TOC Previous Next Index   Easysoft Homepage
       

The License Manager


Guide to the Easysoft License Manager

Products in the Easysoft Data Access 2000 range running on the Windows platforms all ship with the Easysoft License Manager, which provides a consistent interface for applying for, receiving and deleting licenses to use Easysoft software.

This appendix provides an overview and guides you through the task of adding licenses with the license manager.

Chapter Guide

Easysoft Licensing Overview

Easysoft software is set up so that it is possible to complete the installation process without having obtained a license. Some of our products can be used without a license, but most will not operate until you activate one of the two types of license:

A trial license is free, but comes with certain built-in limitations. Commonly, this will be a fixed expiry date or a limit on the number of concurrent sessions allowed. This license is designed for beta testers and customers wishing to evaluate Easysoft products.

A purchase license, as the name implies, is a license that you purchase from Easysoft. A purchase license has fewer restrictions and enables the software to be used in your production system.

NB
Only the license is purchased. The software product itself always remains the property of Easysoft.

The License Manager and License Server

The License Manager runs on the machine that you are running the software on. It handles license verification requests from Easysoft software.

The License Server runs on a machine at Easysoft. The License Manager on your PC contacts the License Server when you request or apply licenses. No marketing information is passed to Easysoft; only your contact details and license request identifier.

The trial license

The trial license is very simple. When you request one, the Easysoft License Manager generates a number based on the software you wish to evaluate and some other factors. This number is sent to the Easysoft License Server which grants the license, unless for instance it is already in use or has expired.

The Purchase License

To activate a Purchase License, you must commit to paying the purchase price. This is easily achieved via the Easysoft website http://www.easysoft.com/. Alternatively, you can phone, fax or email sales@easysoft.com -- see This Appendix, for further details.

When you purchase a license, you are given an Authorisation Number. The Authorisation Number acts like a receipt -- you give it to the Easysoft License Manager when you request a purchase license, and it allows the License Manager to verify the purchase you just made with the License Server.


Starting the License Manager in Windows

1. Select:

Start > Programs > Easysoft > Easysoft Data Access 2000 Licensing > License Manager.

The License Manager window appears.

2. Enter your contact details if they are missing. You should include at least your name, email and company name. The telephone and facsimile fields are important if you want us to contact you by those methods.

You are now ready to request or activate licenses. If you wish to activate a license you have already requested, then refer to Activating an Existing License.


To Request a Trial or Purchase License

3. Click Request License. You are asked for a license type.

The next step depends on the type of license you want.

4. If you are installing the software on an evaluation basis you should click Trial, followed by Next. Skip to step 6.
– OR –

If you have purchased the software and obtained an authorisation code, you should select Purchase and click Next.

The License Manager requests your authorisation number.

5. Enter the authorisation number you received when you completed your purchase, and click Next. Skip to step 7.
6. The License Manager asks what software you are licensing.

Check that Easysoft ODBC-ODBC Bridge is selected in the drop-down list, and click Next.

7. The license manager displays a summary of the information you entered and allows you to choose the method of applying for your license.

Four options are offered here:

If you choose On-line request, then click On-line Request now. The license transaction is complete and you can skip to step 5.

– OR –

To use email, fax or phone, click E-mail Request, Print Request or View Request now.

NB
Though the on-line request is often the most efficient method, many networks' firewalls block the transmission. If you chose On-line Request and got a failure, try email instead.

8. Read the information window and close it. You are returned to the license manager window.

You must wait until you receive a reply in order to proceed with the next step. Normally this will be in a matter of seconds, so you can go straight on to the next subsection -- alternatively you can quit the License Manager and return later to activate the license.


Activating an Existing License

When Easysoft receive a valid request for a license, the License Server generates a License Key. Normally you will receive this in an email. If you can execute the attachment in the email then it will automatically activate the licenses you applied for, and you can skip the rest of this section.

If you did not receive the key by email, or for instance your company policy forbids executing attachments, then you will have to activate the license manually.

1. When you receive your License Key(s), refer to Starting the License Manager in Windows and start the license manager.
2. Click Enter License. The following dialog appears:

3. Enter your license key or keys in the box. If you received the license in an email, you can use Windows' Copy and Paste functions. You do not have to be very precise with the mouse, as this dialog will be quite tolerant of extra characters before and after the license keys.

NB
Many licenses can be activated at once in this way: simply paste all the keys into the text box in the dialog.


4. Click Apply.

A dialog box pops up to confirm that the licenses have been added.

5. Click OK.

You have activated the license or licenses. You can now quit the license manager and begin using the product.


Removing a License or Licenses

To remove a license, for instance if it has expired, follow the steps in this section.

1. Refer to Starting the License Manager in Windows and start the license manager.
2. Click Remove License.

A window appears containing a list of licenses for selection.

3. Select the licenses that you want to remove by clicking on each in turn.
4. Click Next.

The License Manager pops up a confirmation box for each license you selected.

5. Click Delete or Do Not Delete for each license.

[Top] | [Contents] | [Previous] | [Next] | [Index]

Easysoft Ltd. Easysoft - The Home of Data Access
Easysoft Ltd.