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Here are some notes about the measures used to protect M.E.P.CAD software products.
M.E.P.CAD software products are very powerful and useful, and much time and effort has gone into their development. As such, this investment must be protected. Authorization to use this software is granted to certain users under legal agreements, facilitated by M.E.P.CAD's licensing procedure.
The key to enabling full use of the M.E.P.CAD software is made up of three discrete components: a license number, a hardware key, and a password. All three components are interdependent and must be in agreement to unlock the software.
The license number is often unique to a particular customer or licensing agreement. A valid license number consists of two letters followed by eight digits. The two letters at the beginning of the license number identify the product for which the license is valid.
The same license number can be used for multiple hardware keys.
A hardware key is provided for your PC, or for the license server, if you are using the Network License Manager. This positively insures that only the number of licensed seats are in use simultaneously.
Keys are available for either parallel ports or USB ports. When using the Network License Manager, the key on the license server is the only one necessary; no client PC needs to have a key installed.
Multiple keys can be plugged into your PC or the license server, because the software can positively identify the device with which it needs to communicate.
One or more unique passwords is provided for each key under a given license. Most users receive a renewable password that is valid for a certain time span; these are sometimes referred to as "lease" passwords. The password is unique to each software version (i.e. the number before the decimal point) but does not change with each release (i.e. the number after the decimal point). Therefore, a password for version 2.0 will work on version 2.1 or 2.2, but will not work on version 1.0 or 3.0.
Each password on a license server allows use of M.E.P.CAD software by a certain number of users at any one time. Users who are granted a license from the license server get that license for a specific time period (set on the license server), after which the client PC queries the license server for a renewal. (In essence, the client PC is "checking out" a license for the specified period.) If, when attempting to reacquire a license, there are available seats, one will be granted at this time. If there are not, the software on the client PC will be disabled. However, once a client PC has a license, it does not actually have to connect to the license server in order for the software to be fully enabled; it only needs to connect at the time of license renewal.
To ensure proper functioning, please take note of the following warnings.
WARNING: If a parallel-port hardware key is being used, and a printer is plugged into the central licensing server on the same port, make sure that the printer remains on at all times while any connected user is using M.E.P.CAD software. If the printer has a low-power mode, please disable this feature. If the printer is turned off or enters low-power mode, the hardware key will not function, and the software in use by any connected user will be disabled if its licensing period ends while the printer is off or in low-power mode.
WARNING: Installing a hardware key on the license server while M.E.P.CAD software is running on connected computers will not enable the software for users on the connected computers. The hardware key must be installed and functioning before running M.E.P.CAD software in order for the software to be fully enabled.
WARNING: The licensing logic depends upon the central licensing server reporting the correct date and time. The licensing logic is designed to disable the software if illogical time changes occur. Please make sure that the date and time on your central licensing server are set correctly before installing M.E.P.CAD software. Do not attempt to bypass the security measures in the M.E.P.CAD software by changing the clock in your computer.
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