FAQ: Licensing

Answer: You use the License Server to license a CODESYS Virtual Control for Linux SL.

An example of this can be found in the following chapter: How To: Use a license on a license server.

Answer: When restoring licenses, a fundamental distinction is made between whether the license information should be restored on the device or whether the device is defective so that the license should be restored on a new device.

Both scenarios are described on the following help page: How To: Backup and restore a CODESYS license.

Answer: The transfer of licenses is possible exclusively for the CODESYS Professional Developer Edition. This is not possible with other products.

For instructions, see the following page: How To: Activate a license on another computer.

License activation during production is possible with the CODESYS Mass Licenser.

Answer: Not currently. License servers must run natively on a device in the network and can be licensed using the CODESYS License Server for Linux SL or the License Manager.

Answer: You can restore the soft container.

For instructions, see the following chapter: How To: Detect a broken container.

Answer: No. CODESYS does not currently support Windows Server systems.

Answer: The advantages of a dongle are described on the following page: Overview of Advantages and Disadvantages.

For more information, see the following: License Container

Answer: This restriction applies to perpetual licenses with limited updates. An explanation and an example can be found on the following help page: Perpetual License with Limited Updates.

Answer: Yes, it is possible to back up a license. You can find instructions on the following help page: How To: Backup and restore a CODESYS license.

Answer: When you renew a subscription, you also need to reactivate the ticket ID to keep the license active. You will receive an email with the corresponding instructions.

Answer: A UFC container is a container for the firm code type "Universal Firm Code".

For more information, see the following: UFC firm codes

Answer: An overview of the required license size is provided on the Software metrics for license determination tab.

The cloud version of the CODESYS Automation Server is available in the CODESYS Store as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).

To use it, you need to book an Automation Server tenant in the CODESYS Store International. Additional, active user-side licensing is not necessary. The term is one month and can be canceled monthly.

You can configure booked tenants in the CODESYS Store International and manage connectable controllers, storage space, data traffic, and the CODESYS Data Analyzer. This way you always have costs under control.

The on-premises version of the CODESYS Automation Server will be offered in the CODESYS Store International in the future as a subscription with a one-year term. The subscription includes a Wibu license.

There is exactly one license that allows the connection of up to 25 controllers. There are no other variants. If you want to connect more than 25 controllers, then you can book the subscription multiple times accordingly.

The individual licenses are stored on a customer-operated Wibu license server. The CODESYS Automation Server accumulates the number of connectable controllers and distributes them among the available tenants.

You can purchase additional licenses during the one-year term. Purchased licenses are synchronized with existing licenses during the remaining term and billed proportionally. The original term remains unaffected.

Use the licensing feature of the CODESYS Automation Server to do this. You can find it in the Licenses → Bulk Licensing view.

For more information, see the following: How To: Activate a license on devices with the Automation Server and View: Licenses – Bulk Licensing.

Use the licensing feature of the CODESYS Automation Server to do this. You can find it in the Licenses → Bulk Licensing view.

For more information, see the following: How To: Activate a license on devices with the Automation Server and View: Licenses – Bulk Licensing.

Use the licensing feature of the CODESYS Automation Server to do this. You can find it in the Licenses → Bulk Licensing view.

In this view, select the controller whose licenses you want to fetch. Next, select the desired license container (soft container or CODESYS Key – USB dongle). Then click the key icon to list all available licenses.

For more information, see the following: View: Licenses – Bulk Licensing.

The CODESYS Professional Developer Edition has been extended to include new packages, such as file-based storage (FBS), a simulation interface, and an MCP server. As a result, it is no longer compatible with versions lower than V3.5 SP19 Patch 3 and it can no longer be activated in legacy containers with the prefix 128-.

A UFC container with prefix 130- is absolutely required.

The legacy version of the CODESYS Professional Developer Edition is still available. It is provided free of charge when you purchase a single-workstation subscription for the CODESYS Professional Developer Edition and it is identified as "Legacy". This applies to all newly purchased subscriptions since 25 November 2025. Previously purchased subscriptions include only the new CODESYS Professional Developer Edition with "File Based Storage".

In order to use the legacy PDE, the current subscription must be canceled and a new subscription purchase after the subscription expires. Should you require the legacy PDE before the expiration of your existing subscription, please contact our support team.

The PDE has been extended to include new packages, such as file-based storage (FBS), a simulation interface, and an MCP server. As a result, it is no longer compatible with versions lower than V3.5 SP19 Patch 3 and it can no longer be activated in legacy containers with the prefix 128-.

A UFC container with prefix 130- is absolutely required.

This is identified in the dongle by the dongle number.

Old dongles with the prefix 1- or 2- are not UFC-capable and correspond to the legacy container 128. Only dongles with the prefix 3- are UFC-capable and comply with the new 130 container.

For more information, see the following: UFC firm codes