Licence Protector uses a license file (extension .lic) to store license information. It can contain one ore more modules. A module is a function you want to license, e.g. Basic Version, Add-ON1, Add-ON2. Each module can have individual license information like number of users, time limitation or demo version.

Example

Basic Version, 10 user license, full version

Add-On1, 5 user license, trial version for 10 days

Add-On2, not available

The license file stores a lot of other values like user name, URL for activation server, default values for online validation, concurrent user or copy protection type.

The idea is to have one source code and the complete logic for licensing is provided by the license file, e.g. if the application is an evaluation version or full version, single user or multi user etc.

The license file is not deleted after an update so all license information are always available.

As the file is modified during the program start and during activation, the user needs read, write, modify an delete access for the file.

The license file is encrypted with 2 standard encryption methods + a personal encryption, to ensure that each application, secured with Licence Protector , has a different license file encryption.

There are different license options available.

Yes / No module

This module type allows to check, if a module / function is available (module is set to Yes) or not (module is set to No).

Definition in project template: ModuleType=4

Counter

A counter is an integer you can use for licensing. This allows retrieving a value and then make an own license check.

Example

Number of Reports = 50

The counter module would return a value of 50. Your application has to ensure, that only 50 reports can be created.

Definition in project template: ModuleType=3

The value range is 0 to  2147483647

To change a counter module with a DLL command use SetVal, Token TLI.

Item Counter

An item counter is similar to a counter and allows to store an integer value AND the names of items.

Definition in project template: ModuleType=5

The value range is 0 to  2147483647

Example

Number of Reports = 50

The license check would provide a report name (e.g. Financial report) and this report name would be stored in the license file. Licence Protector would ensure, that only 50 reports can be created

Depending on the Licence Protector Edition there are limitations regarding the number of modules and available module types. For details see comparison Starter, Basic or Professional Edition.

Licence Protector supports 3 different types of network licenses:

•license per User

•license per PC

•license per Concurrent User

License per User (Person)

The Windows User name is licensed. Each user, starting the application, will need a license. The windows user name is written into the license file.

This type of license requires more licenses like license per PC. If 2 users would share 1 PC this would result in a 2 user license but only in 1 PC license.

For more details see chapter Network License per User

Definition in project template: ModuleType=1

 
License per PC

This is often the default license type. Each PC, starting the application, will need a license. The PC name is written into the license file. This type results in less licenses then license per User (e.g. if 2 users share 1 PC then 2 licenses per user are needed but only 1 PC license).

If the application runs on a Citrix / Terminal server, then the hostname of the local PC and not the hostname of the server is used.

For more details see chapter Network License per PC

Definition in project template: ModuleType=2

 
License per Concurrent User / Floating license

This is a typical license in a huge multi user environment. The application can be installed on an unlimited number of machines but the number of concurrent (simultaneous) users are counted and limited to the specified number. The license is assigned only as long as the application is running. If the application is terminated, the license is available again. If a user logs in with the same user name on 2 different PCs then 2 licenses are used.

Licence Protector offers a sophisticated verification of concurrent user licenses. Machines that hang or crashed are detected and the license is released. This is all done automatically through the application.

Definition in project template: ModuleType=6

All license types work also in a Terminal Server and Citrix Environment. The license information can be displayed within the License Viewer.

For more details see chapter Network License per concurrent user

Depending on the Licence Protector Edition there are limitations regarding the number of modules and available module types. For details see comparison Starter, Basic or Professional Edition.

See also
 
Network license - how it works
Define network license in project template