Overview

Product Activation is the act of authenticating a product for entitled use.  If you need assistance activating, please see Product Activation.  If you have any trouble activating, please proceed.

If at any point during the below troubleshooting steps you find you need further assistance, please feel free to contact Licensing.

Troubleshooting

1. Be sure you have a basic internet connection and can access a website, or a network connection if you are   
    Deployed.

2. Make sure you can access the administration page for SELECTserver:

• Hosted: http://selectserver.bentley.com/bss/admin/default.aspx
• Deployed:  http://yourservername/bss/admin/default.aspx
  * where "yourservername" is the name of the machine where the SELECTserver software is installed"

3. Once on the Administration Site,  Navigate to "License Management" section and select "View License File."
     
    From this page, confirm the following:

• The SELECTserver has licenses available for the product in question
• The license has a valid expiration date within term of the SELECT Contract

4. From the client workstation where the software is installed, open the License Management Tool.

    From within the License Management Tool, go to the "Tools" menu and select "Options."  
   

    Here confirm or correct the server name and site activation key.

• Due to the length of the site activation key, it is recommended that each user copy and paste the information directly into the license management tool.
• Make sure there are no leading or trailing spaces in either the Server Name or Site Activation Key fields.
• The characters used in the Site Activation Key should all be in CAPS, and the letter “O” is not used, if you see a round character, it is a zero.

     Click "Test Connection". You should get a message stating “SELECT Server and Activation key verified.
   

    You could also get the following messages:

• “An error has occurred while attempting to verify the server and activation key” - This means the server specified could not be reached.

• Check if there are any firewalls that may be preventing the connection to the server. All Communication with the license server is via port 80.
• If license fails to verify, try checking off “Use HTTPS” under protocol, your network may require it.

• “Server does not support this activation key” - This means s connection to the server specified was able to be made, but the Site Activation Key is incorrect. 

• Return to the previous step to confirm Server Name and Site Activation Key.

5. Try forcing a connection from the License Management Tool.  From within the License Management Tool, go to the "Tools" menu and select "Send Logs Now."  This forces the workstation to re-establish connection with the server.  Repeat up to three times.

6. Try to activate on another machine.  If another machine can establish a connection, you'll need to troubleshoot what the difference may be between the computers. 

Again, if you need further assistance, please feel free to contact Licensing.

What is Product Activation?

Product Activation is the act of authenticating a product for entitled use. Most Bentley applications are equipped with several behavioral states to support product evaluations, the activation process, and offline use.   For more about behavior states, please see Product Activation Modes of Behavior.   An application is activated when it is licensed, which is most commonly achieved by connecting to a valid SELECTserver that has a license for the application.

How do I activate my Bentley Application?

How you activate your Bentley Product will be determined by the version of licensing you are configured for as well product version.  License information is provided to a Bentley Site Administrator or License Manager.  The Site Administrator or License Manager may then distribute the license information at his/her discretion.   Once you have your license information, you'll need to determine your activation type.  Please see the following TechNotes for details of activating:

SELECTserver Online

Locally Deployed SELECTserver

Non-SELECT/Nodelock XM/V8i

Pre-XM Nodelock

Pre-XM through a SELECTserver or SELECTserver Gateway

Do I have to activate every Bentley application I install on my machine?

No, the activation is stored in the registry.  After one product successfully activates, products installed thereafter will automatically detect the license information and will activate.

At the end of the activation wizard, there is a screen to check out a license. Do I need to check out a license in order to run my application? 

No, this option is provided for those users who will not have a periodic connection to their SELECTserver to send log files.  

Bentley has renewed my SELECT contract, how do I get my new license?

Please see Renewal Process for All Licensing

What happened to MicroStation's 15-minute "Demo Mode"? 

MicroStation still has a 15-minute time-out mode, which is invoked after the 30-day Activation period has lapsed. This is also referred to as "deactivated behavior".  

