Activation

What is it?

Basically, activation is a two-step application registering process. At the first step (usually, after the order) a customer receives an activation code (it looks like XXXX-YYYY-ZZZZ). At the second step, the customer enters the code to the application, the application connects to the vedor’s server, checks the code and get the real serial number back.

This allows to control the usage of serial number, prevent their leaking and some other things like demo licenses and time-limited trials.

Why do I need it?

Well, activation feature allows vendor to implement some neat features, for example:

• Short serial numbers – don’t bother your users with entering long serial numbers and making mistakes. Use short and readable activation codes and VMProtect will do the rest.
• Control the number of installations – you see all the activations online in the real time. Track them, analyze them, block them, communicate your customers and so on.
• Time trials – generate time-limited serial numbers using the special product “modes”.
• Annual licenses – this works pretty much the same way as time trials, but you may use the same feature to sell subscription-based software easily. Exactly like most antivirus vendors do, you will just sell the activation codes for the next year of service.

Please visit the Web License Manager page for more details on how the activation system works.

What do I need?

VMProtect Ultimate has some new API functions to implement both online and offline activation. You also need a Web License Manager on a server side to support the activation features. Finally, you need to setup the protection project in VMProtect itself.