This new license service is cloud based. So for most use cases, the Engine Management Service (EMS) must have ongoing communications with Engine License Service (ELS). This provides Neverfail the following capabilities:
ELS allows the EMS to request a license activation via a license activation key.
ELS then pushes the generated license keys to the local EMS.
EMS then pushes the license key to the protected application server.
EMS sends base license telemetry information to Neverfail daily. This provides Neverfail with license related information that determines if the license key is valid or not. Invalid license keys can be proactively detected which can be addressed by Neverfail support. Licenses can become invalid due to changes of server names and upgrading of the OS.
If you are a new customer of Neverfail, you will receive automatically during product fulfillment, a “License Authorization”, a “License activation key“ and your “CustomerID” in an email message. This is how it will be implemented:
Neverfail will issue an License Authorization. This is not the license key, but the formal identifier of your purchased authorization.
Neverfail will issue a License Activation Key. This is required in the online license key generation which will be applied to your protected application server.
Neverfail will issue a customer ID number. This is for you to identify your instance when you add the License Authorization to the online licensing wizard in order to generate and apply a license key on your protected application server.
You will use the customer ID and license activation key as input into the License server> Online licensing wizard.
The ELS will generate the new license key via EMS request.
The EMS will then apply the new license key to your protected application server.
Neverfail has two new license types Term and Rental. Both licenses are part of our new subscription model. Both require communication with the ELS. The only exception is a term license that is deployed in a HIGHLY secured environment. In this case, Neverfail Support will generate (on request) what is called an “Offline” activated license key from the authorization number of the corresponding customer ID. However this is still a term license and is subject to subscription rules.
VERY IMPORTANT: Neverfail subscription licenses will stop replication 30 days AFTER (grace period) the expiration date if the annual subscription is not renewed. To continue service, a new license key must be generated and installed once the annual renewal is paid.
Read Option 1 and 2 in “For New Customers”
Customers will be upgraded in one of two ways: (1) During the yearly support and maintenance renewal process, Neverfail will issue v9 licenses that will replace the existing legacy licenses. (2) If customers choose to upgrade before the annual renewal process, as long as they are current on support & maintenance, they can open a ticket with Neverfail Support to upgrade to v9 or higher.
You will then receive at least one email from Neverfail with your new customer ID and License Authorization.
Upon entering the Apply License Wizard, you will be asked to confirm the conversion from perpetual to term licenses. Once you agree, you can proceed to upgrade. It will upgrade your protected application server to latest version of Continuity Engine automatically and on all nodes.
The Apply License Wizard requires the customer ID and activation key to generate the license key. To upgrade the server you must do the following:
Upgrade the Engine Management Service to v9. To do so, you can download current distribution at: https://support.neverfail.com/portal/en/kb/articles/neverfail-continuity-engine This video shows you how to upgrade the EMS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeXrXAe2b38
Upgrade the protected application via the Apply License Wizard. This video shows you how to upgrade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uZHVFVHVjI
VERY IMPORTANT: You will have 3 days to apply the new license (via Apply License Wizard) once the upgrade is completed as the old perpetual licenses will be deactivated on the protected application. So make sure you have the new v9 license authorization in hand BEFORE you upgrade.
| Functional
License Requirements |
Term (Yearly) |
|
| Has Expiration Date |
X |
|
| Neverfail Not Obligated to Continue Term Agreement at
Expiration |
X |
|
| Licensee Must Stop Use of Product if No Continuation of
Term Agreement |
X |
|
| Licensee Must Remove Product if No Continuation of Term
Agreement |
X |
|
| Licensee will be Billed on a Yearly Basis for Continuation
of Term Agreement |
X |
|
| Licensee will be Billed on a Monthly Basis for Continuation
of Term Agreement |
-- |
|
| Licensee is required to Maintain EMS Connection to
Neverfail Licensing Server |
X |
|
| Licensee can choose to terminate the Rental Agreement at
Any Time |
-- |
|
| Licensee can choose to terminate the Term Agreement with No
Penalty at the End of the Term |
X |
|
| Licensee Software will Automatically Shutdown if
Continuation of Term Agreement is Unpaid |
X |
|
| Licensee will be be able to Access Support Services and
Software Upgrades During Term |
X |
|
| Licensee can use Documentation Solely for the Use of
Licensed Software |
X |
|
| Licensee can make copies of the Licensed Software for
Backup and Archival Use |
X |
|
| License can only be installed on one Application Server at
a time. |
X |
|
| Licensee can Transfer License to another Server (only once) |
Only at the End Term Date |
|
PLEASE NOTE: You are not required to fully upgrade to the latest version of Continuity Engine. You can still use Continuity Engine version 8 with a perpetual license. However, version 8 of Continuity Engine will go to end of life on January 31st, 2023 and support will end. Unless otherwise notified by Neverfail, the only path forward is upgrading to version 9 or above with the subscription licensing model. For more information on the details of the licensing options, please read the EULA.