To activate the product:

Launch the product that you want to activate. The activation wizard opens. Use this wizard to enter your activation code.

To set up a node-locked license of the product:

See "Installing and Configuring a Node-Locked License of the Standalone Build" on page 11 of the Revenera Product Download and License Guide for InstallShield 2021 and Later (Subscription) (PDF).

This type enables sharing or floating of licenses among a maximum number of simultaneous users. The product on each user's machine must be connected to a Cloud License Server (CLS) that your organization got from Revenera. This license type requires you to specify the Cloud License Server Instance ID, which is available in the Flexera / Revenera Product and License Center

To set up the Cloud License Server (CLS):

See Concurrent License with Cloud License Server (CLS).

To connect a machine that has the product to the license server:

See Connecting Machines to Your Cloud License Server (CLS).

This type enables sharing or floating of licenses among a maximum number of simultaneous users. The product on each user's machine must be connected to a license server that your organization sets up. This license type requires you to activate the licenses on the license server using an activation code, which is available through the Flexera / Revenera Product and License Center.

The license server software enables users to borrow a license for InstallShield from the license server for a specified number of days. Using a borrowed license enables you to use the product while being disconnected from the same network as the license server.

To set up the license server:

See Setting Up Your License Server for Concurrent Licenses.

To connect a machine that has the product to the license server:

See Connecting Machines to Your License Server.

To learn how to borrow a license of InstallShield:

See Borrowing InstallShield Licenses from the License Server.

• Can I evaluate or use InstallShield without activating it or configuring the licensing?
• Can I evaluate or use the Standalone Build without configuring the licensing?
• What is the difference between the node-locked subscription and concurrent subscription licensing models for InstallShield?
• How can I obtain an activation code for my product?
• How do I determine the host ID of my machine?
• Where can I get the InstallShield subscription details?

• What is the Product and License Center?
• How do I create a new user account for myself in the Product and License Center?
• I'm having trouble downloading installations from the Product and License Center. What can I do?
• How do I add users, modify users, or remove access for users in the Product and License Center?
• How do I figure out who in my organization generated our license files?
• What Revenera technology does the Product and License Center use?

• How is a node-locked subscription license of InstallShield different than a node-locked subscription license of the Standalone Build?
• What's the best way to download my license file for the Standalone Build?
• If I'm using a node-locked subscription license, can I install the Standalone Build without setting up the licensing information at the time of the installation?
• Can I run the Standalone Build installation on my development machine silently (without the user interface) for a node-locked subscription license?
• What do I do if I obtain a new build machine? Can I move the Standalone Build and my license file to that machine?
• I generated the license file for the Standalone Build but I entered the wrong host ID. How do I regenerate the correct license file?
• Do I need to regenerate the new license file after renewing the subscription?

• What are the system requirements for the FlexNet Licensing Server?
• Can I run the Standalone Build installation on my development machine silently (without the user interface) for a concurrent subscription license?
• How do I start the FlexNet Licensing Server service?
• How do I get reports that show usage information for my organization?
• I've purchased concurrent licensing for more than one Revenera product. Can I use the same machine to manage concurrent licenses for all of these products?
• I have a FlexNet Licensing Server machine to manage concurrent licenses of an old version of a Revenera product. That machine uses lmgrd, the command-line tool. Do I need to switch to lmadmin for my new Revenera concurrent licenses?
• What do I do if I obtain a new licensing server machine? Can I move the FlexNet Licensing Server software and activate my licenses on that machine?

• What are the system requirements for the concurrent license with Cloud License Server (CLS)?
• Do we need to install and configure the Cloud License Server (CLS) in our machine?
• How can I configure InstallShield and Standalone Build with the Cloud License Server (CLS)?
• Do I need to upgrade the Cloud License Server (CLS) along with InstallShield upgrade?

The following licensing models are available for InstallShield:

• Node-locked subscription licensing—With this model, the product license is tied to a specific user and machine. 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 Revenera products' end-user license agreements (EULAs).

• Concurrent subscription licensing—This model enables sharing or floating of Revenera product licenses among multiple users; 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 license can be configured with the FlexNet Licensing Server, or with Cloud License Server (CLS). This model is available for the Premier edition of InstallShield and the Standalone Build.

