TN WW137 Different Wonderware license files and what they are used for
What is Wwsuite Lic?
If you are using Wonderware products for your industrial automation and information management needs, you may have encountered the term Wwsuite Lic in relation to licensing. But what exactly is Wwsuite Lic and why is it important? In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about Wwsuite Lic and other types of Wonderware licenses, how to install and manage them, and how to troubleshoot them if you encounter any problems.
Wwsuite Lic
What are Wonderware products?
Wonderware is a leading provider of software solutions for industrial automation and information management. Wonderware products help you monitor, control, optimize, and visualize your industrial processes and operations in real time.
Some of the most popular Wonderware products are:
InTouch: a powerful graphical user interface (GUI) for creating human-machine interface (HMI) applications.
System Platform: an integrated platform for developing, deploying, and managing industrial applications.
Historian: a high-performance database for storing and retrieving historical data from industrial processes.
Historian Client: a suite of tools for analyzing and reporting historical data from Historian.
Information Server: a web-based portal for delivering real-time and historical information from various sources.
ArchestrA Workflow: a business process management (BPM) software for modeling, executing, and optimizing workflows.
InTouch Machine Edition (IT ME): a compact and scalable HMI software for embedded devices.
IntelaTrac: a mobile workforce and decision support system for field operators.
SmartGlance: a mobile app for accessing real-time and historical data from various sources.
Wonderware Online: a cloud-based platform for storing, analyzing, and sharing industrial data.
Wonderware products are widely used in various industries, such as oil and gas, power, water and wastewater, food and beverage, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, metals and mining, pulp and paper, and more.
What are the types of Wonderware licenses?
To use Wonderware products, you need to obtain and install the appropriate licenses. Wonderware licenses are files that contain information about the product name, version, features, expiration date, and other parameters. Wonderware licenses are either unserved or served.
Unserved licenses are licenses that do not require a license server to operate. They are installed on the same computer where the product is installed. Unserved licenses are typically used for standalone applications or small networks.
Served licenses are licenses that require a license server to operate. They are installed on a separate computer that acts as a license server. The license server distributes the licenses to the clients that request them over the network. Served licenses are typically used for large networks or distributed applications.
Depending on the type of license, Wonderware products use different file formats for licensing. The most common file formats are wwsuite.lic, archestra.lic, and archestraServer.lic.
What is wwsuite.lic?
Wwsuite.lic is a file format used by some Wonderware products for unserved licensing. Wwsuite.lic contains information about the product name, version, features, expiration date, and other parameters. Wwsuite.lic also contains a unique identifier of the computer where it is installed, called the host ID.
The host ID is based on the MAC address of the network adapter of the computer. The MAC address is a 12-digit hexadecimal number that identifies the network adapter. For example, 00-0C-29-8A-BC-D1 is a MAC address.
Wwsuite.lic can be installed on a local computer or a network drive. If it is installed on a local computer, only that computer can use the license. If it is installed on a network drive, any computer that has access to that network drive can use the license.
The advantage of wwsuite.lic is that it does not require a license server to operate. The disadvantage of wwsuite.lic is that it is tied to the host ID of the computer where it is installed. If the computer changes its MAC address or network adapter, or if the computer is replaced or upgraded, the license will become invalid and need to be reactivated.
What is archestra.lic?
Archestra.lic is a file format used by some Wonderware products for unserved licensing. Archestra.lic contains information about the product name, version, features, expiration date, and other parameters. Archestra.lic also contains a unique identifier of the computer where it is installed, called the machine ID.
The machine ID is based on the hardware configuration of the computer. The hardware configuration includes information such as the processor type, speed, memory size, disk size, serial number, and other components. The machine ID is generated by a software tool called GetMachineID.exe.
Archestra.lic can be installed on a local computer or a network drive. If it is installed on a local computer, only that computer can use the license. If it is installed on a network drive, any computer that has access to that network drive can use the license.
The advantage of archestra.lic is that it does not require a license server to operate. The disadvantage of archestra.lic is that it is tied to the machine ID of the computer where it is installed. If the computer changes its hardware configuration or if the computer is replaced or upgraded, the license will become invalid and need to be reactivated.
