Licensing Options

InstallShield 2021 offers subscription licensing with two different types of licensing:

Node-locked subscription licensing—With this model, the product license is tied to a specific user and machine for the subscription duration entitled. This model is the traditional option and the one that is most often purchased.

If you are using the node-locked type of license, it is your responsibility to maintain your license on your machine. Sharing this type of license between multiple users does not comply with the InstallShield EULA.

Concurrent subscription licensing with License Server—This model enables sharing or floating of InstallShield licenses between multiple users for the subscription duration the concurrent license is entitled; it is also sometimes called floating licensing. Concurrent licensing can provide you with greater flexibility and cost efficiency than the traditional node-locked licensing. InstallShield concurrent subscription licensing can be configured with the FlexNet License Server, or with Cloud License Server (CLS). This model is only available for the Premier edition of InstallShield and the Standalone Build.

If your organization purchased concurrent licenses for InstallShield, you need to specify the Cloud License Server (CLS) instance ID when you install InstallShield on your machine, and enter the Hosted Server ID that you received from Revenera. The Cloud License Server (CLS) instance is hosted in the Revenera FlexNet Cloud Licensing Service that holds license rights for use by InstallShield. Subsequently, every time that you start InstallShield on your machine, the Cloud License Server (CLS) is queried to verify that the required license is available. If the license is available, you are granted access to InstallShield. No product activation is required with concurrent licensing.

Or if your organization purchased concurrent FlexNet License Server for InstallShield, you need to identify the license server that you are using when you install InstallShield on your machine. Subsequently, every time that you start InstallShield on your machine, the server is queried to verify that the required license is available. If the license is available, you are granted access to InstallShield. No product activation is required with concurrent licensing.

To learn more about these different licensing models and determine which option best fits your requirements, contact your InstallShield sales representative.