If your organization purchased concurrent licenses for a Revenera product with FlexNet Licensing Server, you need to set up the FlexNet Licensing Server in your organization, and connect your product to the licensing server that you are using. Subsequently, every time that you start a Revenera product 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 a Revenera product.

If your organization purchased concurrent licenses for a Revenera product with Cloud License Server (CLS), you need to connect your product to the Cloud License Server (CLS) that you got from Revenera. Subsequently, every time that you start a Revenera product 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 a Revenera product.

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

The host ID that the Flexera / Revenera Product and License Center requires you to enter when you are acquiring a node-locked license file for the Standalone Build is the machine's MAC address, which is also called the physical address or Ethernet address.

If you are installing the Standalone Build and you select the node-locked license option, one of the installation dialogs displays the host ID of the machine on which you are running the installation.

You can also download the following tool and launch it on any Windows-based system to determine its host ID:

FlexNetHostIDExe.exe

Launching that tool displays a window that shows the host ID and lets you copy it to the Clipboard:

To manually determine the host ID of a specific machine:

1. Open a Command Prompt window.
2. At the command prompt, enter the following command:

ipconfig /all

Configuration information is displayed in the Command Prompt window.



3. In the Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection section, look at the Physical Address value.

This physical address value is the host ID of your machine. Use this value (without the dashes) when you are obtaining a license file from the Product and License Center.

The Flexera / Revenera Product and License Center is where you perform InstallShield-related tasks such as the following:

• Download the installations for the products that you purchased. This includes InstallShield, redistributable files (for example, InstallShield prerequisites and InstallScript objects); add-ons (if you are entitled to them) such as the Standalone Build and the InstallShield MSI Tools; the FlexNet Licensing server software (if you purchased concurrent licenses and you need to set up your organization's licensing server); and InstallShield service packs (if available).
• Obtain the activation code for the FlexNet Licensing Server (if you purchased concurrent licenses and you need to set up your organization's licensing server).
• Obtain the Cloud License Server (CLS) ID for the Cloud Server (if you purchased concurrent licenses and you need to configure the Cloud License Server (CLS) in the InstallShield machine).

The Product and License Center offers several methods for downloading products. Examples include:

• Browser FTP—The file is transferred using FTP via a Web browser. This is the default method.
• HTTPS—The file is transferred using encrypted HTTP via a Web browser.
• Command-Line FTP—The file is transferred using FTP via a DOS prompt or UNIX shell.
• Download Manager—This applet-based download lets you select multiple or individual files for download via the Download Manager. All files are saved to a single location on your machine.

If you are having trouble using one method to download the product, you may want to try a different method. For example, if the browser FTP method does not work because your organization's firewall blocks FTP, you may want to try the HTTPS method.

To change the available download options for all download links and buttons that are displayed for your user account in the Product and License Center:

1. In the left navigation under Administration, click Download Preferences.
2. Select the check boxes for the download methods that you want to be displayed whenever you are presented with a download link or button in the Product and License Center.

To change the available download options for a specific download in the Product and License Center:

1. In the left navigation under Entitlements, click Product List. The Product List page shows all of the product lines to which your account is entitled. If you do not have access to multiple products, clicking the Product List link opens the Product Information page directly.
2. If the Product List page shows multiple products, click the InstallShield link. The Product Information page opens.
3. Find the item that you want to download, and then in the Description column, click the license link for that item. The Product Download page opens.
4. Find the item that you want to download, and click the Advanced Download Options link for that item. The Advanced Download Options page opens.
5. Select the appropriate option.

To look up who generated license files and see details about those license files:

1. In the left navigation under Entitlements, click View Licenses by Member. The View Licenses by Member page opens. It shows a table that lists all of the users at your organization who generated license files.
2. Click the email address of a member to see details about the license files that the member generated.

The Product and License Center uses FlexNet Operations, an electronic software delivery service that gives software producers and high-tech manufacturers the power to cost-effectively distribute their products to customers worldwide.

For more information on FlexNet Operations, see the Revenera Web site:
https://www.revenera.com/monetize/products/entitlement-management/flexnet-operations.html

The following table highlights the main differences.

