Licensing
Softing's OPC, FDT/DTM, PROFINET and other products and their scalable features are licensed and managed following a uniform concept. Following options are supported to address different customer needs:
- Node-locked license with software key
- Portable license with dongle for USB port
- Software license on Softing interface cards
All options are managed by the Softing License Manager. OPC, FDT/DTM, PROFINET products and is scalable functionality (features) need to be activated via the License Manager.
The License Manager is a stand alone application, which will be installed with the setup of a Softing product in the directory C:\Programs\Common Files\Softing\License Manager including an entry in the Windows start menu.
Software Key
The OPC Toolkit development licenses include a license key which activates the product indefinitely on one computer when it is entered in the Softing License Manager.
The driver, server, OPC Easy Connect and FDT/DTM products and runtime licenses of OPC Toolkits come with a temporary key which temporarily activates the product (e.g., for 14 days) when it is entered in the Softing License Manager. With the Softing License Manager, a node-locked installation key (fingerprint of the computer) is generated and exchanged with Softing for the final activation key. An exact description of this process can be found in the online help for the Softing License Manager.
Hardware Dongle
As an alternative to the software key, you can acquire one or more product licenses in a portable dongle for an extra charge. Softing offers the following dongles for USB interfaces:
LIC-USB-1
USB dongle for one product, only in combination with the corresponding product license
LIC-USB-X
USB dongle for multiple products e.g., DTM-PB-S, DTM-PALINK-1 or OPC-EC-BCL, OPC-PB and OPC-MODB-TCP only in combination with the corresponding product licenses
Software License on Softing Interface Cards
Some software products that can be purchased bundled with a Softing interface card (e.g., PROFIBUS OPC server with PROFIusb interface card) contain a software license on the interface card and can be used together with the hardware without requiring prior activation.