About the SoftJACE license

As with any NiagaraAX platform, a SoftJACE requires at least one valid license file for operation. Each license file is specific to the installed host (in this case a specific PC), by its “host ID”, which NiagaraAX uniquely calculates for any device. The host ID is in the first line of the license file (a digitally-signed text/xml file).

For any JACE controller, its host ID is determined at the factory, and a corresponding license file for that specific JACE is finished and stored on a “licensing server.” This simplifies the installation or updating of the JACE’s license during commissioning, making the process almost automatic.
Your SoftJACE PC host ID cannot be determined until after the NiagaraAX software is installed.

However, when you buy a SoftJACE, a license file is started for it—and also stored on the licensing server. In this “unbound” license, there is a “license key” entry, a hexadecimal number that is also printed and sent to you. See Figure 3 for a license key example (FF01-0000-AF15-008B-7799).

Figure 3. Example sheet showing unique License Key

After you install the NiagaraAX SoftJACE software, you can submit an online form to the licensing server, on which your NiagaraAX-calculated host ID appears. You enter your license key along with your name, company, and email address.

Using this “self serve” process, the licensing server can immediately finish your license, where it is then available for SoftJACE commissioning (when using your Workbench PC). Also, the license file is emailed back to you as an attachment. See Submitting a license request.

A license file is a digitally-signed text/xml file, which you can open and read with Wordpad or Internet Explorer, and even rename if desired. However, never edit the contents of license file! If you make any changes to contents, your SoftJACE will not operate! Contact your license authority if you need any changes, so that your license can be updated properly.

Note that your SoftJACE license has resource limits, meaning that the station running on it has a pre-allocated amount of Java resource units for objects. See the section resource limits for more details.