License binding and license container
The licenses for PTV Vision products are stored in so-called license containers. The following types are supported:
- USB dongles
- Soft containers (from Visum 18, Vissim 11, Vistro 7)
Each license container can contain multiple licenses. Any number of license containers can exist on one computer at the same time.
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Note: However, two licenses that are completely identical in terms of product, "dongle number", and firm code may not be activated in one license container. Attention should be paid to this case especially when licenses are used that can be activated multiple times. When trying to activate it twice in the same license container, an error message appears. |
Each license is defined for one of the license container types and can be activated only on containers of this type. For example, a license issued for USB dongles cannot be used in a soft container. Licenses can be subsequently moved between different containers of the same type as often as required (Deactivating a license on your own computer), (Activating a license on your computer).
In all three cases, you need the CodeMeter Runtime Kit software to access license containers and use the licenses. This software is installed by default as part of the product installation.
Properties of the license container types
A USB dongle is a USB stick with a special license memory. It is connected to the computer via a common USB 2.0 interface. If it is used for storing licenses, they can be used immediately once plugged into another computer.
A soft container is not a physical piece of hardware, but a protected file that is permanently located on a computer. Soft containers can be created very easily. They cannot be moved to another computer, but the licenses stored in them can.
Fundamental changes to a computer's operating system or hardware configuration can cause the soft container to stop working. This is a consequence of the safety precautions against misuse of the products. If you want to reconfigure a computer with soft containers, we recommend that you first return the licenses they contain and then reactivate them at the end of the process (Deactivating a license on your own computer) and (Activating a license on your computer).
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Note: For license protection reasons, you cannot install soft containers on virtual machines or borrow on them. This applies to both local systems, such as VMware ESX or Microsoft Hyper-V, and cloud environments, such as MS Azure or Amazon AWS. This also affects Mac OS environments that use Windows via virtualization, e.g. Parallel Desktop. |
All license container types can be used for single-user licenses and network licenses. The following table illustrates the properties of the types:
|
Property |
USB dongle |
Soft container |
|---|---|---|
|
Compatible with release |
all versions |
from:
|
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Can be used for single-user licenses |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Can be used for network licenses |
Yes |
Yes |
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Multiple licenses possible in one container |
Yes |
Yes |
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Licenses can be re-hosted (= deactivated and reinstalled on another computer) |
Yes |
Yes |
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License container can be moved as a whole |
Yes |
No |
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Usable on virtual machines |
Yes |
No |
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Requires a permanent Internet connection |
No |
No |
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Can be locked (and replaced) in case of loss |
Yes |
Yes |
