-gapped environment requires an activation key file and an activation code. The activation code must be renewed on a monthly basis (every 30 days). See Billing Process in Air-Gapped Environments.

Getting the Activation Key File and Activation Code

To get the activation key:
  1. Install and deploy Unified Analytics. For air-gapped deployments, select the Air-Gapped option during installation. The system provides the URL to access Unified Analytics.
  2. Go to the Unified Analytics URL provided. The window displays a Platform ID and requests an activation key and activation code. You cannot proceed with the activation until you provide the activation key file and activation code.
  3. Copy the unique Platform ID.
  4. After purchasing HPE Ezmeral Unified Analytics Software, the activation key is made available to you through the Activate your products button in the HPE Subscription Electronic Receipt email that you receive from HPE. This receipt directs you to MY HPE SOFTWARE CENTER where you can activate your product.
  5. On the Activate EON page, enter the Platform ID (copied in step 3) in the Platform ID field.
  6. Once activation is completed, download the Unified Analytics activation key file.
  7. Return to the Unified Analytics URL and upload the activation key file.
To get the first activation code to activate Unified Analytics:
  1. To request the activation code, open a support case at https://support.hpe.com using the account you have on the HPE Support Center customer portal. The support ticket must include the following information:
    • Activation key
    • Platform ID
    • Cluster ID
      TIP
      This is the same portal that you would use to create any kind of ticket related to your platform. If you do not have an account, you can create an account for free. When you create an account, you must link your support contract to the account. If you have never used the customer portal, refer to the KB article here to help you get your support portal account up and running.
  2. When support notifies you that the activation code is available in your customer portal, go to the portal and get the code.
  3. Return to the Unified Analytics URL and upload both the activation key and activation code files.

Billing Process in Air-Gapped Environments

Contracts for air-gapped installations must be validated with an activation code on a monthly basis. The Unified Analytics cluster securely stores billing data. The Unified Analytics site administrator must download the billing data at the end of the billing cycle and then open an HPE Support Center customer support ticket to renew the activation code. The support ticket that the administrator opens must include the following information:
  • Billing data (downloaded from the Billing tab in Unified Analytics)
  • Cluster ID

HPE Support Center renews the certificate and credentials through the billing and registration system and then uploads the new activation code to your customer portal. This cycle continues on a monthly basis to keep clusters active. Failure to adhere to this process can result in cluster deactivation or service disruption. Unified Analytics provides regular updates and reminder alerts on the product screen.

Renewing the Activation Code

To get a new activation code (every 30 days), complete the following steps:
  1. Sign in to Unified Analytics.
  2. In the left navigation bar, select Administration > Settings.
  3. Click the Billing tab.
  4. On the Billing tab, download the billing data for the current billing cycle.
  5. Open a support case at https://support.hpe.com using the account you have on the HPE Support Center customer portal and include the following information:
    • Cluster ID
    • Billing data file
  6. When support updates the ticket, go to your customer portal to get the new activation code.
  7. Return to Unified Analytics, and enter the activation code in the Activation Code field on the Billing tab.
    IMPORTANT
    Failure to complete these steps monthly can result in access to the Unified Analytics applications and services being disabled.