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Using the CODESYS License Server for Linux SL in a Virtual Machine

The CODESYS License Server for Linux SL can be run in a virtual machine. It is especially important to check the configuration in advance.

Warning

Any incorrect change to the characteristics of the virtual machine may result in the loss of your license.

Use a Wibu CmDongle for the licensing.

By using a dongle, the licenses that you use will not depend on:

  • Hardware of the host

  • Selected hypervisor

  • Virtual hardware characteristics of the virtual machine

For more information about the restrictions and behavior of the Wibu CodeMeter licensing system, see the following: Virtualization – Product FAQ – Wibu-Systems

Challenges of the license soft container in a virtual machine

To bind a license to a device, the hardware characteristics are detected for the license fingerprint when the license container is created. Depending on the virtualization environment, the hardware characteristics can change in a virtual machine.

. Examples of hardware characteristics which can be used to create the license fingerprint:

  • Host name

  • MAC addresses

  • Number of network adapters

  • Names of the network adapters

  • Number of virtual CPUs

  • CPU model or type

  • RAM size

  • UUID of the virtual machine

  • UUID of the BIOS

  • Type of the virtual hard drive controller

  • Number of hard drives

  • Memory sizes (e.g., RAM)

Migration and snapshot restoration

Warning

Migrating the virtual machine to another host is not supported.

Restoring a snapshot of the virtual machine is permitted only as part of the framework of the rollback mechanism.

Guidelines for using the CODESYS License Server for Linux SL in a virtual machine

Warning

The hardware characteristics detected for the license fingerprint cannot be listed here in full because their scope is very complex. Therefore, the guidelines mentioned here are recommendations for action in order to minimize risk. There can be no guarantee for the successful use of the CODESYS License Server for Linux SL in a virtual machine.

  • Lock the hardware profile of the virtual machine:

    • Configure the virtual hardware completely before you activate the license.

    • Define the parameters – such as host name, MAC addresses, RAM, UUIDs, as well as other parameters – and assign values to these parameters.

    • Enable TPM to ensure additional stability of the identity of the virtual machine.

  • Avoid any migration.

  • Avoid large time discrepancies when restoring a snapshot of the virtual machine as part of the rollback mechanism.

  • Do not clone the virtual machine after license activation.

  • Disable automatic hypervisor updates.

  • Use a virtual machine exclusively for the CODESYS License Server for Linux SL.

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