3.5 CodeMeterAct Binding Schemes
Licenses in a CodeMeterAct license file are bound to a PC. Specific properties of the PC or the installed OS are
used to build up information used as a “Host-ID”. This Host-ID becomes part of the activation code. The
activated license can only be used on the PC if the Host-ID has not changed significantly since its activation
date.
CodeMeterAct’s Host-ID scheme makes use of both Hardware Binding Schemes (real hardware properties) and
Configuration Binding Schemes (configurable system properties).
3.5.1 Hardware Binding Schemes
Four basic hardware properties are available; which can be combined, without restriction, to create the
Hardware Binding Scheme:
Hardware Property
Description
Network-Adapter (N)
Information on the network card (MAC Address), virtual adapters are not considered
Disk (D)
Information found on the hard disk (real serial number)
CPU (C)
Information found on the main processor (processor type)
Bios (B)
Information found in the PC BIOS
Table 3: Basic Hardware Properties
By altering the combination of properties and by changing how many properties need to remain unchanged, the
developer can control how restrictive to make this binding scheme. More restrictive schemes increase security,
but also increase the number of support calls from customers who might have simply changed a hard drive (for
example). The less restrictive, the fewer support calls, but security becomes weaker. For example, a scheme
combining all four properties, where only one element is allowed to change, is possible. As long as three
elements remain unchanged, an activated license remains valid.
The following table shows some recommended schemes:
Scheme
Description
Use
N:1
Binding to a network adapter.
Big enterprises, SMEs (Small and Medium-sized
Enterprises)
DCBN:4
Binding to network adapter, CPU, hard disk and
BIOS. Zero tolerance towards hardware
changes.
Small Office / Home Office, Games
DCBN:3
Binding to a network adapter, CPU, hard disk
and BIOS. Three properties have to remain
unchanged, one is allowed to change.
Big enterprises, SMEs, Small Office / Home Office
DCN:3
Binding to BIOS, CPU and hard disk. Zero
tolerance towards hardware changes.
Big enterprises, SMEs, Small Office / Home Office
DCB:2
Binding to BIOS, CPU and hard disk. Two
properties have to remain unchanged, one is
allowed to change.
Big enterprises, SMEs, Small Office / Home Office
D:1
Binding to hard drive
Small Office / Home Office
Table 4: CodeMeterAct Hardware Binding-Schemes
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