How to apply a Neverfail Engine subscription license or renew an existing one

How to apply a Neverfail Engine subscription license or renew an existing one

There are two procedures that can be used for applying a subscription license key:

1. From the EMS portal:
     a) log into the EMS portal and select the cluster that you want to license
     b) from the Actions menu select License server option:

    c) next you will have to choose between
                  1. Online licensing  -  For this the EMS server will have to be able to connect to the Neverfail licensing server (els.neverfailgroup.com) on port 9729;
                                                     - You will also need the Customer ID and the License Activation Key that will be used for that cluster (these details were sent via e-mail when the license was purchased or when the v8 authorization was converted to v9/v10);
                                                     - Click on Next and follow the rest of the steps to apply the license key;
                  2. Offline licensing - This can be used if the EMS is isolated, without Internet access;
                                                     - For this option a case will have to be opened with our support team (support@neverfail.com), requesting an offline license;
                                                     - In the support case you will have to specify the License Activation Key to be used, the FQDN of the cluster protected by Engine and the output for C:\Program Files\Neverfail\r2\bin\HBSIG.exe on the Active server; the last two items are also available on the EMS Summary Status page:
                                                                                                                         


                                                  - once the License Key is sent by the support team, you will just have to paste it and finish the licensing procedure.

2. From Configure Server Wizard - if there's no EMS server or if the cluster and the EMS server are isolated, without Internet access

      a) for this option a case will have to be opened with our support team (support@neverfail.com), requesting an offline license. In the support case you will have to specify the License Activation Key to be used, the FQDN of the cluster protected by Engine and the output for C:\Program Files\Neverfail\r2\bin\HBSIG.exe on the Active server;
      b) after the subscription license key is sent by the support team, you will just need to apply it on the Active server using this procedure:
            - Stop Engine on all servers using the option to Leave protected applications running;
            - Open Configure Server Wizard -> click the button to stop Web Services;
            - In License tab replace the existing license key or delete it and add the new one;
            - Confirm that it has the valid check mark and the correct end date;
            - Click on Finish to save the changes;
            - Start Engine on the Active server and after that on the Passive(s).  

Renewing an existing v9 license:

Automated renewal - if there's an existing EMS server able to connect to the Licensing server, beginning 10 days before the expiration date, the EMS will try to contact the Licensing server. I will verify if the support contract was renewed in which case it will automatically update the cluster by applying a renewed key.
Manual renewal - A renewed license key can be applied manually at any time, the procedure is the same as the one used for applying the first license, please see above for the steps.

Important Notes:

- Every Production license comes with a 30 days grace period which is added to the end date, to allow the customer to renew support and apply the new license
- If a license expires the replication process will be stopped, meaning that the servers will no longer be in sync. Engine will only stop the replication process, this will not cause the protected applications to stop.
- A license renewal should be processed through the partner company from which the license was bought.