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Autodesk's New Product Activation Technology for Administrators
Jerry Milana
IT33-1
Agenda
OverviewTechnical ConceptsInstall and Activate ScenariosTroubleshooting
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Activation At A Glance
Authorization Code
Install Run Request Code
Request Code• Unique code – changes with every authorization event• Bound to system parameters
• Primary hard drive• System time and date (Trial, Time Limited, Student)
Activation and Reactivation Code• Single use codes unique to activation event• Determines License
• Behaviour• Type• Expiration
Licensing Implementation
E-REG
Business LogicSLM NLM
product.exe
Register Today
AdLM
Commercial,Student, Term,
Educational, NFR
API
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The Good News
Transparent ExperienceTransparent Reactivation
• Limited number of times• Requires active internet connection
Worldwide Standardization of Technologies • Mature, Proven Technology
• International Autodesk Products• Worldwide Discreet Products• Adobe• Macromedia
Autodesk Q&A Site• www.autodesk.com\activation
Activation and Licensing Terminology
AdLM – Autodesk License Manager• Licensing module contains business models, technology and links to registration module
NIW – Network Installation WizardSLM – Standalone License ManagerNLM – Network License ManagerNLA(U) – Network License Authorization (Utility) Register Today – Registration moduleProduct Activation Technology (PAT)• AdLM+SLM+Register Today
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Standalone vs Network Licensing
NoNo (with active internet)Yes (without internet connection)
User Interaction to obtain license
YesNoUsage tracking
NoNo but the activation process will use the connection if available
Internet connection required
Yes but may borrow and disconnect temporarily
NoNetwork connection required
Many1Installed seats per license
NetworkStandaloneLicensing Model
Autodesk Activation & Licensing Technologies
ActivationSLM• SafeCast®
• Current technology by Macrovision• The licensing engine behind Product Activation
Network LicensingNLM• Élan
• Legacy network license management by Élan• FLEXlm
• Current network license management by Macrovision
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Activation Concepts
Activation drives product behavior• Trial• Commercial• NFR• Educational Institution • Student
Trial mode allows 30 day unrestricted functionalityActivation codes are event and machine specific!The number of automated, on-line Activation events is limited • Customers will receive a message when the limit is reached• Customers will have to call or Email Autodesk once the limit is
reached
Activation Components
Anchor • Confidential authentication mechanism • License file is validated against the Anchor• The anchor is designed to be persistent through format, image restores, etc
License File (DAT)• Contains license and product behavior information.
Portable License Utility• Allows transferring a license between machines• New version for AutoCAD 2005• Can coexist with prior PLU versions
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Help:About
Help : About : Product Information
Usage Type:In TrialCommercialEducational VersionNot For Resale VersionStudent Version
License Expiration:No ExpirationMonth,Day, YearExpired- Month,Day,Year
License Behaviour:Unregistered VersionPermanentExtendableLimited Term
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Will Survive
Application UninstallApplication ReinstallSystem Changes• BIOS flash• NIC change• Hard drive addition
Time/Date Adjustment• Non Permanent licenses limited to allow time zone and daylight
time adjustments• Excessive date/time manipulation will generate an error prior
to breaking the license
Will Not Survive
Modifying license directory or contentsPrimary Hard Drive ReplacementRebuilding O.S
• Standalone Licensing Guide provides procedures to preserve licenses if re-imaging the primary hard drive, reinstalling the operating system or replacing the primary hard drive
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Multi-Seat Standalone Licensing
One serial number for multiple seats of product• Subscription customers may have one serial number for multiple products
Empowers simplified product deployment• Network Installation Wizard (NIW)
• Creates preconfigured install images• Use one serial number for all desktops• Registration pre-entered by administrator• Automated desktop activation
– Requires active Internet connection at desktops
Portable License Utility (PLU)
Standalone Utility• Launch from Application Program Group
Used to transfer the Standalone License between machinesCreate List of ComputersExport License from one machineImport to a second machineEquivalent to moving Hardware Lock
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PLU Concepts
Round Trip• Once exported, the license must reach the target computer• There is no ‘export recall’
Verify CIC prior to exportEach event requires a new transfer code or fileYou can not use the Acad 2004 PLU• Can coexist with the Acad 2004 PLU
Emergency License• Allows AutoCAD to run for 24 hours on an exported license• 24 hour timer starts when Acad is first started under
emergency license status
Error & Transaction Logs
Activation Error Log• Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\AutoCAD2005\R16.1\ADLM\ACD2005ENUAdlm.err
PLU Error & Transaction Log• Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\PLU250\plu.log
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Process
Install
Install
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Install
Install
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Install
Install
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Install
Install
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Install
Install
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Install
Process
Activate
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Activate!
