Licensing Terms / Authorization Explained

The intent of this article is to explain the terms we use in the licensing of FRED, along how they relate to the information given in the Help... License Authorization window within FRED for a specific FRED license.

USB Key / Hard key / Hardware Key / Dongle - a physical license protection scheme based on a USB hardware device that contains the FRED license. This device must be plugged into your device in order to run FRED. We have two types of USB keys, the older "SuperPro" keys, and the newer "Sentinel" keys. To move the FRED license from one machine to another requires moving the physical USB key between the machines.

Softkey / Software Key / Soft License - a non-physical software based license protection scheme that installs some codes on a machine to activate a license and allows FRED to run. Softkeys are always Sentinel keys.

Network License - a license with some number of concurrent seats that is installed on a network accessible host machine or server such that the licenses can be shared amongst a pool of users. Any permitted user on the network may access the license, and in doing so, consumes one of the seats available. Another term for a network license is a "floating license". A network license may be issued as a USB key or Softkey.

Standalone - a single seat license that is either issued via a USB key or in the case of a Softkey, is locked to a specific machine. Only users of that machine or with access to the USB key can access the license. Another term for a standalone softkey license is "node-locked".

Seats - the maximum number of users permitted to access the license concurrently. Standalone licenses always have a single (1) seat. Network licenses may have one (1) or more seats. The seat count is listed on the License Authorization dialog.

Concurrency - the ability for some number of licensed users to access the software at the same time, where the number of permitted users is based on the seat count. Network licenses are concurrent, standalone licenses are not.

Support Expiry - All licenses are sold with a support period during which the license holder(s) can receive program updates (new releases) and request technical help. The support expiry is the date at which the support period for the license ends and is listed on the License Authorization dialog.

Max Authorized Version - the maximum FRED version the license can run, which is related to the support expiry date, and is listed on the License Authorization dialog.

Software Expiry - The date after which the license will no longer run. Only applies to Leases, Trials and University Gratis licenses and is listed on the License Authorization dialog.

Permanent - A license that does not have a software expiry date and will continue to operate after the support expiry date. Also referred to as a perpetual license.

Lease - A license that will only run up until the software expiry date, and then will no longer run. The software expiry date is listed on the License Authorization dialog. Another term for this is a "Subscription".

Key Label - A short (typically 5-digits or fewer) user-friendly unique ID number for the key. Also known as the "Key Number" and is listed on the License Authorization dialog.

Serial Number - the longer internal reference number for the license used by the licensing engine and is listed on the License Authorization dialog.

SuperPro Key - an older USB based software licensing technology, offered by Thales.

Sentinel Key - a newer software licensing technology from Thales, available as both a hard key and a softkey.

Understanding your FRED license

From Help... License Authorization in FRED, we can see the following dialog and how it relates to the terms listed above.