Question:
This message has just popped up on my screen: “hardkey/softkey will expire in X days”. What is the procedure in this situation? How do I handle the hardkey/softkey expiration date?
Solution:
There are two types of software protection available for Elipse systems: hardkeys and softkeys. The hardkey is a physical protection, validated via hardware; the softkey on the other hand is a key with software validation. This article will show you the correct procedures for when the message “hardkey/softkey will expire in X days” pops up on your screen; that is, how you will handle your hardkey/softkey expiration date.
Some hardkeys have a protection system against loss or theft, which is activated upon purchase; therefore, an expiration date for the contents of the hardkey is set up as soon as the product is sent to the client. You can check that date in your hardkey’s documentation, or ask your sales representative directly.
The softkey, on the other hand, requires mandatory reprogramming/revalidation every 60 days. To check the expiration date of your softkey, you willl need to access eLic. When in E3Admin enviroment, you will receive a revalidation warning 30 days prior to the expiration date. The softkey’s manual reprogramming (offline) is your (the customer’s) responsibility, which you can do directly via HKCustomer or eLic.
If the machine executing eLic can access the Elipse server, the periodical reprogramming of all network protection keys vill take place automatically, according to each individual case.
When the expiration message pops up on your screen, you will need to do two things to revalidate your hardware/softkey:
- collect the key’s memory (via eLic or HKCustomer), and then
- send its contents and/or contact your sales representative, so that they can generate the memory and forward the updates back to you.
