OffNet Activation Process Overview

Offline and OffNet Activation

software_DNA offers two different processes for activating your Application on computers not connected to the Internet.

Make sure to read both the Offline and OffNet Activation articles before deciding on which process to use as the DNA Product configuration and implementation are substantially different.

OffNet Activation Overview

The OffNet Activation Process allows users to activate the software without the need for an internet connection.

Typically, OffNet Activation is required for secure organisations, or enterprises with policies that restrict internet connectivity and transfer of files to and from the computers.

The process includes the following steps:

• The User creates a Request Key from the Application on the unconnected computer using their License Activation Code. The Request Key is a 10-20 character alphanumeric string.

• The User provides the Request Key, a License Password and a License Email to create a Confirmation Key. Both the License Password and Email are optional, although recommended

• A Confirmation Key is created:

  • by the User using the software_DNA OffNet Activation Portal (see below for required set-up) on a connected computer

  • by you from the DNA Control Panel, via the OffNet Activation screen

  • by the User, using your own OffNet Portal on your web-site that issues a API POST to the DNA Servers to retrieve the Confirmation Key

• The Confirmation Key will expire as follows:

  • within 24 hours for Version 6.01 or earlier of the DNA Library

  • within 72 hours for Version 6.02 or later of the DNA Library

• The User enters the Confirmation Key in the Application on the unconnected computer, and the License will be locked and activated on the computer.

• The software can now be run on the unconnected computer

Fully annotated source code samples (HelloWorld OffNet) showing the OffNet Activation process are available in the DNA Control Panel under Resources -> Code Samples.

The screen shots in this article are taken from the HelloWorld OffNet code sample.

Licensing features supported by OffNet Activation

With the objective of keeping the Request and Confirmation Keys to a manageable length and allow them to be exchanged verbally, not all the licensing features are available with OffNet Activation.

Features that are supported include:

• Perpetual Licenses, including Single-User / Multi-Computer and Multi-User Licenses without Roll-Over Re-activation
• Timed Licenses that include an Expiration Period
• Evaluation Licenses that include an Expiration Period
• Use of the <License_data> custom field, although it is recommended to keep it short as it will increase the length of the Confirmation Key. We recommend a maximum of 4 characters.

Licenses generated through the OffNet Activation process will use Level 1 Validation as no Internet connection is available. The Licenses are locked to the unconnected computer and are secure.

The DNA Product using OffNet Activation can use any Validation Level for licenses generated with an internet connection.

New Product_Key for OffNet Activation

When you choose the OffNet Activation option for your DNA Product, you will be issued a new <Product_Key> for your Product, so it is important to make this decision and transition early in your implementation.

The OffNet Activation option can be enabled or disabled only when your DNA Product is in TESTING MODE.

Creating the Request Key from the App

The Request Key is a hash of key information required to uniquely identify the unconnected computer and create the "CDM" License file.

Steps to allow the User to create the Request Key on the unconnected computer:

• you will need to have a menu selection or button in your software application for OffNet Activation

• When selected, your application would issue the DNA_GetRequestKey() API call to create the Request Key and present it to the User

• We recommend that you ask the User for his License Activation Code before issuing the Request Key. Although not required for the DNA_GetRequestKey() API call, it is required for the next step, and ensures the User already has his License Activation Code before beginning the OffNet Activation process.

Example of OffNet Activation application dialog box (from the HelloWorld OffNet code sample)

Entering the Confirmation Key from the App

The Confirmation Key contains the License information required to create the CDM from the Application.

Steps to allow the User to enter the Confirmation Key on the unconnected computer:

• You will need to have a menu selection or button in your software application for OffNet Activation and entering the Confirmation Key

• When selected, you would prompt the User for their License Activation Code and the Confirmation Key, and issue the DNA_SetConfirmationKey() API call.

  The ".CDM" License file would then be created and locked to the computer

• The software can now be run on the unconnected computer

Example of OffNet Activation application dialog box (from the HelloWorld OffNet code sample)

Use of License Password and Email

We always recommend the use of the License Password and Email:

• Use of the License Password makes the licensing process more secure

• Use of the License Password allows the use of the License Manager Portal where a User can view his License, change his Password and Email address, and view activated computers / seats

• Use of the Email address allows "Resend Password"

• Use of the Email address allows the user access to the License Manager Portal "License List" feature

When used with an OffNet Activation portal / web-page, entering this information is easy.

But if your process will be done using email exchange or verbal exchange, then you can configure your DNA Product to not use a License Password (i.e. disable User Authentication) or not ask for an email address.

software_DNA OffNet Activation portal

We provide a software_DNA hosted OffNet Activation portal that allows Users to perform the OffNet Activation themselves vs you performing the activation on their behalf, or creating your own portal.

To set-up the access to the software_DNA OffNet Activation portal:

• provide Tech Support a short Product Name that will be included in the URL to the portal
• inform Tech Support if you want the optional fields Computer ID and License Email to be displayed
• communicate the following URL to your Users wanting to do their own OffNet Activation:

     https://www.softworkz.com/licensemanager/offnet.aspx?product=<Product Name>

The Computer ID field is for information only and is displayed in the License Manager and the DNA Control Panel to quickly identify which computers are activated on the License.

Setting up your OffNet Activation web portal

The OffNet Activation Portal is really a simple web-based input form available to your Users on your web site to allow them to complete the OffNet Activation without your intervention. It does require that the User have some access to the internet outside the "secured" environment, for example, using a mobile phone.

