When you purchase a Vortex Studio product with a node-locked license, CM Labs sends you activation keys that you can use to generate the node-locked license files on your computer.

Generating a node-locked license file involves launching the Vortex Studio License Manager application and entering your activation key so that a license file can be generated locally.

To generate a node-locked license file, your computer must be able to connect through the internet to the License Activation server.
If you need to generate a license for a computer without an internet connection, see Generating Node-Locked License Files for Another Computer

1 Generating Node-Locked License Files on Windows
2 Generating Node-Locked License Files on Linux
3 Generating Node-Locked License Files for Another Computer
- 3.1 Generating Node-Locked License Files for Another Computer on Windows
- 3.2 Generating Node-Locked License Files for Another Computer on Linux
4 Generating Node-Locked License Files for a Simulator
5 Generating the PiXYZ CAD license file on Windows - Discontinued
6 Generating Dongle-Locked License Files on Windows - Discontinued

Generating Node-Locked License Files on Windows

If you need a license file on a computer that cannot connect to the CM Labs Activation Server by the internet, follow the workflow "Generating License Files for Another Computer"

Launch the Vortex License Manager application.
The system lists any currently valid licenses.
Click Add Another License / Renew Existing License.
Click Internet Activation.
Enter your Activation Key.
- The license type must be node-locked.
- The fulfillment count gives the number of times the activation key was used to generate a license file, and the number of activations remaining.
  You can regenerate without consuming a count if the key was already used on the same computer.
Click Activate for Local Use.
- Review your key information.
Select Activate.

You will see the status of your activation. If successful, a license file is generated in the Vortex Studio the Licenses folder.

Generating Node-Locked License Files on Linux

If you need a license file on a computer that cannot connect to the CM Labs Activation Server by the internet, follow the workflow "Generating License Files for Another Computer"

You can view the status of the Activation server and (optionally) a dongle using the following command:

./VortexLicenseManager --status

<optional> To validate your key, launch the Vortex License Manager with the following parameters:
./VortexLicenseManager--key <your key>
To be activated, you will need an activation left on the fulfillment.
To activate your key, launch the Vortex License Manager with the following parameters:
./VortexLicenseManager --activate-locally <your key>
If your command was successful, a license file is generated in the Vortex StudioLicenses folder.

Generating Node-Locked License Files for Another Computer

When the computer that will run Vortex Studio does not have internet access, the activation can be done on another computer.

The 2 computers are:

Target Computer: The computer for which the license file is generated.
Activation Computer: The computer that is used to connect to the License Activation Server.

Generating license files for another computer involves performing specific tasks with the license manager locally on each computer.
The license setup information is transferred using a file from one computer to the other.

You will need the license manager on all computers involved in the operations.
To install only the license manager rather than a full Vortex Studio, see Installing Only the Vortex License Manager Application

Generating Node-Locked License Files for Another Computer on Windows

Extract the information from the Target Computer:
1. Launch the Vortex Studio License Manager application on the Target Computer.
  The system lists any currently valid licenses.
2. Click Add Another License / Renew Existing License.
3. Click Manual Activation.
4. Click Extract host info to file...
5. In the window that appears, type a file name and click Save.
  The system confirms that the file was updated.
6. Transfer the license setup file to portable media, such as a USB storage device.
Generate the License file on the Activation Computer:
1. Launch the Vortex Studio License Manager application on the Activation Computer.
  The system lists any currently valid licenses.
2. Click Add Another License / Renew Existing License.
3. Click Internet Activation.
4. Enter your Activation Key.
  - The license type must be node-locked.
  - The fulfillment count gives the number of times the activation key was used to generate a license file, and the number of activations remaining.
    You can regenerate without consuming a count if the key was already used on the same computer.
5. Click Activate for Remote Use.
6. Click Activate from License Setup file...
7. Navigate to your host info file and click Open.
8. In the host info confirmation window that appears, do one of the following:
  - If the information is accurate, click Yes.
  - If the information is not accurate, click No, delete your file and repeat step 1 on the Target Computer.
  The license setup file updates with the license information.
9. Transfer the license setup file back to a portable media, such as a USB storage device.
Install the license file on the Target Computer:
1. Launch the Vortex License Manager on the Target Computer.
2. Click Manual Activation.
3. Click I already activated my license....
4. Select your license setup file and click Open.
If successful, a license file is generated in the Vortex Studio Licenses folder.