Hi Jochen,
Please refer to SAP note 1227762 it seems the note was released earlier this month.
Digitally-signed license keys were introduced for Basis Release 7.00. The license key that was used until Release 6.40 can still be used in all of the 7.xx Basis Releases that have been delivered up to now.
saplicense can manage old license keys only, and can no longer install as of Basis Release 7.10.
saplikey manages the new, digitally-signed license keys. The operation process of saplikey largely corresponds to that of saplicense.
saplikey requires profile parameters and an environment such as disp+work.
For Basis Releases 7.00 and 7.01, saplikey is available on SAP Service Marketplace only as of the release of this note; for Release 7.00 as of patch level 170 or 217 (depending on the platform), for Release 7.01 as of patch level 53.
With the latest patch for all releases, available as of calendar week 29/2010, the input parameter number and its output are adjusted to saplicense. In addition, the return value for the operating system can be differentiated as follows:
- 0 - No error
- 1 - Warning: License could not be installed since a license exists already
- Other - Error
For details about the patch level, see the SAP GUI display of this note by choosing Note Administration -> "SP Patch Level" tab page, in the HTML display under "Content: ... SP Patchlevel".
saplikey is contained in the packages SAPEXE_...sar and dw_...sar. These are available at service.sap.com/support:
Downloads - Download
- Support Packages and Patches - Entry by Application Group
-> Additional Components -> SAP Kernel
Below is example from Java only stack so you can use saplikey to monitor this as well.
lp09sid00:sidadm 54> saplikey pf=SID_JC00_psidci00 -show
SAP License Key Administration - Copyright (C) 2003 - 2007 SAP AG
List of installed License Keys:
==========================================
1. License Key:
------------------------------------------
System : SID
Hardware Key : S009999999
Software Product : J2EE-Engine_ORA
Software Product Limit: 2199999999
Type of License Key : permanent
Installation Number : 00999999999
System Number : 000000000999999999999
Begin of Validity : 20101115
End of Validity : 99991231
Last successful check : 00000000
Validity : valid
------------------------------------------
1 license keys listed.
Hope this helps saplikey is very new 
have not used it myself. You can use the parameter switches after the profile names test this on your side.
Regards,
Johan