Yes, you can run the Standalone Build silently from the command line if you purchased concurrent licenses. Use the following command-line statement:

setup.exe /s /v"LICENSETYPE=3 CLOUDSERVER=ServerID /qn"

In the above statement, the value of 3 for the LICENSETYPE property indicates that you are using a Cloud License Server (CLS) concurrent license of the Standalone Build. ServerID represents the the Cloud License Server ID of the machine that you got from Revenera, also available in the Flexera / Revenera Product and License Center.

Yes, you can install the Standalone Build without specifying the licensing information during the installation. For example, if your build machine is not connected to the Internet, you may want to install the Standalone Build on your build machine; you would need to obtain the license file for your build machine on a different Internet-connected machine. Once you have obtained the license file, you can manually add it to the proper location on your build machine. The license file must be called License.lic, and it must be added to the System folder in the Standalone Build Program Files folder:

Standalone Build Program Files Folder\System\License.lic

Yes, you can run the Standalone Build silently from the command line if you purchased a node-locked license. Use the following command-line statement:

setup.exe /s /v"LICENSETYPE=1 IS_BROWSE_FILEBROWSED=C:\license.lic /qn"

In the above statement, the value of 1 for the LICENSETYPE property indicates that you are using a node-locked license of the Standalone Build. The value of the IS_BROWSE_FILEBROWSED property should be the path to the license file that you want to use for the Standalone Build.

If you obtain a replacement build machine, you can move your license from your old build machine to your new build machine. In order to move your license to your new build machine, you must first return your license to your account in the Product and License Center. Returning the license makes it available again so that you can obtain a new license file for a different machine.

Note that there is a limit to the number of times that you can return a license: you can return a license only one time per entitlement per year. An entitlement is the purchase of the Standalone Build (or of a product, such as InstallShield Premier Edition, that includes the Standalone Build).

To return a license in the Product and License Center:

1. In the left navigation under Entitlements, click Product List. The Product List page shows all of the product lines to which your account is entitled. If you do not have access to multiple products, clicking the Product List link opens the Product Information page directly.
2. If the Product List page shows multiple products, click the InstallShield link. The Product Information page opens.
3. Find the item that you want to return, and then in the Description column, click the license link for that item. The Product Download page opens.
4. Click the License Keys link. The License Information page opens. It shows the licenses that have been generated for the selected license.
5. Find the license that you want to return, and click its Return button. Note that if you or someone in your organization has already returned a license for the entitlement that is associated with the selected license, the Return button is not displayed.

The Product and License Center processes your return request and refreshes the License Information page so that the license you returned is no longer displayed. Now you can generate a new license for the new build machine. You can also install the Standalone Build and the new license file on your new machine.

You can follow the same return-the-license procedure that is described in the previous question.

NOTE: There is a limit to the number of times that you can return a license: you can return a license only one time per entitlement per year.

Yes, you need to generate the license file to reflect the new subscription duration in the license file.

The FlexNet Licensing Server software manages license check-out and check-in requests from users who have concurrent licenses. If you have purchased concurrent licenses of a Revenera product, you need to install the FlexNet Licensing Server software on a machine in your environment.

When you are determining which machine to use as the FlexNet Licensing Server, note the following:

• Machine selection—The FlexNet Licensing Server machine can be any machine in your network. Typically, the licensing server system components reside on a central machine in the network.
  • The FlexNet Licensing Server machine can have other applications running on it; it does not need to be dedicated to running only the FlexNet Licensing Server. However, for a high-traffic, high-license-count environment, and a more reliable system, it is better to have a dedicated machine.
  • The FlexNet Licensing Server machine should remain on at all times so that users can access it at all times.
  • Triad server clusters are not supported.
• Supported operating systems—The FlexNet Licensing Server machine must be a Windows-based machine. The following versions of Windows are supported: Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012.

  NOTE: Although the FlexNet Licensing Server has support for other operating systems, concurrent licensing for InstallShield 2014 and later and its add-ons requires one of the aforementioned specific versions of Windows.

