Webots User Guide - chapter 1 - section 3

Webots User Guide


1.3 Webots license system

Starting with Webots 7, a new license system was introduced to facilitate the use of Webots, which replaces the previous system. Webots licenses can now be setup on an unlimited number of computers, allowing you to use Webots seamlessly on any computer (office, home, travel, etc.). This new system relies on a license server located on Cyberbotics servers and accessible through an Internet connection. If you would like to use Webots while not connected to the Internet, you should purchase a USB dongle to transfer your Internet license to this dongle. Your license can also be transfered back to the license server if needed.

Cyberbotics license servers are located in Switzerland on a highly reliable network featuring a 99.9% up-time. However, if for some reason our servers would fail, a security system will allow you to run Webots even in case of server failure, by connecting automatically to an alternate server located in the Cloud (Google App Engine).

1.3.1 License agreement

Please read your license agreement carefully before using Webots. This license is provided within the software package. By using the software and documentation, you agree to abide by all the provisions of this license.

1.3.2 License setup

A Webots license is originally associated with an e-mail address which corresponds to a user account on Cyberbotics's web site.

When Webots is started for the first time, it invites you to register a user account on Cyberbotics's web site (if not already done) and to enter the corresponding license information in the Webots Preferences. You can always modify the license information from the Webots Preferences available in the Tools menu.

To enable your Internet license from the Webots Preferences, select the License tab and check the box entitled Use license server. Then, enter your e-mail address and password corresponding to your user account, select a license type (Webots PRO, Webots EDU or another license type if available) and click on the OK button. After some networking, Webots should display your license information and you should be able to start using Webots.

If you are using a proxy to access the Internet, you may need to configure it in the Network tab of the Webots Preferences before attempting to connect to the license server. The proxy configuration should be the same as the one defined in your system or web browser. HTTP proxy should contain the IP address of the proxy including the port, i.e., for example 123.456.789.012:8080. For an anonymous proxy, you should leave the username and password fields empty. Otherwise, you should enter your proxy username and password. If you need assistance while doing this, please contact your local system administrator.
The Synchronization field of the License tab in the Webots Preferences defines how frequently Webots checks the license server. Setting this field to a small value will cause more networking activity, but will allow you to release the license quickly after a crash. This will allow you in turn to restart Webots quicker on another machine. For example, if you select 5 minutes, you may have to wait for up to 5 minutes if you crashed Webots on a machine and want to restart it on another.

1.3.3 Dongle setup

dongle

Figure 1.1: The Webots USB dongle

The Webots USB dongle (see Figure figure 1.1) is automatically recognized under Windows and Mac OS X. No driver installation is necessary. Under, Linux it works for the root user without installing any driver. However, to make it work for any Linux user, you should follow the installation procedure located in the linux/webots/driver_usb_dongle folder of the Webots DVD or on our web site. On some Linux systems, it may be necessary to set a global environment variable with the following command line:

export USB_DEVFS_PATH=/proc/bus/usb

This should be set globally in /etc/profile, so that you don't have to set it for every user when they log on.

1.3.4 Dongle usage

If you purchased a USB dongle, it should originally be empty, i.e., contain no license information. In order to transfer your license information into the dongle, you should first setup your license as described earlier in this chapter. Once active, Webots should display a new item in the Tools menu entitled Transfer license from server to dongle.... If you select this menu item, you will be asked to insert your dongle in your computer and Webots will transfer your license from the server to the dongle. Depending on your Internet connection, this operation could take a few seconds. Once completed, Webots doesn't need an Internet connection any more. You can quit Webots, unplug the dongle, plug it on another computer not connected to the Internet and start Webots on that computer. Webots will read the license information automatically from the dongle.

The Webots USB dongle should be plugged in before you start Webots and should not be removed until after you close the program.

To move the license back to the Internet license server, simply start Webots with the dongle inserted and go to the Tools to select Transfer license from dongle to server...

The license information securely stored on the Cyberbotics server or encrypted on the USB dongle contains your name, organization, country, type of license, expiration date of your Premier service (for support and upgrades), etc. This information is displayed in the About... box available from the Help menu of Webots.

If your rights changed, for example because you renewed your Premier service for support and upgrades or you upgraded from Webots EDU to Webots PRO, then you can update the information on your Webots dongle simply by transfering the license back to the server and transfering it again down to your USB dongle.

If you need further information about license issues, please send an e-mail to:

<license@cyberbotics.com>

release 7.0.2
Copyright © 2012 Cyberbotics Ltd. All right reserved.