Wibu-Systems White Paper | Page 4

White Paper

The Threats and Challenges of Virtual Machines

A virtual machine is hardware simulated on a( host or master) computer. This virtual hardware runs a complete( guest or child) operating system, while severely restricting its ability to interact with the real environment around it. All guest systems and the host share the same real-life hardware, but without immediate access being given to the guest systems. They see a simulated – virtual – machine.

Image 2: Architecture of a virtual machine

Virtual hardware

Virtualization software

Virtual hardware

Host operating system

Real hardware

Virtual machines can be saved and recovered( returned to an earlier state) with considerable ease.

From a licensing point of view, virtual machines imply several new threats:

For dongle users:

< < Illicit multiple use of a single license by using one dongle for several guest systems.

For pure soft licenses:

< < Resetting time-limited or pay-per-use licenses by using a copy or snapshot.

< < Duplicating machine-bound licenses by cloning the allocated machine in its entirety.

There are also unique challenges for the licit users of your software:

< < The ability to connect dongles and virtual machines.

< < High-availability license servers running on virtual machines.

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