By default, Activation center (ACEN) is intended for managing licenses for programs protected with REMOTE protection method.
However, ACEN also supports programs protected with PLAIN/USB protection.
Program protected with PLAIN protection can be run on any computer and does not require activation. This means that no license management is required for such programs.
Activation center (ACEN) has two main licensing models for programs protected with remote protection: Standard and Web licensing.
Both licensing models can be enabled for same program.
STANDARD licensing model
In standard licensing each license is identified by Customer, Order and Program and requires valid client account and order data in activation center.
The following protection scenarios are supported with standard licensing:
1. REMOTE protection
2. REMOTE protection + SERIAL NUMBERS
3. REMOTE protection + LIMITED LICENSE feature
4. REMOTE protection + LIMITED LICENSE feature + SERIAL NUMBERS
The following steps are involved in standard licensing process:
Client -> Orders -> Licenses
STEP 1: Program is added to database (this is done only once)
STEP 2: Client is added to database (each new client requires new account in database)
STEP 3: Order for appropriate program is added to client's account.
STEP 4: License(s) can now be added to appropriate Order(s).
Standard licenses can be handled in three different ways:
1. By administrator users (from ACEN administrators interface)
2. By clients (from ACEN clients interface)
3. By clients/administrators via ACEN web service interface.
WEB licensing model
In web licensing model each license is identified by Program and Serial Number pair only. No Client or Order entry is required.
Each protected copy is identified by serial number and locked to remote computer. Each serial number can grant single or multiple licenses (number of computers where protected software can be installed and activated).
The following protection scenarios are supported with web licensing:
1. REMOTE protection + SERIAL NUMBERS
2. REMOTE protection + SERIAL NUMBERS + LIMITED LICENSE feature
Implementation of ACEN web licensing model
All license handling in case of web licensing is done via ACEN web service.
This is why live Internet connection is mandatory for license handling (activation, reactivation and license removal).
ACEN web licensing model can be implemented in two ways:
1. By handling all licensing tasks from your code.
This requires additional programming on your side but allows maximum flexibility. ACEN includes required web service documentation and sample desktop application which implements ACEN web service handling to get you started.
2. By letting PC Guard's protection code handle all web licensing tasks in three easy steps:
STEP 1: Set required Activation center (ACEN) options.
STEP 2: Set required PC Guard project settings.
STEP 3: Protect application.
- Number of granted web licenses per serial number is defined in Program settings (valid values: 1-100, default value: 1)
- Custom features stored inside serial number will be used for generation of activation code. If no feature is set in serial number, default program features will be used.
- Default program custom counters will be used for generation of new activation codes.
- Web license will be set as limited in case limited license is enabled in Program settings. By default, expiration date for new web license will be set based on default validity period and fixed date limitation limited license program settings.
- When reactivating or transferring web license expiration date from original web license will be used for new web license instead of program settings. Expiration date of original web license can be changed from administrator interface so that next time web license is reactivate or transferred new expiration date will be set for new web license.
- Each web license will hold user IP number.
- Web licenses can be tracked and reviewed by administrators from web licensing panel in ACEN.
- If required, administrators can add new web licenses manually.