In standard licensing, license enforcement is done through the Key that is on the same computer as the protected application. Network-based licensing enables the Key to reside on a server that allows access from the client computers running the protected application. License enforcement is achieved with the help of the provided application called NetKey License Server. NetKey License Server provides communications between the Key and the clients, based on the TCP/IP client-server model. Note that NetKey License Server and the Key do not need to be installed on a server. Both can be on any computer, including the same computer as the protected application, that you can ensure availability and accessibility to all the clients. Network-based licensing enables centralized license enforcement, which allows innovative licensing models including floating license and Terminal Services license.
Traditional software enforcement requires that each authorized computer running the protected application must obtain a license. As a matter of fact, not every computer in a corporate network runs the protected application at the same time. Floating license is centralized license enforcement that allows you to license the protected application in a corporate environment more effectively. You can specify the maximum number of concurrent users to run the protected application. As a result, the corporate can only obtain the needed number of licenses that is less than the total number of users. Floating license can provide substantial cost-savings to your customers. It is also a great licensing model that allows you to market your application.
Windows Terminal Services can provide remote desktop capabilities for the users to run the protected application as a Terminal Services session. Because Terminal Services allow many clients to access and run the same copy of the protected application simultaneously, license enforcement can be very challenging. Our solution allows you to block Terminal Services to ensure license enforcement of the protected application. If you want license your application using the Terminal Services model, our solution also allows you to limit the number of concurrent Terminal Services sessions. This can be achieved with the help of NetKey License Server.