Configuring Subscription Billing for Secure Networks

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This section describes how to configure a ScienceLogic SL1 system for subscription billing when the system is "air gapped", that is, it is a system that does not have internet access.

Use the following menu options to navigate the SL1 user interface:

  • To view a pop-out list of menu options, click the menu icon ().
  • To view a page containing all of the menu options, click the Advanced menu icon ().

Options for Securing the Billing Process

The following options are available when configuring the communication process for subscription billing on secure networks:

  • The subscription billing process can use an authenticated HTTP proxy for the outbound connection to the ScienceLogic billing infrastructure. For more information, see Creating a Credential for the ScienceLogic Billing Server.

  • Use the option to remove device names from the payload sent to ScienceLogic. For more information, contact ScienceLogic support.

Initial Configuration of a Secure Site

This section describes the initial configuration that must be performed on all ScienceLogic SL1 systems that cannot connect to the ScienceLogic central billing server due to security concerns. You must repeat this process each time a change is made to your billing rules.

Initial ScienceLogic SL1 System Setup

To configure a ScienceLogic SL1 system that cannot connect to the ScienceLogic central billing server, perform the following steps:

  1. Go to the Admin Processes page (System > Settings > Admin Processes).
  2. Locate the Enterprise Database: Subscription Usage Crunch process, and select its wrench icon (). The Process Editor page opens.
  3. Set the Operating State field to Enabled.
  4. Click [Save].
  5. Wait for the Enterprise Database: Subscription Usage Crunch process to run, which can take up to 24 hours, or run the process manually. To run the process manually, follow these steps: 
  • Select System >Monitor > System Usage > Subscription button.
  • Click License Data Delivery Status. The License Data Delivery Status modal appears.
  • Select the checkbox for the oldest file that appears in the page, and then click [Download]. The report is downloaded to your browser's download location.
  1. Provide ScienceLogic with the file. ScienceLogic will configure the central billing server and generate a status file.

Final ScienceLogic SL1 System Setup

After the status file has been generated from the ScienceLogic central billing server, perform the following steps on your ScienceLogic SL1 system:

  1. Save the status file to your local computer.
  2. Go to the Subscription Usage page (System > Monitor > System Usage > Subscription button).
  3. Click License Data Delivery Status. The License Data Delivery Status modal appears.
  4. In the Status Update File field, browse for the status update file on your local computer.
  5. Click [Upload].

Generating a Subscription Usage Report

For secure systems, you must provide your ScienceLogic Customer Success Manager with the Subscription License Usage report once a month. You can schedule the report to run on a regular basis or you can generate the report manually.

Scheduling a Subscription Usage Report

To schedule a subscription usage report to provide to your Customer Success Manager, perform the following steps:

  1. Associate the Email addresses you want to send the report to with a user account or external contact in your system.
  2. Open the Reports page.
  3. From the Reports page, open the Report Jobs page (Reports > Create Report > Report Jobs).
  4. Click [Create].
  5. Supply values in the following fields.
    • Job Title. Enter a name for the report job (for example, “Monthly Subscription License Usage Report”).
    • Run As User. Select an administrative user in your system.
    • Report Definition. In the EM7 Administration section, select Subscription License Usage Report by Type.
    • Job Recipients. Click in the field to open the Recipient Selector modal, and add the EM7 Users or External Contacts to whom you want to send the report.
    • Job Type. Select Email & Archive.
    • Delivery Method. In the Attachment section, select Microsoft Excel 2007+ Spreadsheet (.xlsx).
    • Number of Days. Select 90.
  6. Click [Save].
  7. On the Reports page, open the Scheduler (Reports > Create Report > Scheduler).
  8. Click [Create].
  9. Supply values in the following fields.
    • Schedule Name. Enter a name for the schedule (for example, “Monthly Subscription License Usage Report”).
    • Start Time. Select the first day of the next month.
    • Recurrence. Select By Interval.
    • Interval. Enter "1" in the first field and select Months in the second field.

    • Report Job. Select the report job that you created.

      In most cases, you can use the default values in the other fields in this page. See the Reports documentation for a description of the other fields in this page.

  10. Click [Save].

Running a Subscription Usage Report Manually

To run a subscription usage report manually:

  1. Open the Reports page.
  2. From the Reports page, select Run Report > EM7 Administration > Subscription License Usage Report by Type.
  3. Specify the following values:
    • Number of days. Select 90.
    • Output format. Select Microsoft Excel 2007+ Spreadsheet (.xlsx).
  4. Click [Generate]. A progress window appears. Do not close this window.
  5. When the report is ready, it is downloaded to your browser's download location and is sent to your Email address. Optionally, you can click one of the format icons to download as your format of choice: ODS, PDF, XLSX, or HTML.
  6. Provide the spreadsheet (XLSX file) to your Customer Success Manager.