Activate
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Activate
Activate
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Activated
Activated
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Process
PLU
PLU Active License
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PLU Computer List
PLU Add Computer
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PLU Migrate Computer Lists
PLU Export License
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PLU Select Transfer File Name
PLU Exported License
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PLU Import License
PLU License Imported
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Emergency License
Activation
Troubleshooting
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Error States
Repair Pending State• Error has occurred• 7 Day grace period to Reactivate• Product will run in the interim• A second license error will end the grace period immediately
Repair Pending State Expired• End of 7 day Grace Period • Another error has occurred• No option but to obtain new Activation Code
Restoring Training Labs
Use case is documented in the SLGLicense (.dat) files must be archived per every machine and every event
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Lab and Classroom Master Imaging
1. Start with a clean machine2. Install all Autodesk products3. Reboot the image master machine4. Run your Autodesk products and Activate them5. Quit all Autodesk Products6. Delete the following folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\Software Licenses
7. Make your master imageNote: The first time this image is applied to a workstation each
Autodesk product will need to Activate. Subsequent reactivations can be avoided by following the steps detailed in the next slide.
Lab and Classroom Re-imaging
1. Quit all Autodesk products2. Make a copy of the following folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\Software Licenses
3. Apply image to the workstation4. Restore the license file folder saved in step 25. Run your Autodesk products.
Note: Never run an Autodesk product after completing step 2 until step 4 has been completed. If an Autodesk product is accidentally started then start over.
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Quick Reactivate
•Broken licenses will trigger a Quick Reactivate attempt if an active Internet connection is detected
•If successful AutoCAD starts and no more messages are displayed
•If Quick Reactivate fails or no Internet connection is active Register Today is presented
License File (.dat) DeletionFirst start error 15.1.54
Subsequent errors 9.1.4
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Ereg Cutoff
Date Manipulation
NOTE!
Date errors DO NOT occur with permanent licenses
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Sequence Error
A sequence error occurs when the license file date and time do not match the data in the anchor. Common causes are re-imaging the disk or restoring from a backup
Date Manipulation + Sequence
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System Info
Programs – Accessories – System Tools – System Information
Save as .NFO file
Disk Information
My Computer – Manage – Disk Information
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PLU Error – Transaction Log
Services Listing
License Service for AutoCAD 2004
License Service for AutoCAD 2005 Startup will be set to manualLicense Service for Autodesk License Manager
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Task Manager
Documentation
ACAD2005 Standalone Licensing Guide• Access on document tab of CD Browser (FEUI)
Autodesk Product Support Knowledgebase• http://support.autodesk.com
SLM Troubleshooting Document http://adeskftp.autodesk.com/prodsupp/autocad/files/SLM Troubleshooting Document 2004.doc
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Home Work
Install and activate AutoCAD 2005• View the Help - About - Product Information dialog
Make sure that AutoCAD is not runningMove your license file to your desktopUnplug your Internet (network) connectionAttempt to start AutoCAD and observe messagesFill out an SLM Troubleshooting Information Document on your computer
• Include all attachmentsReattach to InternetReplace your license fileRetry AutoCAD and notice automatic repairUse the PLU to transfer the license to a second computer and backNote: These exercises will cause a reactivation and will reduce the number of
automated reactivations available you. So, limit the number of times you do the above steps.