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License Mechanisms
The following license mechanisms are available for all of Skyline products. Note that HASP floating license is only available for TerraExplorer, PhotoMesh, and TerraBuilder.
Local Hardware Protection (USB Key)
A USB key is a physical hardware key delivered with the Skyline software package that plugs into the USB port of the computer – to allow the operation of the product. Verify that the USB key is plugged into the USB port before starting your Skyline application.
Local Hardware Protection (HASP Key)
In some cases, Gemalto’s HASP key solution is used instead of a USB key. The HASP key is a physical hardware key delivered with the Skyline software package that plugs into the USB port of the computer – to allow the operation of the product. Verify that the HASP key is plugged into the USB port before starting the application. To use a HASP key, the necessary driver must be downloaded and installed on your computer.
Manual Installation of the HASP Driver:
- Download the HASP driver zip file: Sentinel_LDK_Run-time_setup.
- Unzip the file to a temporary directory, and run the HASPUserSetup.exe file.
- Follow the installation wizard instructions to complete the installation.
Workstation Dependent Software License
Another type of license is the workstation dependent software license. This license does not require any hardware protection but is limited to a specific computer. Before working with the workstation dependent software license, you must first register to get a license locked to your computer. The license cannot be transferred without repeating the registration process.
Skyline Floating License Server (SFLS)
The license information can also be obtained using a floating license server which enables a number of licenses to be shared among a larger number of users. When an authorized user wants to run the Skyline application, the user requests a license from the license server, and if one is available, the license server allows the application to run. When the user finishes running the application, the license is returned to the license server for use by other users. More about: Configuring the Skyline Application to Use the Skyline Floating License Server (SFLS)> The floating license server also supports Skyline's PhotoMesh GX mechanism, which allows you to pre-purchase a bank of gigapixel credits, load them to your local Skyline Floating License Server (SFLS), and automatically apply them towards different PhotoMesh projects to allow building of all output types without watermarks. Note that this differs from the standard PhotoMesh On-Prem license where you pay per fuser with no gigapixel limit. More about: Applying Gigapixel Credits in PhotoMesh Projects >. See the SFLS Setup Guide for more information.
Floating licenses can also be “checked out” enabling them to function as machine dependent licenses, so that they require no connection to the license server when in use. The availability of licenses for checkout and the length of the check out period are defined by the licensing server. Licenses can be checked out either by the client via the License Manager, or on the server side via the Floating License Server Manager. Licenses checked out by a client can be checked back in, but licenses checked out from the server side, are permanently removed from the license pool. See the SFLS Setup Guide for more information.
HASP Floating License
In some cases, Gemalto’s NetHASP solution is used instead of Skyline's Floating License Server. The NetHASP key is a physical hardware key delivered with the Skyline software package that plugs into the USB port of the server computer along with installation of the NetHASP License Manager software. It allows a predetermined number of concurrent users on the same network to use the Skyline application, according to the license level defined by Skyline, without an individual hardware key on each of their computers.
License Manager
The License Manager allows the user to view and update the current license level.
To activate the License Manager:
- From the File menu, point to Resources, and then click License Manager. The License Manager window is displayed.
Using a Skyline Floating License Server
Configuring the Skyline Application to Use the Skyline Floating License Server (SFLS)
Each machine that is sharing the floating license for the application must be configured with the address of the Floating License Server. The Skyline Floating License should be installed on the server before configuring it on each of the machines that is sharing the license.
- Open the License Manager.
- If the Skyline Floating License received from Skyline was not used in the installation (i.e., placed next to the exe file in the installation folder), from the File menu, select Load License File, and browse to the license file.
- To set the floating license server URL, from the File menu, select Set Floating License Server. The Floating License Server dialog box is displayed.
- Enter the floating license server URL, e.g., http://<server_name>/SFLS.
- If you want to override the protection type set in the currently loaded license file for each Skyline product on the computer, select Use license server for all products on this computer.
Client-Side Checkout
To check out a license:
- Close the application for which you want to check out a license.
- Open the License Manager, and under the section for the desired application select Check Out. The Application Protection Type field will refresh and read Floating (Checked Out). When the License Server Products page is refreshed, the Checked out count will have increased by the number of licenses checked out.
To check a license back in:
- Open the License Manager and select Check In
See the SFLS Setup Guide for more information.