What is archestraServer.lic?
ArchestraServer.lic is a file format used by some Wonderware products for served licensing. ArchestraServer.lic contains information about the product name, version, features, expiration date, and other parameters. ArchestraServer.lic also contains a unique identifier of the license server where it is installed, called the server ID.
The server ID is based on the MAC address of the network adapter of the license server. The MAC address is a 12-digit hexadecimal number that identifies the network adapter. For example, 00-0C-29-8A-BC-D1 is a MAC address.
ArchestraServer.lic can only be installed on a license server. The license server is a computer that runs a software service called ArchestrA License Server. The ArchestrA License Server distributes the licenses to the clients that request them over the network. The clients are the computers that run the Wonderware products that need the licenses.
The advantage of archestraServer.lic is that it allows multiple clients to share the same license pool. The disadvantage of archestraServer.lic is that it requires a license server to operate and a network connection between the license server and the clients.
How to install and manage Wonderware licenses?
To install and manage Wonderware licenses, you need to use a software tool called ArchestrA License Manager. ArchestrA License Manager is a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows you to perform various tasks related to licensing, such as:
Install licenses from files or online sources.
Activate licenses using activation codes or online services.
Deactivate licenses and return them to the source.
Transfer licenses from one computer to another.
View and modify license properties and parameters.
Monitor and manage license usage and availability.
Backup and restore licenses.
ArchestrA License Manager can be installed on any computer that runs Windows operating system. You can access ArchestrA License Manager from the Start menu or from the desktop shortcut. You can also launch ArchestrA License Manager from other Wonderware products, such as System Platform or InTouch.
How to install wwsuite.lic?
To install wwsuite.lic, you need to follow these steps:
Obtain the wwsuite.lic file from your Wonderware distributor or online source.
Copy the wwsuite.lic file to a local computer or a network drive where you want to install it.
Launch ArchestrA License Manager and select File > Install License File.
Browse to the location of the wwsuite.lic file and select it.
Click Open and then click OK to confirm the installation.
The wwsuite.lic file will be added to the list of installed licenses in ArchestrA License Manager.
How to install archestra.lic?
To install archestra.lic, you need to follow these steps:
Obtain the archestra.lic file from your Wonderware distributor or online source.
Copy the archestra.lic file to a local computer or a network drive where you want to install it.
Launch ArchestrA License Manager and select File > Install License File.
Browse to the location of the archestra.lic file and select it.
Click Open and then click OK to confirm the installation.
The archestra.lic file will be added to the list of installed licenses in ArchestrA License Manager.
How to install archestraServer.lic?
To install archestraServer.lic, you need to follow these steps:
Obtain the archestraServer.lic file from your Wonderware distributor or online source.
Install the ArchestrA License Server software on a computer that will act as a license server. You can download the software from the Wonderware website or use the installation media provided by your distributor.
Launch ArchestrA License Manager on the license server and select File > Install License File.
Browse to the location of the archestraServer.lic file and select it.
Click Open and then click OK to confirm the installation.
The archestraServer.lic file will be added to the list of installed licenses in ArchestrA License Manager on the license server.
Configure the clients that need to access the license server. You can do this by editing the ArchestrA.License.Client.xml file on each client computer or by using the ArchestrA License Client Configuration tool. You need to specify the IP address or hostname of the license server and the port number (default is 5440).
How to troubleshoot Wonderware licenses?
If you encounter any problems with Wonderware licenses, you can use the following tips to troubleshoot them:
How to check the license status?
To check the license status, you can use the ArchestrA License Manager or other tools to verify the license availability and expiration date. For example, you can use the following steps to check the license status using ArchestrA License Manager:
Launch ArchestrA License Manager and select View > Installed Licenses.
Select the license that you want to check and click Properties.
In the Properties dialog box, you can see the license name, version, features, expiration date, and other information.
If the license is served, you can also see the license server name, IP address, port number, and connection status.
If the license is unserved, you can also see the host ID or machine ID of the computer where it is installed.
Click OK to close the Properties dialog box.
How to resolve license errors?
