This page gives details on how to borrow licenses when you're temporarily not able to access the online licensing system.


Overview


The licensing system includes a way to "borrow" a license for offline use for a period of up to two weeks. Borrowing a license means you can still have access to your Chaos software without needing an internet connection or a USB dongle.

Borrowing a license reserves one of your floating licenses, making it unavailable to others until you release it. It is recommended that you borrow a license only when absolutely necessary. Dongle licenses cannot be borrowed at this time.

Using borrowed licenses during the borrow period does not require an internet connection. However, internet connection is required to release or re-borrow the licenses.


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Borrowing Process


1) Open http://127.0.0.1:30304 in a browser and click on the Online Licensing menu > Use licenses offline button.





2) Click Next in the wizard to start.





3) Select the products you want to use while this license server is disconnected from the internet. Enter the number of machines you plan on using with these products and click Preview.





4) Preview and adjust the precise number of licenses to borrow. Click the Borrow button to borrow the selected number of licenses.

You can use your borrowed licenses for 14 days without internet connection. Their renewal happens automatically. However, the renewal process requires internet connection at least once in the last 3 days of the borrow period. From the moment you renew the license, an additional 14 day borrow period begins. Therefore, if you borrowed the license on June 1st and renewed it on June 11th, you can use the offline license until June 25th.




5) Finally, you can see your borrowed licenses and their expiration dates. Click the Close button to return to the main menu. 





Releasing Licenses


Releasing licenses is useful in a few cases, for instance when you borrow licenses on one license server instance, but actually need them on another one. Or if you need fewer borrowed licenses than the ones you currently have. Or if your borrowed licenses get stuck on the backend of a certain FLP instance due to a broken certificate.

To release a borrowed license, open http://127.0.0.1:30304 in a browser and click on the Online Licensing menu. Then click the RELEASE button to release any borrowed licenses.

Releasing licenses requires an internet connection.

If you deactivate your Online Licensing, the borrowed licenses will be released!



Borrowing Licenses Without Internet Connection


You can borrow licenses even when the machine that is running the license server has no internet connection. You can instead use another machine that has internet connection to log into my.chaosgroup.com with your Chaos credentials and specify the products for which you need to borrow licenses. A file is then available for download from your account. You need to upload the file to your license server.

Licenses can be borrowed only from an already activated license server. See the License Setup page for information on how to activate the Chaos License Server.


To activate your License Server without an internet connection, follow the steps from the expandable section below. For a visual guide, watch the video. One the activation is successful, you can borrow licenses for offline use.


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1) On the machine without internet connection, open the http://127.0.0.1:30304 page in a browser.
2) From the expandable menu of Online licensing, go to Offline activation.




3) Press the Activate offline button.




4) Download your activation request file (cert.crs).




5) Use another machine with an internet connection to log into my.chaosgroup.com with your Chaos credentials. Go to Licensing > License Servers and press Activate License Server.





6) Name your license server and click Next.




7) Upload the activation request file you downloaded in step 4 and click Activate.





8) Download your Activation file (cert.crt).




9) On the machine without an internet connection, in your http://127.0.0.1:30304 page, upload your Activation file (cert.crt) and press Upload.




10) Your site is now successfully activated.







1) Log into my.chaosgroup.com with your Chaos credentials from the machine with an internet connection. On the License Servers tab of the page, choose a workstation from the list, for which you wish to reserve offline licenses.





2) Click Borrow license in the Borrowed licenses section.





3) Select the products you want to use. Enter the number of machines you plan on using with these products and click Preview





4) Preview and adjust the precise number of licenses to borrow. Click the Borrow button to borrow the selected number of licenses. 





5) Click Download offline license file





6) On the machine that is running the license server, open http://127.0.0.1:30304 in a browser and click on the Online Licensing menu > Use licenses offline at the top right corner.





7) Upload the offline license .bin file and click the Upload button.





8) Once the file is validated, your borrowed licenses are also listed on your license server's home page.




Editing Borrowed Licenses


If you want to change the number of borrowed licenses, you have to upload a new offline file. Note that you do not need to release the licenses you already have to borrow new ones.

The Edit Borrowed Licenses button only allows you to add new licenses. You cannot delete any already borrowed licenses.

1) To add new licenses, log into my.chaosgroup.com with your Chaos credentials from a machine with an internet connection.

2) From the Licensing tab, go to License Servers, click on your license server, and press Edit Borrowed Licenses.



3) If you want to increase the number of borrowed licenses you, click on the up arrows. If you want to borrow licenses for new products, you can use the Add more licenses drop-down menu. When you are ready, press Borrow.



4) Repeat steps 4-8 from the Borrowing Licenses without Internet connection section.