The present invention is directed to a system, comprising: (i) first and
second computational components 102a and b having, respectively, first
and second unique identifiers; (ii) a license file 112 comprising third
and fourth identifiers 212a and b respectively associated with the first
and second computational components; (iii) a license manager 113 operable
to (a) obtain, from the first and second computational components, the
first and second unique identifiers, (b) access the license file to
obtain the third and fourth identifiers, (c) compare each of the first
and second unique identifiers with one or both of the third and fourth
identifiers; and (iv) a mode setting agent 124 operable to permit the one
or both of the first and second computational components to perform an
operation, when both the first and second identifiers match one of the
third and fourth identifiers, and not permit the first and second
computational components to perform the operation, when only one of the
first and second identifiers matches one of the third and fourth
identifiers.