How does activation work for a large site? Will SELECTserver allow a system administrator to activate machines in batch mode? 

SELECTserver is not designed to pre-activate a desktop application, although there is a way to activate desktops in an efficient manner. XM Licensing provides support for Microsoft's Group policy settings, for more details, please see Activating Client Side Products and Registry Basics

Is the 30-day activation period also available to pre-XM applications? If so, are there any special settings that need to be applied? 

Pre-XM applications require a real-time connection requirement with the SELECTserver.  However, when licensing Pre-XM applications with the SELECTserver Gateway Service it is important to understand that the SELECTserver Gateway is, in fact, an XM application.  Therefore, it has the benefit of working in a disconnected mode for up to 30 days, which enables the applications it serves to run, as long as it's activated itself and contains license for the product in question. 

The difference for a pre-XM application is that the 30-day pre-activation period is at a Site level, not a machine level. So if I begin using it on August 1st, I am starting the 30-day period on behalf of every user at the Site. If someone else tries to use it on September 3rd (and our site still doesn't have a license), the pre-activation period is already over (>30 days) and they will enter the application's deactivated behavior, which is likely a 15-min timeout mode.

An administrator installed and activated my product. Why does the product fail to activate when run from my user account?

If an administrator activates a product while logged in as a different user, the license settings are typically stored for that user account only, not for all user accounts on the computer. To check whether the license settings are stored in your user account, perform the following steps:

1. Open the License Management Tool. Most products provide a way to open this tool from the Windows Start menu or from within the product.
2. You may receive a dialog box with the following message which can be dismissed:
   All settings will be stored for current user only.
3. In the window that appears, select Options from the Tools menu.
4. Verify whether a server name and site activation key are entered. If blank, get them from your site administrator. Once entered, your product should successfully activate.

See Also

Product TechNotes and FAQs

Licensing TechNotes and FAQs

External Links

Bentley Technical Support KnowledgeBase

Bentley LEARN Server

Comments or Corrections?

Bentley's Technical Support Group requests that you please confine any comments you have on this Wiki entry to this "Comments or Corrections?" section. THANK YOU!

The Bentley Map application comes in a few different variations whis all all different product application numbers. The bentley Map enterprise edition is product ID 1942.

1) Ensure that the application productnumber exisit in your actual SELECTServer license.

From the SELECTserver Administration site page choose. form the menus

LICENSE MANAGEMENT > View License File

The product names are in alphabetical order by default. Established that the application is listed

2) From the Menus SITE CONGIfURATION choose

SITE CONFIGURATION > ELS Feature level Config

Local the Bentley map enterprize section

Implement the checkbox platform=standalone

Hit the APPLY button in the lower right hand corner

Now go through the normal product activation.

From the start button find the SELECTserver Database Setup tool

START > ALL Programs > Bentley > SELECTserver.

RIGHT click on the Database Setup Tool link and run it as Administrator.

You are being denied permission by the operating system. Running the link "As Administrator"

This will grant the priviledge to access the desired area.

[quote user="john.lee"]In case of the old products (Bentley legacy products), the SelectServer gateway is required.  The Gateway provides the heart beat that the older products require and records the usages and posts it to the SelectServer. [/quote]

To expand upon John's answer, here are a couple of useful links for licensing your legacy applications with the SELECTserver Gateway.

Information on installing the latest version of the SELECTserver Gateway can be found here:

communities.bentley.com/.../6691.aspx

Details on setting up the client license file to point to the Gateway can be found here:

communities.bentley.com/.../3574.aspx

Explanation

promis•e is sold in a “so-called” STANDALONE version.  This was not a “true” standalone version and required a license of PowerDraft which was provided at no added cost to users of that promis•e  version.

Effective with SELECTseries 5, the promis•e (for MicroStation/PowerDraft) version is now written on power platform.  It is now a true Standalone version without any dependency on PowerDraft or MicroStation.

