6. Connext Express

This section applies to evaluation or LM bundles.

After the initial free trial in your evaluation or LM bundle expires, your license typically converts to Connext Express, a limited free version of Connext.

6.1. Connext Express Basics

Connext Express includes the same features as the initial free trial, but limits the size of the system. For example, Connext Express rejects discovery of DomainParticipants, DataWriters, or DataReaders outside certain limits. See Connext Express Limits.

There are no other time limits or obligations when using Connext Express, but you do not receive the full benefits of a commercial Connext Professional license. (See https://www.rti.com/products/connext-express for details.) To convert Connext Express to a commercial version of Connext Professional, contact your local RTI representative or email express@rti.com.

Note that not all licenses automatically convert to Connext Express. If your license file does not specify a trial period end date, then after the license expiration date, you will not be able to create new DomainParticipants—there will be no conversion to Connext Express.

6.2. Connext Express Limits

You will see different messages and behavior in Connext Express depending on whether you are starting or running your application.

Note

Your specific system limits may vary. The messages below are examples; actual limits are dictated by your activation key.

6.2.1. Application Creation

During your initial free trial, before the conversion to Connext Express, you will see a message like the following when your application makes a call to create a DomainParticipant:

RTI Connext DDS issued to Real-Time Innovations, Inc.
Expires on 00-jan-00
Trial period ends on 15-dec-2024 (in 12 days).
After the trial ends your system will be limited to:
    Discovering a maximum of:  6 DomainParticipants, 12 DataReaders, 12 DataWriters.
Please contact express@rti.com for a license that removes these restrictions.

After your initial free trial converts to Connext Express, you will see a message like the following when your application makes a call to create a DomainParticipant:

RTI Connext DDS issued to Real-Time Innovations, Inc.
Expires on 00-jan-00
Trial period ended on 15-dec-2024. Your system is limited to:
    Discovering a maximum of:  6 DomainParticipants, 12 DataReaders, 12 DataWriters.
Please contact express@rti.com for a license that removes these restrictions.

6.2.2. Application Runtime

During runtime, you will receive messages like the following when limits are reached in Connext Express.

When a DomainParticipant discovers another DomainParticipant outside the limit:

RTI Connext DDS: Rejected discovered DomainParticipant:
Participant name: "", address: "udpv4://10.0.0.1:32416", GUID: 0x0101F563,0xC9D752A9,0xED042195:0x000001C
Reason: Exceeds the license limit of 6 discovered participants.

When a DataWriter discovers a DataReader outside the limit:

RTI Connext DDS: Rejected discovered DataReader:
DataReader name: "", topic: "Example Topic", GUID: 0x0101B08D,0x83F991C3,0xFC5A5EB8:0x80000604
Reason: Exceeds the license limit of 12 discovered DataReaders.

When a DataReader discovers a DataWriter outside the limit:

RTI Connext DDS: Rejected discovered DataWriter:
DataWriter name: "", topic: "Example Topic", GUID: 0x01019B9D,0x0C70A141,0x743514D3:0x80014A03
Reason: Exceeds the license limit of 12 discovered DataWriters.

DomainParticipants may discover new DomainParticipants as existing DomainParticipants leave the system. For example, Participant A discovers Participant B, but rejects Participant C due to Connext Express limits. Later, if Participant B leaves the system, Participant A could re-discover and accept Participant C. This will happen when the periodic participant announcement from Participant C reaches Participant A. The period depends on the discovery configuration.

DataWriters and DataReaders have no mechanism to retry discovery automatically. The rejected DataWriter or DataReader will not communicate until an event such as a QoS change triggers another discovery attempt.

Attention

Your system will not operate predictably if it exceeds the limits once they are enforced.