If the PROMOTIC application, by its size (number of variables), exceeds the limitations for PROMOTIC freeware:
then it is necessary to purchase the corresponding PROMOTIC licence in order to continue developing or running the application.
All licence components including the prices are published in the
PROMOTIC system pricelist.
The PROMOTIC system licences can be ordered on various carriers.
PROMOTIC licence carrier types:
hwkey - Hardware (USB) licence key
Hardware (USB) licence key is the most commonly used licence carrier. The
PmDevProf - PROMOTIC development environment licence is distributed exclusively on this carrier and it is also the most frequently used way of licencing the
PROMOTIC runtime for applications.
The main advantage of this licence carrier is its mobility – the user can move this licence key as needed from one computer to another.
The PROMOTIC application can access the licences on this carrier either
directly (default setting), or via the
local PmLicServer licence server
Detailed description of remote application usage via Windows remote desktop using
RDP protocol - see
PROMOTIC system and Windows remote desktop (RDP)).
The number of running applications is monitored in the
RDP mode.
The licences contained in the HW Key can later be extended easily by:
[Licence]
Medium=hwkey:k1234
swkey - Software licence key (.swk) bound to specific components of the Windows OS
Software licence key (.swk) bound to specific components of the Windows OS contains the software licence. This licence file is non-transferable and bound to specific components of the
Windows OS of the target computer.
This carrier is suitable when working via Windows Remote Desktop (using the
RDP protocol) and also in situations when for operational or other reasons, hardware key cannot be used - for example when using virtual computers with no access to USB ports see
PROMOTIC system and virtual computers.
The PROMOTIC application can access this type of licence carrier
directly.
The number of running applications is always monitored.
[Licence]
Medium=swkey:Pm1234.swk
This PROMOTIC licence carrier type is bound with the
Windows operating system of the target computer and cannot be simply relocated from one operating system to another.
The change of binding of the licence to the Windows operating system can be done only once every 2 years. In order to change such binding, new carrier (.swk file) must be generated and purchased. The original content of the licences will be transferred to this new carrier (
.swk file).
netkey - Network licence key
Network licence key contains network licences and is provided via the
licence server PmLicServer. This licence file is bound to a specific
PmLicServer licence server.
This carrier is suitable when working via Windows Remote Desktop (using the
RDP protocol) and also in situations when for operational or other reasons, hardware key cannot be used
The
PmLicServer service can be running on any computer that is accessible (for other computers) in the network and has one free USB port. This USB port is necessary for connecting a HW Key (that contains no licences) that is used for licencing the licence server. One licence server can provide multiple PROMOTIC licences in the network.
The PROMOTIC application can access this type of licence carrier only via the
network PmLicServer licence server.
The number of running applications is always monitored.
[Licence]
Medium=netkey:http://192.168.1.2:5656/Pm1234.swk
The licence carrier setting for the application is done in the
Application.ini file, see
Description of keys in the [Licence] section.
For easier access to the configuration use the "
PROMOTIC settings" configuration window, see
Settings of the list of PROMOTIC licence carriers.
PmLicServer licence server setting:
The
PmLicServer licence server is configured in the configuration file
PmLicServer.ini and can be operated in two modes:
1) Network mode for accessing the carrier(s): netkey
2) Local mode for accessing the carriers(s): hwkey and swkey
Caution!
The PROMOTIC application periodically checks whether the licence carrier is available. This is valid for all licence carrier types and all access methods.
If the connection of the application with the licence is interrupted then a countdown starts. During this countdown, the application is still running, but indicates licence connection loss, see
Behavior of the PROMOTIC application when the connection with the licence server is lost.