New V6 service build has been released. This update is highly recommended for all PC Guard V6 users!
What's new:
[+] Out of the box support for ACEN Web licensing added! (BETA)
Activation center (ACEN) has two main licensing models for programs protected with remote protection: Standard and Web licensing.
In standard licensing model each license is identified by Customer, Order and Program and requires valid client account and order data in activation center.
In web licensing model each license is identified by Program and Serial Number pair only. No Client or Order entry is required.
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 automatically 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 and distribute application.
[+] Web licensing settings panel added to remote protection settings.
Here is the list of new options:
- "ACEN Web licensing enabled" option
Select to enable web licensing in PC Guard. Protected application will automatically handle all web licensing tasks in conjunction with Activation center server.
- "ACEN Program ID" option (mandatory)
Program ID value as defined in Activation center (ACEN).
Note: This is not the same as Program ID value in remote protection settings! This is identification number for program in Activation center.
- "ACEN Web service URL" option (mandatory)
Full path (URL) to Activation center (ACEN) web service. URL must start with "http://" or "https://"
- "Make license alive (active) report to ACEN server" option
Select to enable license alive report to ACEN server. Additional settings:
- Timing (Select timing of the alive report.)
Available values: "on each run" and "once a day"
- If report fails (Select action in case alive report fails. This usually happens because computer is not connected to the Internet)
Available values: "do nothing", "show error" and "show error and exit"
"do nothing" - protection will just pass control to application.
"show error" - protection code will show error message and pass control to application.
"show error and exit" - protection code will show error message and close application.
- "Check if license is removed from ACEN server" option
Select to enable check if license is removed from ACEN server. Additional settings:
- Timing (Select timing of the alive report.)
Available values: "on each run" and "once a day"
- If report fails (Select action in case alive report fails. This usually happens because computer is not connected to the Internet)
Available values: "do nothing", "show error" and "show error and exit"
"do nothing" - protection code will just pass control to application.
"show error" - protection code will show error message and pass control to application.
"show error and exit" - protection code will show error message and close application.
- If removed (Select action in case license is removed from ACEN)
Available values: "reset license" and "reset license and ban"
"reset license" - protection code will reset existing license and close application. Next time application is run it will automatically try to get new license from Activation center.
"reset license and ban" - protection code will reset existing license, ban remote computer (!) from accessing Activation center and close application. Next time application is run it will display AWS_BannedError ("License can not be activated on this computer!"). Ban is set locally and not in ACEN so in case end user formats computer and reinstall software application will try to get new activation code from Activation center.
Please refer to "REMOTE PROTECTION: ACEN Web licensing: Options" chapter in product manual for detailed information about each option.
[+] Web licensing settings added to protection wizard.
[*] Improved handling of tls (thread local storage) for 32/64 bit Windows applications.
[*] Improved handling of multiple protection layers for .NET applications.
[!] "Limit number of application instances" was ignored in case of specific combination of options with PLAIN protection. Fixed.
[!] PC Guard Win64/.NET64: Fixed problem with "Limit number of application instances" feature on some 64bit operating systems (std error was displayed).
[!] Few other minor bug fixes.
[>] Product manul includes new web licensing chapters:
REMOTE PROTECTION: ACEN Web licensing: Requirements
REMOTE PROTECTION: ACEN Web licensing: Overview
REMOTE PROTECTION: ACEN Web licensing: Activation center settings
REMOTE PROTECTION: ACEN Web licensing: Options
[>] In case of web licensing, protected application requires the following additional modules:
1. ACEN web service interface modules:
These files are included in full featured version of PC Guard.
2. Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable files (msvcp100.dll and msvcr100.dll)
If "Auto copy required modules" option is enabled in System settings PC Guard will automatically copy required modules including MS VC++ redistributable files to target directory during protection process.
[>] Interface dll has been updated. Please be sure to update existing version with this one.
