PROTECTION |
In the realm of visual programming, instrument control and industrial automation, LabVIEW is a cornerstone for engineers worldwide. Developed by National Instruments, LabVIEW has revolutionized how complex systems are designed, tested, and deployed since its inception in 1986. With its intuitive graphical user interface, where users connect functional blocks to create virtual instruments( VIs), LabVIEW enables rapid development in fields such as automation and measurement technology. From controlling industrial machinery to analyzing biomedical signals, LabVIEW applications drive innovation across industries.
Yet, this power comes at a cost. LabVIEW users invest vast resources and significant intellectual property to build powerful applications for their customers. These applications are often compiled into standalone executables for distribution. In our era, where reverse engineering, piracy, and intellectual property theft are endemic, safeguarding these assets is paramount. AxProtector delivers robust software protection and flexible licensing, ensuring that your LabVIEW applications remain secure and monetizable.
How AxProtector Secures LabVIEW Executables
Protecting a LabVIEW application with AxProtector is straightforward and requires no coding expertise.
Once your executable is compiled with LabVIEW’ s Application Builder, AxProtector steps in to wrap that binary with multiple defense layers. Advanced anti-debugging and anti-disassembly mechanisms make reverse engineering prohibitively difficult. The binary is then encrypted, and the AxEngine is integrated. At runtime, the AxEngine decrypts the application
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only in memory – and only if a valid license is present. This approach guarantees that your intellectual property is never exposed in plain code, while licensing becomes the key that governs access.
To protect your LabVIEW executable:
■ Launch AxProtector and select the target platform.
■ Specify the source file( your executable) and the destination for the protected version.
■ In the Licensing Systems tab enter your Firm Code and Product Code. This specifies the cryptographic material that is used to encrypt your application. The Firm Code is unique to your company; for the Product Code you can choose from 1 up to more than 4 billion unique values.
■ For now, you can keep all the other options at their default values.
■ Proceed to the Summary tab and click Finish. AxProtector will encrypt the executable and bundle it with the AxEngine.
Once protected, your application will only run if a matching license is present. This setup prevents piracy and enables flexible distribution models.
Beyond Basic Protection: Usage-Based Licensing
For scenarios where consumption-based billing is relevant to your business model, unit counters are the way to go. Unit counters let licenses track usage with a decreasing count, where each app launch or specific action consumes units until the balance is depleted.
Adding the CodeMeter API
To implement this, we must go beyond automatic protection
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