Learn in this article,
- when offline licensing is required,
- what the Offline Lifespan is and
- how you to proceed for offline licensing.
1. Background Knowledge
With version 1.16.0, the licensing of a Workflow has been changed to online activation by default. The activation of a licence must therefore always take place online beforehand. This step ensures that the workstation on which the workflow is installed can reach the authorisation server.
After successful activation, the workstation can be taken off the network and operated in the desired protected environment for at least 30 days. Within these 30 days, the authorisation server must either be accessible once for the workflow in order to:
- automatically import a current licence, or
- manually import a new licence.
Functionality of the Workflow after 30 days
Note that if the Workflow cannot reach the authorisation server after 30 days, the Workflow will cease to function. Without activating the licence or importing a current licence, the Workflow can no longer be operated.
2. Offline Lifespan
How long the Workflow is functional without importing a current licence is indicated by the Offline Lifespan. You will find this date [1] (Figure 1) in the lower section of the Licence tab of the System Status dialog.
The Workflow fetches the current licence from the licence server daily. This happens when the workstation on which Workflow is installed reaches the authorisation server online. As soon as the licence has been imported, the Offline Lifespan is changed according to the licence. A short-term internet failure should therefore not affect the functioning of the Workflow in any way, as the current licence is automatically reinstated after the failure has been rectified.
However, if there is an Internet disruption or the authorisation server is not accessible for more than 30 days, an offline licence must be issued. A corresponding warning that the workstation has not been able to reach the authorisation server for 20 days is displayed by an error message in the Workflow. If there's no reaction to the error message from your side, we will alert you. A corresponding message will be sent to the e-mail address stored in the licence.
Monitoring the licensing status
We recommend that you periodically monitor the Offline Lifespan and ensure that the email address stored in the licence can be reached. Changes regarding the email address as well as problems with the licensing can be addressed directly to [email protected].
The licence can only be extended via the existing sales channel. Contact your sales organisation for this purpose!
3. Carry out Offline Licensing
Offline licensing can be done very quickly. You need to go through four steps either in the Licence tab of the System Status dialog or in the Licence Information dialog of the Login window. The following description refers to the system status dialogue.
3.1. Step 1: Download Payload
- Log in to the Workflow via the login dialog with your name and password.
- In System Status Select the License tab and scroll down to the end of the dialog.
- Press Download Payload [2].
Figure 1: The lower part of the System Status dialog in the Workflow
- The download is completed by the message [3] that the Payload has been downloaded. The Payload with the Maintenance Contract ID and the download date are located in the download folder on your local computer.
Figure 2: The lower part of the System Status dialog in the Workflow after downloading the Payload
3.2. Step 2: Upload Payload to UA Server
- In the browser which is connected to the Internet, call the URL https://ua.wfc.durst-group.com.
- Move the Payload file from your local computer to the [4] drop zone in the browser.
- After moving the file to the drop zone, the upload starts automatically.
Figure 3: The Upload page for the Payload in the UA Server
3.3. Step 3: Download License
- After the upload, the current license can be downloaded.
- Click Download License [5] to download the current license for the licensed product.
Figure 4: The Upload page for Payloads of the UA Server after the Payload has been uploaded
- By pressing Download License [5], the corresponding license is requested and downloaded from the license server.
- The download starts automatically, the successful download is confirmed by a message [6].
Figure 5: The Upload page for Payloads on the UA Server after downloading the License
3.4. Step 4: Upload License to the Workflow
- Copy the downloaded license to a directory on your network where the workstation is installed on the Workflow.
- Open System Status in the Workflow again and scroll to the end of the dialog.
- Activate the Upload License File button [7] and select the previously downloaded license.
Figure 6: The lower part of the System Status dialog in the Workflow
- The license is uploaded and a successful upload is indicated to the user by a corresponding note [9].
- Now check the Offline Lifespan [8], which should have adjusted accordingly after the upload.
Figure 7: The lower part of the System Status dialog in the Workflow after uploading a current License
Article update: Workflow version 1.16.0 – 08/2023