Activate and Maintain your GED Manufacturing Licenses

The following are the different options to activate your GE product licenses:

Activate and maintain licenses by connecting clients to GED’s Cloud License Server

When to choose this option: This is the simplest way to activate GE product licenses in your online computer (physical machine) and is recommended unless central management or support for virtual machines are required.

Use this option when the computer (physical machine or virtual machine) with GE Cloud License Server is connected to internet.

How it works: You must connect to GED’s Cloud License Server to activate your licenses on the client computer. This is a one-time connection. Options for both online and offline license clients are available. The License Client does not need to stay connected to the GE Cloud License Server; you only need to connect again if you choose to Return or Refresh your activation from the License Client.

Refer to: Activating Licenses on a Computer Connected to the GE Cloud License Server to activate licenses on a computer connected to the GE Cloud License Server.

Activate and maintain licenses on a Local License Server

When to choose this option: Local license servers enable you to manage and distribute licenses from a central machine on your network. They are also required if you are running your licensed GE applications on virtual machines. You can host the license server on the same computer.

You must use this option when the computer (physical machine or virtual machine) with Local License Server is connected to internet.

How it works: You will install the GE Common Licensing software on a local machine, then make a one-time connection to the GED Cloud License Server to load licenses onto your Local License Server. Client computers then connect to the Local License Server and lease their licenses. License Clients must remain connected to the Local License Server to renew their leased licenses every few hours. If a License Client is unable to connect, you will receive the warning message: This License is about to expire. After 21 days (this limit is configurable) of activating GE licenses, the License Client will lose its activation lease, you cannot run the licensed application(s) and the activation will automatically be returned to the Local License Server.

Refer to: Activating Licenses on a Computer Connected to a Local License Server to activate Licenses on a computer connected to a Local License Server.

Activate and maintain licenses using a GE USB Hardware key

When to choose this option: Use this option when your physical or virtual computers are not connected to internet or intranet. Also, if the license key is tied to a USB device (so it is easy to ship to remote locations or move between the devices).

How it works: There are two types of GE USB Hardware keys:
  • Non-configurable GE USB Hardware keys are pre-loaded with the licensing information for your products. You cannot modify the licensing information contained in these keys. However, if you need additional licenses, you can purchase them from GE and then re-flash keys with an image file (supplied by GE) that overwrites all existing information and replaces it with updated licensing information.
  • Configurable GE USB Hardware keys are plugged into a computer connected to the internet to activate licenses on the USB stick from the GE Cloud License Server.
    Note: The GE USB Hardware keys cannot be activated from a Local License Server. Any license changes, upgrades, or returns require the hardware key to be plugged into a computer connected to the internet, and to ensure that the GE Cloud License Server can be accessed.

Refer to: Activating Licenses on a Computer with a GE USB Hardware Key Inserted to activate Licenses on a computer connected to GE USB Hardware key.

Licensing Methods Comparison Table

The following table provides a quick comparison of the licensing methods as described above:

Table 1. Licensing Methods
GE Cloud License Server Local License Server Non-Configurable USB Hardware key Configurable USB Hardware key
Client type Physical Machine Physical Machine or VM Physical Machine or VM Physical Machine or VM
Network access
  • One-time client access to internet for activation, changes, updates, or return
  • Clients with no direct internet access can use offline activation process*
  • One-time server access to internet; Continuous, reliable client access to local network
  • License Servers with no direct internet access can use offline activation process*
 None One-time client access to internet for activation, changes, updates, or return.
Number of clients Unlimited <100 clients per server Each USB Hardware key may only have up to one copy of each GE Manufacturing product.
Additional considerations This option does not provide centralized license management for multiple clients.
  • Enables centralized license management for multiple clients
  • Distributed/remote client networks may impact the required client-server connectivity.
 Changes, updates, or additional licenses require USB to be re-flashed using an image file provided by GE. USB Hardware keys cannot be activated from a Local License Server.
Note: *In the offline activation process, license activation information is copied to/from the GE Cloud License Server using another computer with internet access.