XML Interface Module

The XML Interface Module is available to integrators and replaces the earlier OEM and IM interface modules. The XML Interface Module accesses the field solver calculator engine by linking to the Si8000m / Si9000e. The interface module requires that a user has a fully installed Si8000m or Si9000e (version 2018 or later) with active Polarcare; compatible OEM packages are then able to access the Si8000m / Si9000e calculation engines via the interface module. The Si8000m, Si9000e and XML Interface Module are all available from your Polar office or distributor.

The latest license allows KLA InFlow users to have the very latest Si8000m coexist with the latest supported KLA interface to the Polarcalc engine. The enhanced license activation file incorporates a more inclusive vendor string.

The Si8000IM feature has a revised style vendor string which can be parsed by pre and post version 2017 licenses (2017 was the year the license vendor string was changed to include Maxver and the Polarcare contract number.) The vendor string should be read by both legacy and current security.

Interface module compatibility

The Interface Module compatibility table provides a reference of compatibility between license types and Polar and third party software versions.

Polar Interface Module to the Polar field solver calculation engine – updating from legacy versions.

Polar customers can gain direct access from third party software to Polar field solvers. Access to the field solver calculation engine is enabled by the Interface Module (IM) feature (formerly OEM feature) in a FlexNet license. The Interface Module is designed for system integrators requiring an industry standard controlled impedance solution. It delivers accurate controlled impedance and loss values over a range of popular controlled impedance structures and geometries. Values calculated with the Interface Module are guaranteed to be identical to those produced from the Si8000m / Si9000e field solvers and presented via the traditional user interface.

Because 3rd party software is often able to connect to many versions of the interface module it is sometimes unclear which license style is needed to upgrade an interface module and still coexist with the latest versions of the stand alone Si8000m solver. This table shows you the versions in circulation, their recommended use and which license style is required for coexistence of the two products.

A combined license style with Version= ; Maxver= released in May 2020 enables licensing of newer versions of desktop Si8000m whilst retaining the capability of running Version 17 Interface module which is the latest version supported by the majority of systems integrators. This is explained in detail in the compatibility table.

IM / OEM license features – background

The interface module was licensed initially using the Si8000OEM feature, which came in two versions, the original, non-TRL (non tamper resist licensing) and the later, TRL (tamper resist licensing). (TRL licenses were introduced in 2009 (Si8000m v9.02) with the update to FlexNet Publsher v10.8.7)

License Signatures

The non-TRL features can be identified by the short 12 digit signature of the form "SIGN=ABC123XYZ890"

The TRL features were signed with a longer and more secure signature, for example, SIGN="11C6 B34C EAE8 5E73 87C9 F971 89BB 11E9 8BF1 E0D0 664A 56AA FFA4 4276 E479 0A4B E8F4 B43C F844 6C0A 82A4 B7C5 83CC 1676 2F4A 618C 13C7 8764 FF88 2127"

Si8000OEM update to Si8000IM features

The original Si8000OEM feature was replaced with the Si8000IM feature, which was TRL only, with its more secure signature.

These early features did not include the version number of the licensed software so could be used across versions.

Version control

Version control was introduced in 2017 and was marked by a change in the vendor string from its original long, non version controlled:

VENDOR_STRING="254 255 255 255 255 255 255 255 255 255 255 255 255 255 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 "

to the version controlled:

"VENDOR_STRING=17"

However, using these earlier non version controlled licenses it was impossible to elevate an IM customer with Polarcare above version 2017 of the stand alone Si8000m.