Continuity Engine - Software Subscription Licensing Model

Continuity Engine - Software Subscription Licensing Model

Software subscription licensing model

Neverfail has introduced a new license model for new and existing customers of Neverfail Continuity Engine, starting with version 9.0. With the new licensing model, Neverfail has introduced a new licensing server (ELS) that will enable subscription based usage of Continuity Engine.

The Engine Management Service provides the mechanism to securely communicate with the ELS via SSL and transfer hardware signatures to the ELS to generate licenses. Then the EMS delivers a node locked key to the EMS and it automatically assigns that license to the protected application server. Then daily it sends Neverfail telemetry information describing the current state of the license.
ELS has a fully automated process for regenerating license keys if a customer decides to continue to renew its software subscription yearly.
Offline activations of new term/rental subscriptions will be handled via a support ticket at support@neverfail.com.

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:

  1. ELS allows the EMS to request a license activation via a license activation key.

  2. ELS then pushes the generated license keys to the local EMS.

  3. EMS then pushes the license key to the protected application server.

  4. 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.

How does the new subscription software licensing work?

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:

  1. Neverfail will issue an authorization number. This is not the license key, but the formal identifier of your purchased authorization.

  2. 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.

  3. Neverfail will issue a customer ID number. This is for you to identify your instance when you add the activation key to the online licensing wizard in order to generate and apply a license key on your protected application server.

  4. You will use the customer ID and license activation key as input into the License server> Online licensing wizard.

  5. The ELS will generate the new license key via EMS request.

  6. The EMS will then apply the new license key to your protected application server.

Software Subscription Payment Awareness (introduced with v11)

  1. Term Software Subscription is ready to be consumed immediately upon fulfilment. Depending on the payment status, the right to use may or may not be limited a follows: (a) if the payment is pending when software subscription is being activated (consumed), a limited forty-five (45) days license key counted from the term software subscription start date will be generated; as soon as the payment is confirmed, the full term software subscription period is unlocked; relicensing with a full term license key will be performed automatically for online licensing; (b) if the payment is confirmed when software subscription is being activated (consumed) a full term license key will be generated. Similar payment status usability rules apply also in the case of license term software subscription renewal.

For new customers

  1. Neverfail has two new software subscription 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 subscription 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.

  2. VERY IMPORTANT: Neverfail subscription licenses will stop replication at its 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.

For existing customers

  1. Read Option 1 and 2 in “For New Customers”

  2. Before upgrading to the latest version of continuity Engine, you will need to open a ticket with Neverfail support to generate a new customer ID and a license authorization for each protected application server.

  3. You will then receive at least one email from Neverfail with your new customer ID and license authorization number.

  4. Upon entering the upgrade 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.

  5. The license server wizard requires the customer ID and activation key to generate the license key.

  6. 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.

License comparison

Functional License Requirements
Term (Yearly)
Rental (Monthly)
Has Expiration Date
X
X
Neverfail Not Obligated to Continue Term Agreement at Expiration
X
X
Licensee Must Stop Use of Product if No Continuation of Term Agreement
X
X
Licensee Must Remove Product if No Continuation of Term Agreement
X
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
--
X
Licensee is required to Maintain EMS Connection to Neverfail Licensing Server
X
X
Licensee can choose to terminate the Rental Agreement at Any Time
--
X
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
X
Licensee will be be able to Access Support Services and Software Upgrades During Term
X
X
Licensee can use Documentation Solely for the Use of Licensed Software
X
X
Licensee can make copies of the Licensed Software for Backup and Archival Use
X
X
License can only be installed on one Application Server at a time.
X
X
Licensee can Transfer License to another Server (only once)
Only at the End Term Date
--


PLEASE NOTE: It is highly recommended to have the latest version of Continuity Engine. Please check the End of Life Policy for Neverfail Continuity Engine to be better informed on the supported versions.


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