Activating a license on a license server without an Internet connection

In certain situations, for example when a dongle is hosted in a secured data center, the license server on which the license container is operated has no direct Internet access.

Tip: If the license container is a USB dongle, we recommend that you temporarily plug it into a computer with an Internet connection. Then, on the computer with the Internet connection, proceed as described on the following linked page (Activating a license on a license server). After successful activation on a computer with an Internet connection, connect the USB dongle to the license server without the Internet connection again.

Only if this procedure is not possible, you need to activate the license file-based and carry out the following steps.

Prerequisites for file-based license activation

  • A current version of the software CodeMeter Runtime Kit is installed on the license server (Setting up a license server).
  • A current version of the PTV License Manager (Server) tool is installed on the license server.
  • You have access rights to the license server. This can also be done via a remote desktop connection.
  • You have access to another computer that has an Internet connection to communicate with the PTV server.
  • A PTV Vision product or the PTV License Manager (Standard) tool is installed on the computer with the Internet connection.

Short overview of file-based license activation

The following diagram shows a concise overview of the file-based license activation process, categorized by a license server without Internet access (red) and a computer with Internet connection (blue).

A detailed description is given in the following sections:

Creating a license request file

In this section, you generate a license request file on the license server for the license container where you intend to activate the license.

1.  Open the PTV License Manager tool on the license server.

2.  Click the Edit CodeMeter settings  symbol.

The CodeMeter settings window opens.

3.  In the License Container section, select the container where you want to activate the license.

Notes:  

  • Make sure, that the license container matches the type of license (License containers).
  • If you want to activate a license container of the type soft container, a soft container must exist on the license server. If this is not the case, you first have to create a soft container (Creating a soft container on a license server). Then proceed with step 3.

4.  Click the Generate license request/receipt (file-based) symbol.

The Browse For Folder window opens.

5.  Save the generated license request file ...RaC on the license server, and then transfer the file to the computer with an Internet connection (e.g., via email or storage device).

Tip:  

You can alternatively create the license request file ...RaC by using the command line.

To do this, open the CodeMeter Command Prompt app and enter the following command line parameters. Here XXXXXXXX stands for the serial number of the soft container and the f marks the beginning of the name of the license request file to be generated.

Under Windows

  • For a soft container license: cmu32 --serial 130-XXXXXXXX -c6000459 -f130-XXXXXXXX.WibuCmRaC
  • For a USB dongle license: cmu32 --serial 3-XXXXXXXXXX -c100321 -f3-XXXXXXXXXX.WibuCmRaC
  • For a USB dongle license with borrowing function: cmu32 --serial 3-XXXXXXXXXX -c6000459 -f130-XXXXXXXX.WibuCmRaC

Under Linux

  • For a soft container license: cmu --serial 130-XXXXXXXX -c6000459 -f130-XXXXXXXX.WibuCmRaC
  • For a USB dongle license: cmu --serial 3-XXXXXXXXXX -c100321 -f3-XXXXXXXXXX.WibuCmRaC
  • For a USB dongle license with borrowing function: cmu --serial 3-XXXXXXXXXX -c6000459 -f130-XXXXXXXX.WibuCmRaC
Uploading the license request file

In this section, save the license request file on the computer with Internet access. In the background, the file will be automatically transferred to the PTV server, which will then provide a license activation file.

6.  On the computer with the Internet connection, open the License Management window (Opening the license management in the product) or (Managing licenses with the PTV License Manager).

7.  Copy the license key received by e-mail to the clipboard.

8.  Click the  Activate new license symbol.

The License activation window for the product opens and the license key is displayed.

9.  Select the option On a different computer (file-based) for activation.

10.  Click the Next button.

The Step 1 of 2: Upload license request window opens.

11.  In the Step 1 of 2: Upload license request window, click the Select button.

12.  Navigate to the saved license request file ...RAC and click the Open button.

13.  Click the Next button.

The Step 2 of 2: Transfer license window opens. In the background, the license request file is transferred to the PTV server, which then returns the license activation file.

Transferring the license activation file to the license server

In this step, transfer the license activation file from the computer with Internet connection to the license server.

14.  On the computer with the Internet connection, in the Step 2 of 2: Transfer License window, click the Open folder button.

15.  Copy the license activation file ...RaU and transfer it to the license server (e.g., via email or storage device).

16.  Go to the CodeMeter settings window on the license server and click the Import license update (file-based) symbol.

17.  Navigate to the license activation file ...RaU and click the Open button.

Tip:  

You can alternatively import the license activation file ...RaU by using the command line.

To do this, open the CodeMeter Command Prompt app and enter the following command line parameters.

Under Windows

  • For a soft container license: cmu32 -i -f130-XXXXXXXXXX.WibuCmRaU
  • For a USB dongle license: cmu32 -i -f3-XXXXXXXXXX.WibuCmRaU

Under Linux

  • For a soft container license: cmu -i -f130-XXXXXXXXXX.WibuCmRaU
  • For a USB dongle license: cmu -i -f3-XXXXXXXXXX.WibuCmRaU
Generating and transferring the receipt file on the license server

18.  In the CodeMeter Settings window on the license server, within the License Containers section, select the container where you want to activate the license.

19.  Click the Generate license request/receipt (file-based) symbol.

20.  Save the receipt file ...RaC.

21.  Transfer the receipt file ...RaC from the license server to the computer with an Internet connection (e.g., via email or storage medium) and replace the license request file ...RaC there.

22.  On the computer with the Internet connection, click the Finish button in the Step 2 of 2: Transfer License window.

The license is activated on the license server and can be used by all users who have entered this computer in their server search list (Adding license servers to the list of all searchable servers).