How to Avoid

Upgrade software to a SELECTSeries 5 (v08.11.10.xx) or greater.

To change the Password for proxy user need to reconfigure the SELECT Server from Step 2 by typing below mentioned link in Internet explorer.

http://localhost/bss/admin/setup.aspx?Step=2

It will help to update new username and password for proxy.

Suggested solution into the below mentioned link helped to resolve user issue.

communities.bentley.com/.../2777.aspx

Save this file in C:\WINDOWS\System32 folder. If there is already a file by the same name, it would ask you to replace the same. You need to replace it.

Please go through the below mentioned link, this will help to resolve the above issue.

communities.bentley.com/.../2779.aspx

Please go through the below mentioned link, this will help to resolve the above issue.

communities.bentley.com/.../deployed-selectserver-manual-license-update.aspx.

Overview

All version 8.9 or newer software is activated against a SELECTserver license server.

Activation of the software is achieved by entering a server name and site activation key into the product. The Server Name and Site activation key are entered into the "Product Activation Wizard" or into the “License ManagementTool”.

For NON-SELECT users, the server name will be ProductActivation.bentley.com.

Obtaining your Bentley Software License

Your Products need to connect SELECTserver OnLine in order to authenticate and check-out your license. Once the check-out is successful, you will not need to keep a connection to SELECTserver OnLine. 

In order to activate and check-out a license you will need to enter an activation key and server name into the product when it starts up after installation, then continue with a license check-out.  This will remove the license from SELECTserver OnLine and make it available on the machine on which you performed the check-out.  Once again, this machine will no longer need to connect to SELECTserver OnLine until you need to renew it or move it to another machine. Please see below for the activation details.

Product Activation Wizard Instructions

You may be put straight into the “Product Activation Wizard,” If the Product Activation Wizard does not prompt upon launching the application, you can actiavte using the License Mangement Tool.

Once in the Product Activation Wizard, you are given the following options:

• “SELECT subscriber activating against a hosted (Bentley) SELECT Server.”
• "SELECT subscriber with a deployed (local) SELECT server.”
• “NON-SELECT or Node locked user”
• “Evaluation Only – No license information”

You will want to verify that NON-SELECT or Node locked user is selected. 

Once selected, click Next> in the bottom right corner.

On the next screen, you will be asked about your "License Information."  You are given the following options:

• I have a license file ready to import
• I have an activation key
• I do not have any licensing information

Typically you will have an activation key to activate with. This is sent through fulfillment documentation once the perpetual license is created. 

Once selected, click Next> in the bottom right corner.

When selecting the "NON-SELECT or Node locked user," the server name will be filled in by default.

Fill in the Site Activation Key in the Site Activation Key box. Due to the length of the site activation key, it is recommended that each user copy and paste the information directly into the license management tool.  Also, be sure there are no extra spaces before or after the server name and site activation key as this can prevent a proper activation.

Once completed, click Next> in the bottom right corner. 

Depending on what version of software in being installed, the country where the product will be in use may have to be selected.

Once a "Country of Use" is selected, click Next> in the bottom right corner.

On the next screen, you are prompted with a "License Checkout" dialog.  As a NON-SELECT user, you must use a checked out license.

The box next to "Use a checked out license," should be checked by default, but if it is not, be sure to do so.  Fill out all fields on the License Checkout screen. 

Once completed, click Next> in the bottom right corner.

The final screen will give you a summary of the licensing activation you just processed.  Click "Finish."

You're product is now activated and ready for use!

Please Note:

Non-SELECT licensing is version and machine specific. You may not freely switch between different versions of the same application.

If you require the ability to run multiple versions of the same software, you may wish to investigate Bentley SELECT. In many instances the licensing options available under SELECT will allow you to run multiple versions of the same application.

