Advantage Licensing Summary (Support Release G - 5/4/2016)

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A license return or removing the license files from the client will not resolve this issue as the device identification and the CSN association still exists in the cloud.

Please contact GE Support or GE Inside Sales to transfer the Device ID to the new CSN.

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Advantage Licensing Key Concepts

Activation Codes and Devices

The activation process makes the activation code(s) useful and associates the activation code to a particular device. The association is recorded locally on the device and in the “cloud”.

A device can be a physical PC, a VM or a GE provided USB device.

During the activation process, properties of the device are used to create a license signature that is unique to that device. The Network Adapter MAC address, computer name and customer service number become a part of the signature.

Signature information is saved locally in cache files, with some information stored in the “cloud”.

This is an important aspect of the Advantage Licensing as the information in the cloud has to match information in the cache files on the actual PC, VM or USB.

If it does not match, then actions like updating, refreshing or removing activations on a device will fail.

If the particular device no longer needs the activation it should be returned to the “cloud”.

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Licensing Software

Important License Version History

Version 16.2.601.0 Released (May-2016)

- Targets new users by adding a new client interface to “guide” the activation process

- See the next page for a summary of version 16.2.601.0

Version 15.3.538.0 Released (Feb-2016)

- Improved USB key lifespan

- USB keys potentially could “wear out” from excessive writes by the licensing software

Version 15.2.527.0 Released (Dec-2015)

- Added new support for engineering toolkit

- Improved License server reporting

- Server reporting includes a CSV export of expiring licenses and/or client leases

Version 15.2.515.0 Released (Aug-2015)

- Added improved “binding” algorithm to allow NIC card changes for non-bound NICs

- Added Server and Client cache reset buttons

- Added a configurable timeout

Version 14.8.419.0 Released (Apr-2015)

- Fixed memory leak

- Added improved “binding” algorithm

Recommend to run the latest version of Proficy Licensing.

Recommend to update any version older than Version 14.8.419.0.

Versions less than 14.7.343 WILL FAIL TO CONNECT to the GE License Server (“the cloud”)

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Licensing Software

Important License Version History

Version 16.2.601.0 (released May 2016) is intended to make new installations and subsequent activations easier and will likely benefit new users of Advantage licensing the most.

Summary of release:

- Targets new users by adding a new client interface to “guide” the activation process

- The new interface name is “License Client” and is designed for minimal “clicks”

- The License Client presents the user with 5 license activation options

- Depending on the current configuration, such as if a USB device is plugged in, the License Client will disable or enable available options

- The old interface, License Manager can be launched independently or from the Licenses Client Advanced Operations tab

- The Advanced Operations tab (which loads License Manager) grants users access to screens to return, refresh or clean a license

- The License Client automatically loads the license display by default on startup

- The License Client displays all license-relevant information, including the Customer Service Number (CSN)

- Error messages have been improved to more accurately describe the encountered error

- The installation files have been signed with both SHA1 and SHA256 certificates. There should be no error messages displayed upon downloading Proficy Licensing

What has not changed?

As detailed above the old License Manager is still available and functions as before.

The License Server and License Server configuration tools have not changed however the install of these components have changed.

For a new install, the License Server Configuration Tool is no longer installed at the same time as the License Client (License Manager). It has to be explicitly installed from now on. Previously installed versions of the License Server Configuration Tool will be upgraded automatically if installing the License Client via the UI or command line. After upgrading to this version, users can uninstall the License Server Configuration Tool independently.

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Licensing Software

Important - Binding Licensing with a Network Adapter (NIC)

To