Dongle to License

[Michael Phillips]

You can switch to a software license, or in v8 to a floating license server if you have the infrastructure for it. Don’t know the exact details or process, but I remember seeing something on Avid.com.

Michael

[Pat Horridge]

Here’s the link to the redemption process:

https://www.avid.com/US/support/upgrade-video

But I’d seriously re-consider. The dongles allow backwards version support (license activation is just 1 version back)

Dongles require no internet access to validate.

Basically dongles are the so much more flexible.

What are you hoping to gain by moving from dongles?

Pat Horridge
Technical Director, Trainer, Avid Certified Instructor
VET
Production Editing Digital Media Design DVD
T +44 (0)20 7505 4701 | F +44 (0)20 7505 4800 | E pat@vet.co.uk |
http://www.vet.co.uk | Lux Building 2-4 Hoxton Square London N1 6US

[Yonni Banin]

I have these Dongles for less than a year now and one of them broke down and disabled 1 editing system, it takes a long time to fix it.

[Pat Horridge]

Apart from I think one physical damage (replaced by Avid) I’ve had over a dozen for over a decade trouble free.
You can protect them by using a short usb extender so they don’t get bashed. But honestly functionally a dongle is great.

Pat Horridge
Technical Director, Trainer, Avid Certified Instructor
VET
Production Editing Digital Media Design DVD
T +44 (0)20 7505 4701 | F +44 (0)20 7505 4800 | E pat@vet.co.uk |
http://www.vet.co.uk | Lux Building 2-4 Hoxton Square London N1 6US

[Yonni Banin]

Pat,

Thanks a lot for the link and the info.
I’m reconsidering 🙂

[Pat Horridge]

If you do decide to switch you should be able to sell the old dongle as they cost a lot to buy now. A customer with a serial number can request a dongle updater and cross trade.

Pat Horridge
Technical Director, Trainer, Avid Certified Instructor
VET
Production Editing Digital Media Design DVD
T +44 (0)20 7505 4701 | F +44 (0)20 7505 4800 | E pat@vet.co.uk |
http://www.vet.co.uk | Lux Building 2-4 Hoxton Square London N1 6US

[Michael Phillips]

I agree with Pat that overall a dongle is more flexible in its use. I have had a mix of both and ended up going all dongle. Software license works well in education and large enterprise scenarios with IT managed systems for upgrades and such. The license server is a good move in that direction. It is also handy for laptops and systems on the move being used in the field and such as that is where dongles are most susceptible to breaking – but having them on a USB extender as Pat suggests eliminates a lot of the bump type dongle breaking.

But for desktop systems and going back and forth between similar systems, a dongle is fast and more convenient. Also, if your drive goes down, getting a software license back up and running can be painful as well.

Michael