To resolve license errors, you can use the following tips to fix common problems related to Wonderware licenses:
If you get an invalid license error, it means that the license file is corrupted or modified. You need to reinstall the license file from a valid source or contact your distributor for a new license file.
If you get a missing license error, it means that the license file is not found or not accessible. You need to check the location of the license file and make sure that it is readable and writable. You also need to check the network connection if the license file is on a network drive or a license server.
If you get an expired license error, it means that the license file has reached its expiration date. You need to renew the license file or contact your distributor for a new license file.
If you get an exceeded license limit error, it means that the number of clients that request the license has exceeded the number of licenses available. You need to check the license usage and availability in ArchestrA License Manager and reduce the number of clients or increase the number of licenses.
How to contact Wonderware support?
If you need further assistance or have any questions regarding Wonderware licenses, you can contact Wonderware technical support. Wonderware technical support is available 24/7 and can help you with any issues related to Wonderware products and services.
To contact Wonderware technical support, you can use the following methods:
Phone: You can call the toll-free number 1-800-966-3371 in the US and Canada, or the local number for your region. You can find the list of local numbers on the Wonderware website.
Email: You can send an email to support@wonderware.com with your name, company name, phone number, product name, version, and a brief description of your issue.
Web: You can visit the Wonderware website and fill out the online support request form. You will need to provide your name, email address, phone number, product name, version, and a brief description of your issue.
Chat: You can use the live chat feature on the Wonderware website and chat with a support representative. You will need to provide your name, email address, phone number, product name, version, and a brief description of your issue.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained what Wwsuite Lic is and why it is important for using Wonderware products. We have also compared Wwsuite Lic with other types of Wonderware licenses, such as archestra.lic and archestraServer.lic. We have shown you how to install and manage Wonderware licenses using ArchestrA License Manager. And we have given you some tips on how to troubleshoot Wonderware licenses if you encounter any problems.
We hope that this article has helped you understand Wwsuite Lic and other aspects of Wonderware licensing. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact us or leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about Wwsuite Lic and Wonderware licenses in general:
Q: What is the difference between wwsuite.lic and wwsuite.ini?
A: Wwsuite.lic is a license file that contains information about the product name, version, features, expiration date, and other parameters. Wwsuite.ini is a configuration file that contains information about the location of the license file and other settings. Wwsuite.ini is usually located in the same folder as wwsuite.lic.
Q: How can I backup and restore my licenses?
A: To backup your licenses, you can use ArchestrA License Manager and select File > Backup Licenses. You can choose a destination folder and a file name for the backup file. The backup file will have a .bak extension. To restore your licenses, you can use ArchestrA License Manager and select File > Restore Licenses. You can browse to the location of the backup file and select it. The licenses will be restored to their original locations.
Q: How can I transfer my licenses from one computer to another?
A: To transfer your licenses from one computer to another, you need to deactivate the licenses on the source computer and activate them on the destination computer. You can use ArchestrA License Manager and select File > Deactivate Licenses on the source computer. You can choose to deactivate the licenses online or offline. Online deactivation requires an internet connection and an activation code. Offline deactivation requires a deactivation file and a USB drive. After deactivating the licenses, you can use ArchestrA License Manager and select File > Activate Licenses on the destination computer. You can choose to activate the licenses online or offline. Online activation requires an internet connection and an activation code. Offline activation requires an activation file and a USB drive.
Q: How can I update my licenses to a newer version?
A: To update your licenses to a newer version, you need to contact your Wonderware distributor and request a new license file. You can then use ArchestrA License Manager and select File > Install License File to install the new license file. You may also need to uninstall the old license file if it is no longer needed.
Q: How can I find more information about Wonderware licensing?
A: To find more information about Wonderware licensing, you can visit the Wonderware website and access the following resources:
Wonderware Licensing Guide: a comprehensive document that explains the concepts, procedures, and best practices of Wonderware licensing.
Wonderware Licensing Videos: a series of videos that demonstrate how to use ArchestrA License Manager and other tools for licensing.
Wonderware Licensing FAQ: a list of frequently asked questions and answers about Wonderware licensing.
Wonderware Licensing Forum: a community forum where you can ask questions, share tips, and interact with other Wonderware users and experts.
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