• Networking—The FlexNet Licensing Server machine must be able to communicate with the Revenera product through a TCP/IP port. A valid number is any unused port number between 0 and 64000. The default port range is 27000 through 27009. You may need to adjust your firewall settings to allow this communication.
• Required software—The license server manager that is installed as part of the FlexNet Licensing Server installation is lmadmin, the Web-based application. lmgrd, the command-line tool, is not supported.
  • Earlier versions of the FlexNet Licensing Server software must be uninstalled before the new version (the one that is available for InstallShield 2014 and later) can be installed.
  • lmadmin can be used in the following Web browsers: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8, 9, or 10.

Yes, you can run the Standalone Build silently from the command line if you purchased concurrent licenses. Use the following command-line statement:

setup.exe /s /v"LICENSETYPE=2 SERVERNAME=MyServer PORTNUMBER=1234 /qn"

In the above statement, the value of 2 for the LICENSETYPE property indicates that you are using a concurrent license of the Standalone Build. MyServer represents the name of the machine that has the FlexNet Licensing Server software; 1234 represents the custom port number (if one is used). In most cases, the PORTNUMBER=1234 part should be omitted from the command-line statement.

You can start the Windows service for the FlexNet Licensing Server by using Services in the Administrative Tools area of the Control Panel. The default name of the service is:

FlexNet Licensing Server Manager

(The name of the service is configurable when you are installing the FlexNet Licensing Server.)

The FlexNet Licensing Server can save a report log file that contains feature usage information. To create a report log file and view reports, you need to purchase Flexera's software license administration solution, FlexNet Manager. FlexNet Manager provides exceptional visibility into license usage data and helps you create insightful reports on critical information like license availability and usage.

For more information on FlexNet Manager, see the Flexera Web site:

https://www.flexera.com/products/flexnet-manager.html

Yes, you must switch to lmadmin.

To switch from lmgrd to lmadmin, you must first uninstall the earlier version of the FlexNet Licensing Server. Then install the latest version, which has lmadmin. You can obtain the latest version of the FlexNet Licensing Server software from the Product and License Center. For instructions on how to do this, see "Setting Up a Concurrent License Server" on page 14 of the Revenera Product Download and License Guide for InstallShield 2021 and Later (Subscription) (PDF).

Note that lmgrd and lmadmin should not be installed on the same machine.

The InstallShield machine must be connected to the Internet always to check out a license from the Cloud License Server (CLS) hosted in the Revenera FlexNet Cloud Licensing Service.

No, you do not need to install and activate the Cloud License Server (CLS) in your environment. The Cloud License Server (CLS) is hosted in the Revenera FlexNet Cloud Licensing Service. You only need to get the Cloud License Server ID from the Flexera / Revenera Product and License Center and configure InstallShield and Standalone Build to check out the license from the Cloud License Server (CLS).

InstallShield can be configured through the Activation Wizard, by selecting the Cloud License Server (CLS) option. The Standalone Build installer asks for the License Type during the installation. Select the Cloud License Server (CLS) option.

More information on configuring the Cloud License Server (CLS) can be found at Connecting Machines to Your Cloud License Server (CLS).

No, you do not need to upgrade the Cloud License Server (CLS) with an InstallShield upgrade.

The FlexNet Licensing Server machine can be any machine in your network. Typically, the licensing server system components reside on a central machine in the network.

• The FlexNet Licensing Server machine can have other applications running on it; it does not need to be dedicated to running only the FlexNet Licensing Server. However, for a high-traffic, high-license-count environment, and a more reliable system, it is better to have a dedicated machine.
• The FlexNet Licensing Server machine should remain on at all times so that users can access it at all times.
• Triad server clusters are not supported.

The FlexNet Licensing Server machine must be a Windows-based machine. The following versions of Windows are supported: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.

NOTE: Although the FlexNet Licensing Server has support for other operating systems, concurrent licensing for InstallShield 2014 and later and its ad-ons requires one of the aforementioned specific versions of Windows.

The license server manager that is installed as part of the FlexNet Licensing Server installation is lmadmin, the Web-based application. lmgrd, the command-line tool, is not supported.

• Earlier versions of the FlexNet Licensing Server software must be uninstalled before the new version (the one that is available for InstallShield 2014 and later) can be installed.
• lmadmin can be used in the following Web browsers: Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 and Microsoft Edge.