iLok Question ... *not* Physical USB iLok Dongle Stick related

[BenIfin]

Hey all !

Putting aside any use of a Physical USB iLok Dongle Stick.

-> if I buy an iLok protected Plugin, and use the "Cloud" method, I presume the Machine it is installed on needs to always be connected to the Internet in order to keep the plugin activated and useable ?

if yes

-> can any and all iLok "Cloud" activations be moved / migrated over to iLok Machine-ID activation so they can be used offline with no need for internet connecton ?

Thx.

 

[dean701]

Nope. The ilok software client manages authorization for the software. Once done the software will be good to go. When you use the actual software it will check with the ilok client.
If you wish to bounce the license to another machine you would need internet access.

 

[BenIfin]

Nope. The ilok software client manages authorization for the software. Once done the software will be good to go. When you use the actual software it will check with the ilok client. If you wish to bounce the license to another machine you would need internet access.

If I move / migrate an existing iLok "Cloud" activation to iLok Machine-ID activation I assume that would remove any need for any internet access other than the initial installation-activation or machine swap or plugin re-sale (?)

 

[PhilA]

Nope. The ilok software client manages authorization for the software. Once done the software will be good to go. When you use the actual software it will check with the ilok client.
If you wish to bounce the license to another machine you would need internet access.

Sorry this isn’t correct.
Cloud licenses require the client to be online at all times.
You can move licenses between authorisation types at will with the caveat that the license provider (software vendor) allows that type of use. Vendors can state whether they allow cloud or machine activation so all types are not always available.
Honestly just buy an iLok dongle I’ve used one for 20 years plus and never had an issue. It’s a same sight easier moving these license to a new machine during upgrade than it is all the other device activated ones.

Other people’s opinions on iLok may vary this is mine after years of use.

 

[dean701]

If I move / migrate an existing iLok "Cloud" activation to iLok Machine-ID activation I assume that would remove any need for any internet access other than the initial installation-activation or machine swap or plugin re-sale (?)

yes. I just did one as a test. I moved it from cloud to machine. Right click, deactivate, on the cloud tab, and activate selecting the machine.

 

[dean701]

Sorry this isn’t correct.
Cloud licenses require the client to be online at all times.
You can move licenses between authorisation types at will with the caveat that the license provider (software vendor) allows that type of use. Vendors can state whether they allow cloud or machine activation so all types are not always available.
Honestly just buy an iLok dongle I’ve used one for 20 years plus and never had an issue. It’s a same sight easier moving these license to a new machine during upgrade than it is all the other device activated ones.

Other people’s opinions on iLok may vary this is mine after years of use.

actually I just did it.
All this came about when I lost my actual physical key, and used the ilok client to move them to the cloud. Then I moved most of them from the cloud to dedicated machines after tiring of the cloud. Never had an issue with any of them. There may be the odd one that is cloud only but I have never seen one, as I have always had the option to activate on either the machine or the cloud.

I only have a few though. Not thousands.

in the client itself you can see where things are authorized.
cloud, machine 1, machine 2, key

example

Having said all that, the only true way to know is to try it.

 

[Dom Mcsweeney]

can any and all iLok "Cloud" activations be moved / migrated over to iLok Machine-ID activation so they can be used offline with no need for internet connecton ?

Yes, so long as the developer of the plugin has provided local machine license as an option. (obvs).
If it has been provided, it's really easy to do:

1. Right click > Deactivate (this cancels current cloud activation).
2. Right click again > Activate (choose local machine license).

and it works even if you are accessing iLok from a different computer than you originally/previously activated it on.

 

[PhilA]

My incorrect comment was regarding Cloud licenses working when a device is offline. This is documented by Pace and any developer who can be bothered.

iLok Cloud - iLok Help

help.ilok.com

Depending on how a developer has used our technology, you may lose authorized use of their product until your internet connection is restored.

Some developers provide more than one license or activation for their products. For those that do, if you are mainly using the iLok Cloud and lose internet access, you could use a license activated to an iLok as a sort of backup. In order for this to work, you would need to have activated the license to the iLok prior to losing internet access.

Please contact the software developer for further information on their licensing policies and whether they can provide you with additional licenses/activations.


Swapping licenses between types is totally correct, assuming the developer supports the license type.

Apologies if what I said was confusing