At OnScale we're all about the cloud, offering engineers access to High Performance Computing at the click of a button, making it possible for finite-element simulations to be run faster than ever before.
For new users, the route is clear: use the cloud and benefit from the advantages it brings.
For certain customers – mainly former PZFlex customers – it remains possible to run simulations locally (on-premises). This requires a special install that includes the local solvers. It is not possible to run simulations locally using the version of OnScale that can be downloaded from the Portal.
For customers with a Flex key, simulations can be run locally without restrictions.
For other customers, your core-hour allowance is used when running simulations locally. The way in which this works differs depending on whether or not you have an active internet connection at the time you wish to run the simulation.
Running Simulations Locally with an Internet Connection
If you have an internet connection when you click Run Local (Designer) or Run Solver (Analyst), then a number of core-hours are immediately "blocked" from your account. This is the number specified in 
> Settings > Solver Settings > Block Hours.
In your Transaction History in the Portal, this appears as so:
If the number of core-hours required to run the simulation is greater than the number specified in the Block Hours setting, then core-hours will continue to be blocked from your account as the simulation runs, in quantities of (roughly) the number specified by this setting.
Upon completion of the simulation, the block is removed from your account and the actual number of core-hours required to run the simulation is debited instead.
Running Simulations Locally Offline
To run simulations locally offline, you must first request hours for offline use. Requesting hours requires an active internet connection (as does returning hours). You request and return hours in > Settings > Local Licensing.
In the Request Core Hours for Offline Use box, type the number of core-hours that you want and then click Get Hours. These core-hours are checked out to you for offline use. This is shown in your Transaction History in the Portal as so:
Once you have booked out core-hours, you can then run simulations offline. Be sure to check out a sufficient number of core-hours before running a simulation. If a simulation uses up your checked-out core-hours before it completes, the simulation will stop.
To return unused core-hours, just click Return Hours.
To check how many core-hours you have checked out and how many of these you have used, click Query.
If you have already checked out core-hours and wish to check out additional hours, note that you must first return the hours that you have checked out. It is not possible to request core-hours if you already have core-hours checked out.
Note: If you have core-hours checked out for offline use but are online when you run a simulation, OnScale operates as described in Running Simulations Locally with an Internet Connection. Your checked-out core-hours are not used.
The TERM Timeout Setting
In > Settings > Solver Settings, beside the Block Hours setting you'll see the TERM Timeout setting. This relates to Analyst scripts that include the term command (which pauses the simulation). This setting defines the number of seconds that OnScale should wait at the term command for interaction from the user before exiting the script.