New Software Key System Notice

[Brad Elliott]

Just received an email from Graphisoft saying they are switching my WIBU Key to a Software Key and if I want a hardware key I have to let them know by March 31. Is anyone familiar with this?
There is a lot of information but I am still not clear on something. They discuss transferring a key and releasing keys from a 'Company License Pool'. I have one key. With this process if I want to work at home do I need to have "released" the key from my office computer first? This seems ridiculous. If my key is in a Pool (with plenty of sunscreen and an umbrella drink I'm sure) I would think that all I would have to do would be to grab it from any computer with an internet connection.
If I have to release and claim every time I want to move wouldn't it just be easier to have the key? That seems faster than logging in to a website every time. And if I have forgotten to release the key I'm stuck anyway. Just like with a hardware key.
Also, What happens when I don't have an internet connection? I still have that situation on occasion.

[Anonymous]

hhhmmm....i've been reading the guides and I have to admit that I'm officialy confused.
We are leaning towards software keys, but what I do not understand is if we will be able to install our licences to our main server and than just open AC in every pc, obtaining licence via LAN or licence server manager (through Internet) OR if we HAVE to download individual licences to our pcs and then uploading them back to the cloud,every time....

[AndorSzoke]

Brad wrote:
If my key is in a Pool (with plenty of sunscreen and an umbrella drink I'm sure) I would think that all I would have to do would be to grab it from any computer with an internet connection.
If I have to release and claim every time I want to move wouldn't it just be easier to have the key? That seems faster than logging in to a website every time…If I'm on a different computer can I log in to the Company License Pool and kick a user out of the pool so I can grab a key

Dear Brad,

Please note that you don’t need to do this operation on a website but it is a very simple process that you have to do with License Management Tool an application dedicated for these kind of actions. Answering your other question, unfortunately if a Soft License is already downloaded to a computer but you cannot momentarily access that computer then you cannot get that License to another computer. You can read about the process here:

http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/guides/license-manager-tool/download-a-software-key-from-the-compan...
http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/guides/license-manager-tool/upload-a-software-key-to-the-company-li...

Please let me know if you have further questions about the process or any other questions.

[AndorSzoke]

arg617 wrote:
will an internet connection always be needed when using the program?

Dear arg617,

Internet connection is only needed when uploading or downloading a license from the Pool. Once the Licence is downloaded, you can keep it there and from that moment you don't need internet connection. So ArchiCAD will not require internet connection, it just requires a License.

[AndorSzoke]

Anestis wrote:
what I do not understand is if we will be able to install our licences to our main server and than just open AC in every pc, obtaining licence via LAN or licence server manager (through Internet) OR if we HAVE to download individual licences to our pcs and then uploading them back to the cloud,every time....

Hi Anestis,

Just like in the case of Hardware keys there are two types of Software Keys from this perspective:

1. Software Key with Network Licenses: Once you download the Software key (that contains the Network licenses) from the Pool to a computer you will be able to run ArchiCAD on any computer that is connected to the same network.

2. Single Software Licenses: Once you download this License to a computer you will be able to run ArchiCAD on that particular computer.

You can read more about Software Licenses here:

http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/technotes/licensing/software-key-faq/#What_are_the_similarities_and...

[Anonymous]

AndorSzoke wrote:
1. Software Key with Network Licenses: Once you download the Software key (that contains the Network licenses) from the Pool to a computer you will be able to run ArchiCAD on any computer that is connected to the same network.

2. Single Software Licenses: Once you download this License to a computer you will be able to run ArchiCAD on that particular computer.

Thank you for the reply,
so if I understand correctly, in my case we need to have our licences available all the time via server and in some cases we might need to grab an offline licence, so the ideal scenario would be a software key, loaded up with all the licences and then downloaded to our server and then use the borrowing feature to get offline licenses when needed....right?


EDIT : http://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/troubleshooting/licensing/codemeter-troubleshooting-guide/software-...
Just read this and in my oppinion this should have been on the top of both the pages that talk about borrowing keys and about software keys. This is not a "known issue" , this is a MAIN difference and should have been mentioned in the
"What are the similarities and differences between Hardware and Software Keys?" part of the FAQ.
So we cannot use the borrow feature until AC19....
Also we cannot share a hardware single key as a server key. So the only option, as I see things, is hardware network key with all the licenses loaded to it.