Interactive COBOL FailSafe Usage Readme 5.6x            June-2026

Note that as of ICOBOL 5.60, the only valid protection method that
is supported by ICPERMIT is MAC address protection.

When started with a valid protection method, ICPERMIT creates a
failsafe security file, system.fp.  This failsafe security file can
be used to start ICPERMIT for up to 3 weeks after the failsafe
security file was last written.

(While ICPERMIT is running, the filesafe security file is updated
every 24 hours.)  This insures that if the  protection method fails,
Interactive COBOL can still be used until a replacement license
is received.

From initial activation, the failsafe security file is good for
10 days.  Within that timeframe, you should insure that your
protection method/license has been replaced.

The failsafe security file should NOT be modified in any fashion
or else the file may NOT be usable when it is required.

****** Important Note ******
Just like you should regularly test your system backups, the failsafe
security file should be routinely tested that it can be used to start an
ICPERMIT to ensure some other program on the system is not interfering
with its operation.
****************************


Under Windows
-------------

To use a failsafe security file either use the Services Panel and
start the ICPERMIT service manually and add the -f switch or use
ICSVCMGR to change the ICPERMIT service to add the -f switch.


Under Linux
-----------

To use a failsafe security file, edit the control script to add
the failsafe switch (-f) when starting ICPERMIT.

End of readme