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Autodesk's New Product Activation Technology for Administrators

Jerry Milana

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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.