Install or upgrade a softkey license for a full software installation

Install or upgrade a softkey license for the full software installation on a Windows computer.

Prerequisites:

• Access to the full software installed on your project development workstation. You need to use the Protection Manager utility program (also known as Register) included with that software in order to perform this task.

• Have already purchased a valid license or license upgrade. You may purchase it when you send in the site code hardware identifier (see below), but doing so might increase your downtime. For more information, contact your software distributor. You can update any license setting (for example, product type, options), or you can upgrade the software to a new version. The cost of the update/upgrade depends on the difference between the current and new license settings.

• Administrator privileges on the computer in order to run Protection Manager.

  Note: These instructions apply only to installing or upgrading a softkey license for the full software. For other hardware and software configurations, see Locally install or upgrade a softkey license for Embedded HMI or Remotely install or upgrade a softkey license for Embedded HMI or IoT View.

These instructions apply both to installing a new softkey license and to upgrading an existing softkey license; whatever license you apply will overwrite the existing settings.

To install or upgrade a softkey license:

1. If the software is running, stop and save the open project, if applicable, then exit the software.

   The Protection Manager cannot make changes if the software is running.

2. Run Protection Manager: from the Start menu, select AVEVA Edge HMI, then select AVEVA Edge HMI Register.

   The Protection Manager program window is displayed.

   

3. Select Softkey if it is not already selected, and then click Check.

   The Softkey Settings dialog box is displayed. If you have a valid softkey license installed, the dialog box will show those settings. Otherwise, if you do not have a softkey, the status will be License not found.

   

4. Click Change License.

   The Change License dialog box is displayed.

   

5. In the Network Adapter list, select the network adapter (also called the NIC) that Protection Manager should use to generate the unique site code hardware identifier.

   This option is provided because the site code hardware identifier is generated from the network adapter's MAC address, and in some cases — for example, if the computer is running in a virtual machine or if it is connected to a VPN — the computer might have two or more network adapters that it can use. You should select the network adapter that the computer will use under normal operating conditions. If you select another network adapter and then it becomes unavailable for any reason, your softkey license will become invalid. For more information about the listed network adapters, consult the documentation for the computer and the other software installed.

   When the network adapter is selected, the site code hardware identifier is generated and displayed.

6. Send the site code hardware identifier to your software distributor.

   Typically, you will copy the site code hardware identifier to your clipboard and then paste it into an email to your software distributor. To copy it to your clipboard, select the Copy button to the right of the Site Code hardware Identifier box.

   You can also use the activation key that was provided with your software purchase to activate your license. Activating your license in this way will automatically associate the license with your customer account and return the site key activation code that you need in order to proceed, all without waiting for your software distributor to answer email. For more information, see Use your activation key to get a site key.

   Note: An activation key is not the same as a site key activation code.

7. When you receive the site key activation code from your software distributor, type or paste it in the Site Key activation Code box, and then select Authorize. Confirm when prompted.

   The new license settings are saved on the computer, and then a confirmation message is displayed.

If the new site key activation code is not validated, an error message is displayed. If that happens, confirm that you entered the site key activation code correctly. If you entered it correctly and still get an error message, contact your software distributor for further assistance.