MasterSeries Blog

To help users decide which Licencing arrangement is suitable for them, we have produced some helpful information and graphics to help understand the implications of each of the different licencing types.

Cloud Licence

The Cloud Licence option is our most popular licencing type as it offers users the simplest arrangement for individual users with a permanent Internet connection.

When you or your business opts for a Cloud Licence, it requires an administrator to set-up individual users within your company (using our dedicated 'Cloud Licence Admin' Licencing Software program). Sign in is not tied to any individual computer or location, but using a 'Customer ID', a' User Name' and 'Secret' key.

Any amount of users can be added to the user list within a company, the limitation to seats will be to the number of modules or suites purchased by the business and seat allocation is on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The licence is stored in 'the Cloud', and so requires an constant / reliable internet connection (with a 30 minute timeout), and so not recommended for situations where a user will be without an internet connection for any length of time.

Pros

• Simplest Arrangement for those with a reliable internet connection
• Our most popular licence type with users
• No limit to the number of users (only seats)
• No ‘Licence Server’ maintenance required
• No limit to the number of users (only seats)

Cons

• No options to Check-out Licences
• 30-minute Timeout for Lost Internet Connections

Recommended for:

• Most Users (with a reliable internet connection)

Network Softlock

The Network Softlock is ideal for instances where some Engineers may be facing extended periods of time without any or a reliable internet connection. 

The Licence can be hosted on an Individual Computer or a Network Server connected to the internet, through the installation of a simple program called 'MasterSeries License Server'. Network Servers are generally recommended over PCs, as they are typically less likely to get disconnected or shutdown. Single users have the option of having the Licence stored on the PC they are using.

Users can then access the available MasterSeries seats by connecting to the Licence through the Network. This is set up within MasterSeries through 'Change Licence Type' upon Start-Up, using the 'Network Softlock Licence' option, and connecting to the host server / PC.

Any number of machines can be connected to the Network Licence within a company, the limitation to seats will be to the number of modules or suites purchased by the business and seat allocation is on a first-come, first-served basis.

As the licence is stored locally within the Network, users have the option to temporarily assign seats to individual machines within the network though a process called 'Checking-Out'. This is recommended for situations where a user will be without an internet connection for any length of time and will require manually checking back in (with a 14-day default timeout).

Pros

• Useful for Computers that have limited or no internet access (using ‘Check-Out’ feature)
• No limit to the number of computers (only seats)

• Requires VPN when working remotely
• Licence Server may require additional administration and maintenance

Recommended for:

• Computers with Limited or No Internet Access
• When Access via Internal Network is Preferred