Understanding License Keys

Datamine License Services (the services that are activated on your system as part of standard License Manager activity) uses three different types of key, each with its own specific purpose. All key types are registered using the same intelligent dialog which discerns the type and applies it appropriately.

Separate dialogs were used in older versions of Datamine License Services. The menu entries have been retained for compatibility reasons.

License Key

A license key is an encrypted string of characters which defines the licenses that you have purchased or rented, and contains the following information:

Products/modules included.
License identification number (UID).
License type: for example, Full, Renewable.
License/maintenance expiry date.
The number of applicable licenses - a key may be used for several identical configurations.
The date when the key was generated.
The security identification number: dongle number, hard disk serial number or machine ID.

When registered, the key is decoded and the above details are displayed in the License Manager window.

Maintenance Key

A maintenance key is also an encrypted string of characters, and typically contains the following information:

Maintenance identification number (UID).
License identification number (UID).
Products/modules.
The number of licenses.
A "From" date which defines the start of the maintenance period.
A "To" date which defines the expiry date of the maintenance period.

Before registering a maintenance key, the license key to which it applies, and any previous maintenance keys must be registered first, in sequence.

Administration (Admin) Key

An administration (admin) key is an encrypted character string which enables otherwise unauthorized changes to be made to License Services.

These are rarely needed, and in most circumstances are referred to by an error message similar to: "License Services has halted due to a system error".
An error code with the general form: "C00x" is also displayed - x referring to the following problems:

1 – Corrupt or missing license file,
2 – Corrupt registry,
4 – System date changed.

These error codes may be added together to denote more than one problem: for example, an error code of C006 would indicate a corrupt registry, as well as a system date change: (2 + 4).