Example of a OffNet Activation web page form

Once the User enters their information and clicks on Get Confirmation Key, your web page will need to issue a HTTPS POST command to the DNA Server's DIRECT Connector with the following Name/Value pairs in the body of the POST:

The HTTPS POST URL to issue is:

https://www.softworkz.com/login/admin/scripts/direct5.asp

The HTTPS POST Response body will include one line of text:

• the <Confirmation_Key> itself, or
• a DNA Error Code as returned by the DNA API calls. For example: ERR_OPERATION_FAILED

Your web site page logic can detect an error code by looking for "ERR_" as the first 4 characters of the response.

Examples of Request and Confirmation Keys

Request and Confirmation Keys will typically be 10-20 alphanumeric characters

                              
                                Dim offnet_response As String
                                Dim str As String

                                ' Build the POST request Name/Value pair string
                                
                                str="TRIGGER=GET_CONFIRMATION_KEY&DNA_PRODUCTID=P0000000&DNA_ACTIVATION_CODE=" &request.form("DNA_Activation_Code")
                                str=str&"&DNA_PASSWORD="&request.form("DNA_Password")
                                str=str&"&DNA_EMAIL="&request.form("DNA_Email")
                                str=str&"&DNA_REQUESTKEY="&request.form("DNA_RequestKey")
                                str=str&"&HMACMD5="&<Your_RESTful_API_Key>

                              
                              	' create the HTPP Object and send
                                
                                Dim offnetPost As WebRequest = WebRequest.Create("https://www.softworkz.com/login/admin/scripts/direct5.asp")
                                offnetPost.ContentType = "application/x-www-form-urlencoded"
                                offnetPost.Method = "POST"
                                Dim encodedpost As New ASCIIEncoding()
                                Dim postByteArray() As Byte = encodedPost.GetBytes(str)
                                offnetPost.Contentlength = postByteArray.Length
                                Dim postStream As IO.Stream = offnetPost.GetRequestStream()
                                postStream.Write(postByteArray,0,postByteArray.Length)
                                postStream.Close()
                                
                                ' get the HTTP Response
                                
                                Dim offnetResponse As HttpWebResponse = offnetPost.GetResponse()
                                
                                If offnetResponse.StatusCode = HttpStatusCode.OK then
                                
                                    Dim responseStream as IO.StreamReader = New IO.StreamReader(offnetResponse.GetResponseStream)
                                    offnet_response = responseStream.ReadtoEnd()
                                    offnetResponse.Close()
                                Else	
                                    offnet_response = "Error " + offnetResponse.StatusCode
                                End If
                                
                                confirmation_key.Text = offnet_response
                                
                                ' offnet_response contains either the Confirmation Key, or a DNA Error Code, or the HTTP Status Code
                              
                              
                          

                              

								'  assumes a HTML <form> has captured :
                                '  - DNA_Activation_Code
                                '  - DNA_Password
                                '  - DNA_Email
                                '  - DNA_RequestKey
                                
                                ' Build the POST request Name/Value pair string
                                
                                str="TRIGGER=GET_CONFIRMATION_KEY&DNA_PRODUCTID=P0000000&DNA_ACTIVATION_CODE=" &request.form("DNA_Activation_Code")
                                str=str&"&DNA_PASSWORD="&request.form("DNA_Password")
                                str=str&"&DNA_EMAIL="&request.form("DNA_Email")
                                str=str&"&DNA_REQUESTKEY="&request.form("DNA_RequestKey")
                                str=str&"&HMACMD5="&<Your_RESTful_API_Key>
 
                                ' create the HTTP Object and send
                                
                                set objHttp = Server.CreateObject("MSXML2.ServerXMLHTTP")
                                objHttp.setOption 2, 13056
                                objHttp.open "POST",request("script_name"),false
                                objHttp.setRequestHeader "Content-type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded"
                                objHttp.Send str
                                
                                ' get the HTTP response
                                
                                Response_status=objHttp.status
                                Response_status_text=objHttp.statustext
                                Response_text=objHttp.ResponseText
                            
                                set objHttp = nothing
                                
                                ' Response_text contains either the Confirmation Key, or a DNA Error Code
          
                              
                              
                          

                          	
                            
								'  assumes a HTML <form> has captured :
                                '  - DNA_Activation_Code
                                '  - DNA_Password
                                '  - DNA_Email
                                '  - DNA_RequestKey
                                
                                ' Build the POST request Name/Value pair string
                              
                              	$data = array('TRIGGER' => 'GET_CONFIRMATION_KEY', 'DNA_PRODUCTID' => $DNA_ProductID, 'DNA_ACTIVATION_CODE' => $DNA_Activation_Code, 'DNA_PASSWORD' => $DNA_Password, 'DNA_EMAIL' => $DNA_Email, 'DNA_REQUESTKEY' => $DNA_RequestKey, 'HMACMD5' => $RESTFUL_API_Key);
                              
                              	$options = array(
                                  'http' => array(
                                      'header'  => "Content-type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded",
                                      'method'  => 'POST',
                                      'content' => http_build_query($data)
                                  	)
                              	);
                                
                                $url = 'http://www.softworkz.com/login/admin/scripts/direct5.asp';
                             
                                # Create the context
                                $context = stream_context_create($options);

                                # Get the response (you can use this for GET)
                                $response = file_get_contents($url, false, $context);

                                # Response contains either the Confirmation Key, or a DNA Error Code