Introduction
vSEC:CMS offers both perpetual and subscription licensing models. While you decide on one of these models before initial activation of your system, you can switch between them later if your needs change. This article explains how both models work and how to transition from one to the other.
Activate License
When you first set up vSEC:CMS, it operates in evaluation mode. To transition to a production environment, you will need to activate your license. This section describes the different activation methods available to you.
Before you begin, ensure you have received your activation code from your provider.
Online Activation
To perform an online activation, the vSEC:CMS server must have an active internet connection. This allows the system to securely connect to Versasec's licensing services and validate your activation code.
The instructions in this section are applicable when applying either a perpetual or subscription licensing model.
You can activate your license at one of two stages:
During initial setup: Enter the activation code during the System Owner (SO) setup wizard (see the details here).
Post-installation: Go to Options > License and apply the activation code at any time.
Online Activation from SO Setup
If the license activation is performed when creating the SO simply enable the activation option and enter the activation code as provided by your provider. When you click Add the SO credential will be created. Once this is complete you will get a summary dialog. Then the license activation will be preformed.
Online Activation from Options - License Page
If the license activation is performed post SO creation, where the license activation step was not performed, then go to Options - License and apply the activation code.
Offline Activation
Offline activation is required when the vSEC:CMS server lacks internet access. In this environment, you must copy the system's activation file to an internet-connected machine to securely validate it with Versasec's licensing services. Once validated, you transfer the completed license file back to the vSEC:CMS server to finalize the process.
The instructions in this section are applicable when applying either a perpetual or subscription licensing model.
You can activate your license at one of two stages:
During initial setup: Enter the activation code during the System Owner (SO) setup wizard (see the details here).
Post-installation: Go to Options > License and apply the activation code at any time.
Offline Activation from SO Setup
If you are activating the license while creating the SO:
Enable the activation option.
Enter the activation code provided by your vendor.
(Optional) Select Create activation offline request if your system has internet access but you still need to generate an offline request.
When you click Add the SO credential will be created. Once this is complete you will get a summary dialog. Then the license activation will be preformed. Since the system is offline a popup dialog similar to below will appear.
Click Yes and save the offline activation file. You can close the vSEC:CMS Admin console at this point. Copy this file to a host that has internet access and navigate to this page https://versasec.com/license/validation. Follow the on-screen instructions to upload the file and donwload it once Versasec's licensing system has validated and generated the final activation license file. Copy this file back to your vSEC:CMS server.
Navigate to Options - License and click the View License button. This will popup a dialog similar to below. For the Waiting for response entry click the blue link as highlighted in below example.
You will be prompted to select the final activation license file to complete the offline license activation.
Offline Activation from Options - License Page
If the license activation is performed post SO creation, where the license activation step was not performed, then go to Options - License and apply the activation code.
Enter the activation code provided by your vendor.
(Optional) Select Create activation offline request if your system has internet access but you still need to generate an offline request.
Click Ok.
As the vSEC:CMS is offline you will see a dialog similar to below.
Click Yes and save the offline activation file. You can close the vSEC:CMS Admin console at this point. Copy this file to a host that has internet access and navigate to this page https://versasec.com/license/validation. Follow the on-screen instructions to upload the file and donwload it once Versasec's licensing system has validated and generated the final activation license file. Copy this file back to your vSEC:CMS server.
Navigate to Options - License and click the View License button. This will popup a dialog similar to below. For the Waiting for response entry click the blue link as highlighted in below example.
You will be prompted to select the final activation license file to complete the offline license activation.
Switch from Perpetual to Subscription
It is possible to switch your licensing model from perpetual to subsciption based model. The process to make this switch will vary depending on whether your vSEC:CMS server has internet access (online) or not (offline).
vSEC:CMS Server - Online
If your vSEC:CMS server is online, i.e. it has access to the internet, then follow the simple instructions in this section to make the switch to subscription model.
Navigate to Options - License and select Activate Subscription. A popup dialog like below will appear. Click Yes to complete the switch.
vSEC:CMS Server - Offline
If your vSEC:CMS server is offline, i.e. it has no access to the internet, then follow the simple instructions in this section to make the switch to subscription model.
Navigate to Options - License and select Activate Subscription. A popup dialog like below will appear. Click Yes to start the switch.
You will be prompted to save the offline request. Click Yes and save the file.
You can close the vSEC:CMS Admin console at this point. Copy this file to a host that has internet access and navigate to this page https://versasec.com/license/validation. Follow the on-screen instructions to upload the file and donwload it once Versasec's licensing system has validated and generated a subscription model license file. Copy this file back to your vSEC:CMS server.
Navigate to Options - License and click the View License button. This will popup a dialog similar to below. For the Waiting for response entry click the blue link as highlighted in below example.
You will be prompted to select the new subscription license file to complete the offline switch.
Switch from Subscription to Perpetual
It is possible to switch your licensing model from subsciption to perpetual based model. The process to make this switch will vary depending on whether your vSEC:CMS server has internet access (online) or not (offline).
vSEC:CMS Server - Online
If your vSEC:CMS server is online, i.e. it has access to the internet, then follow the simple instructions in this section to make the switch to perpetual model.
Navigate to Options - License and select Deactivate Subscription. A popup dialog like below will appear. Click Yes to complete the switch.
vSEC:CMS Server - Offline
If your vSEC:CMS server is offline, i.e. it has no access to the internet, then follow the simple instructions in this section to make the switch to perpetual model.
Navigate to Options - License and select Deactivate Subscription. A popup dialog like below will appear. Click Yes and save the license request file.
