CodeMeter
Virtual hardware
Application
Guest
operating system
Application
CodeMeter
Host
Guest
operating system
Application
Image 7: A
CmDongle
in a shared
environment
– The use of
licenses is not
allowed.
Guest
Application
Guest
White Paper
Virtual hardware
Virtualization software
Host operating system
CodeMeter
Real hardware
No multiple use of CmDongles
What happens when CmDongles are passed through from guest system to guest system? Again, the CodeMeter
Runtime Service and every CmDongle come equipped with automatic defenses against that. The CodeMeter
Runtime Service can handle multiple CmDongles and CmActLicenses, but every single CmDongle is used exclusively
by a single CodeMeter Runtime Service. This is achieved by setting a specific parameter when the CodeMeter
Runtime Service and the CmDongle establish encrypted communication. If the CmDongle is then connected to a
different CodeMeter Runtime Service, this parameter is broken. The license managed by the original CodeMeter
Runtime Service is automatically released, and your software can respond accordingly.
Another mechanism ensures that the fast or automated reconnecting of CmDongles (either in terms of switching
virtual machines or in a reverse USB hub) can be distinguished from normal operations and detected as the attack
it is. In such cases, the CmDongle is automatically locked out for five minutes.
As software publisher, you can rest assured that CodeMeter does everything automatically for you.
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