chad131Is it possible to have a "portable" version of LimeLM, where the software is activated to a physical device, such as a USB drive?
We have some software that is designed to allow a single user to use one copy on any number of computers. This would be basically like using a hardware dongle (but with storage). The serial could be pulled from ENUM\USBSTOR
Hey Chad,
We've been thinking about this problem for a while. Although LimeLM doesn't support this right now, we've been considering adding something like this. Do you sell your product as a software/USB Key combo? That is, are you providing the USB keys with your software pre-installed. Or is it something your customers can download and use on any old USB key?
As an aside, will you allow customers to use other forms of removable media (CD, DVD, SD Cards, etc.)?
We currently license our produce using LimeLM and the updates_expire feature. It comes with 2 activations and is designed to be installed on a workstation.
I would like to create a "portable" or "consultant" edition of the software that would allow the user to take it out in the field and run the software directly on a computer from a USB drive. Currently, the only solution I can find for this is the WuBi CodeMeter (hardware license dongle with USB storage).
Since our software can be pretty data intensive, I am not looking to sell it with physical media. I would prefer the allow the user to use it on a USB device whose size fits their needs (USB Thumb Drive, or Hard Drive such as a Western Digital Passport Drive). I would have no use for licensing to a CD/DVD, but I could see where an SD Card may be used (although I can see how an SD card could present additional challenges).
Some of the features I would be looking for...:
- LimeLM in portable mode would not write files to volumes/filesystems other than the portable device. This would include temp files and creation of Registry keys.
- Should be able to vea a temporary license that auto-expires the portable license. i.e. This license is valid on this device for 1 week.
- Should be able to manage the portable devices through the LimeLM API. This would help with deactivating lost or damaged devices.
- It would also be nice if the portable licenses had one-time activations (and expiration). So you could provide a license to a Client, knowing that they can only use it one time and it will expire, preventing them from re-activating or using past the allotted time period.
All of this is possible. We might be able to put together a Windows-only version in a couple of months. There would be some limitations, though. For instance, the portable TurboActivate wouldn't be able to activate on the following:
But it would be able to activate on...
We'd also provide methods to detect whether the removable media can be activated on. That is, whether there is uniquely identifiable information stored in the hardware.
Would this work for you?
This would work great!! I completely understand the limitation of USB drive with Windows assigned serial numbers not being able to work. As long as you can let the user know that it can't be activated on that device, should work perfect.
Ok, we'll start work on this.
Ok, we'll start work on this.
Did you get this to work? I've a small app that would be nice for students to use on a USB so it can be taken to different computers.
We have a pre-beta version done. When do you need this?
We have a pre-beta version done. When do you need this?
No immediate need, I'm still testing ... but now with a licensed version thanks to you! I'd guess in a month or two I'd be finding a real need for it. Thanks again.