You can close the vSEC:CMS Admin console at this point. Copy this file to a host that has internet access and navigate to this page https://versasec.com/license/validation. Follow the on-screen instructions to upload the file and donwload it once Versasec's licensing system has validated and generated a perpetual model license file. Copy this file back to your vSEC:CMS server.
Navigate to Options - License and click the View License button. This will popup a dialog similar to below. For the Waiting for response entry click the blue link as highlighted in below example.
You will be prompted to select the new perpetual license file to complete the offline switch.
License Update Procedure
Depending on the license model you deploy different flows exist when it comes to increasing or decreasing the number of licenses in your system.
Perpetual License Update
From the vSEC:CMS Admin console, navigate to Options - License. From this page, you can add or reduce the license count.
You must be logged into the Admin console as an operator with permission to access the Options - License page.
Click the Get challenge button to generate a challenge, and then click the Copy button to copy this value to the host clipboard.
Paste this value into a text file and send it to your vSEC:CMS provider. Your provider can then generate a new license key. When you receive the new license key go back to the Options - License page and enter this key into the Cryptogram field and click the Upgrade button to complete the license update.
You can generate a license request, close the console, and enter the response code later when you receive it from your provider.
Subscription License Update
Depending on whether your system is online or offline different flows exist to update your license count.
Online
If your vSEC:CMS system has an internet connection (online), open the Admin console and navigate to Options - License. Enable Force online checking check box and click the Verify Liense button.
vSEC:CMS will contact Versasec's licensing service and update the license accordingly.
Offline
If your vSEC:CMS system does not have an internet connection (offline), open the Admin console and navigate to Options - License. Enable Force online checking check box and click the Verify Liense button. A popup dialog like below will appear. Click Yes and save the license request file.
You can close the vSEC:CMS Admin console at this point. Copy this file to a host that has internet access and navigate to this page https://versasec.com/license/validation. Follow the on-screen instructions to upload the file and donwload it once Versasec's licensing system has validated and generated an updated license file. Copy this file back to your vSEC:CMS server.
Navigate to Options - License and click the View License button. This will popup a dialog similar to below. For the Waiting for response entry click the blue link as highlighted in below example.
You will be prompted to select the updated license file to complete the update.
License Information
Available license information varies based on your deployment's license model (perpetual vs. subscription) and the network status of your vSEC:CMS server (online vs. offline).
Perpetual License Information
From the Options - License page, you can retrieve additional information about your license. Clicking the View License button will show the following details:
- Type: This indicates the type of license you have, which can be perpetual or subscription based on your chosen licensing model. It is possible to switch between perpetual or subscription models.
- Customer: The name of the customer to whom the license was issued. This can be changed if required by submitting a license update request.
- License ID: The unique identifier for the license.
- Number of credentials: The maximum number of credentials that can be managed with the current license.
- License token issue time: The timestamp of when the license was applied to the system.
- Transaction ID: The transaction ID associated with the applied license.
- Last verify time: The timestamp of the last verification of the current license against Versasec’s online licensing service. This is relevant for subscription licenses.
- Last verify result: The result from the last verification of the license. This is applicable for subscription licenses, whereas perpetual licenses will always be valid.
Subscription License Information
From the Options - License page, you can retrieve additional information about your license. Clicking the View License button will show the following details:
- Type: This indicates the type of license you have, which can be perpetual or subscription based on your chosen licensing model. It is possible to switch between perpetual or subscription models.
- Customer: The name of the customer to whom the license was issued. This can be changed if required by submitting a license update request.
- License ID: The unique identifier for the license.
- Number of credentials: The maximum number of credentials that can be managed with the current license.
- Start time: This is the date and time that your subscription license has been started.
- End time: This is the date and time that your subscription license will end.
- Number of days used: This is the total number of days and hours used so far in your subscription.
- Number of days left: This is the total number of days and hours left in your subscription.
- License token issue time: The timestamp of when the license was applied to the system.
- Transaction ID: The transaction ID associated with the applied license.
- Check Interval: This is when vSEC:CMS service will check next against Versasec's licensing service to check if the current subscription license is still valid.
- License data created at: This is the date and time that vSEC:CMS checked against Versasec's online licensing service for the current status of the subscription license.
- Last verify time: This is the date and time that the last verify of the license was performed, i.e. the Verify License button was clicked.
- Last verify result: This is the status of the subscription from the last online Verify License check.
Update Subscription License
Subscription licenses require verification to apply renewals. For example, if you extend a 1-year subscription for another year, you must run a Verify License check to update the expiration date.
Depending on whether your system is online or offline different flows exist to update your license subscription expiration date.
Online
If your vSEC:CMS system has an internet connection (online), open the Admin console and navigate to Options - License. Enable Force online checking check box and click the Verify Liense button.
vSEC:CMS will contact Versasec's licensing service and update the license accordingly.
Offline
If your vSEC:CMS system does not have an internet connection (offline), open the Admin console and navigate to Options - License. Enable Force online checking check box and click the Verify Liense button. A popup dialog like below will appear. Click Yes and save the license request file.
You can close the vSEC:CMS Admin console at this point. Copy this file to a host that has internet access and navigate to this page https://versasec.com/license/validation. Follow the on-screen instructions to upload the file and donwload it once Versasec's licensing system has validated and generated an updated license file. Copy this file back to your vSEC:CMS server.
Navigate to Options - License and click the View License button. This will popup a dialog similar to below. For the Waiting for response entry click the blue link as highlighted in below example.
You will be prompted to select the updated license file to complete the update.