More information about SELECT can be found here:

http://www.bentley.com/en-US/Subscriptions/Bentley+SELECT/

See Also

Product TechNotes and FAQs" target="_blank">Product TechNotes and FAQs

External Links

Bentley Technical Support KnowledgeBase

Bentley LEARN Server

Comments or Corrections?

Bentley's Technical Support Group requests that you please confine any comments you have on this Wiki entry to this "Comments or Corrections?" section. THANK YOU!  

There are notifications with the SELECTserver application that can be configured. With that said the notifications that can be enabled does not cover the situation you described. The notifications are for the following issues

TRUST LICENSING (Over Usage)
Nightly processing errors
License Expiration

The application is not designed to notify the administrator on the status of specific application. Because of the design of TRUST licensing (no constant connection) the applications have the ability to function without being connected to the server. In short The server cannot provide that information because the connection is not constant so the server “is unaware” of the client status from moment to moment so the SELECTserver notificatiosn cannot notify the administrtor when an application is deactivated.

SELECTServer Notifications Wiki:
http://communities.bentley.com/products/licensing/w/licensing__wiki/selectserver-notifcations.aspx

There are notifications with the SELECTserver application that can be configured. The notifications will update the administrator and designated users about the following isues.

TRUST LICENSING (Over Usage)
Nightly processing errors
License Expiration

Plase follow the "HELP > INDEX" link from the SELECTServer 9 pulldown menu.
The Notification configuration is done from two locations

ADMINISTRATION > SERVER SETTINGS > Mail Settings

SITE CONFIGURATION > SITE SETTINGS > Notifications Settings

The HELP >INDEX has a complete breakdown of the configurations.

Overview

When there is a change or update to your SELECTserver License, default settings on the SELECTserver accept these changes automatically once a day.  If you would like to accept changes sooner, you can force the SELECTserver to check for an update at anytime.  This TechNote will provide instructions for manually updating hte license file on a Deployed SELECTesrver. 

The license must be updated using the SELECTserver administration page. You can access that page by going to:

http://localhost/bss/admin/default.aspx - Can only be accessed if on the SELECTserver machine

or

http://yourservername/bss/admin/default.aspx - Can be accessed if on the same network as the SELECTserver
 

SELECTserver 09.00.xx.xx

Once on the administration page, locate the "License Management" from the top menu bar.  Click on the "Request/Update License."

Your Serial number and Activation key will already be listed in the dialog box. Check the Force Full Retrieval box and click OK.

Verify that the license is correct.

Once you have accepted your license update, you can verify your license by clicking on the 'View License File' tab.

SELECTserver 08.11.xx.xx or prior:

Once on the administration page, locate the "License Management" heading on the left navigation bar.  Click on the "Request/Update License."

Your Serial number and Activation key will already be listed in the dialog box. Check the Force Full Retrieval box and click OK.

Verify that the license is correct and click the accept button.

Once you have accepted your license update, you can verify your license by clicking on the 'View License File' tab on the left hand column.

Functionality: The job of the SELECTServer gateway (SSG) is to allow applications created before the release of the Bentley XM line of applications to communicate with the SELECTserver application to obtain licensing. Although the name of the application is the SELECTserver Gateway (SSG) it is a client to the actual SELECTServer application. Every SSG installed with a fully DEPLOYED SELECTserver or as a standalone installation is a “client” to the actual SELECTserver application either DEPLOYED or SELECTserver Online (HOSTED). It is unable to function completely on its own.

The SELECTserver Gateway

The SELECTserver Gateway Service manages pre-XM applications, such as MicroStation V8 2004 Edition or MicroStation/J. It emulates the pre-XM SELECTserver and allows pre-XM products to communicate with the new SELECTserver. The difference though is that the SELECTserver Gateway machine does NOT have its own license file, but must communicate with SELECTserver to proxy licenses on behalf of pre-XM applications.
 
The SELECTserver Gateway Service must communicate (at least once) with a SELECTserver to pull down, or cache, license information before it will serve licenses to clients. Like other XM Edition and V8i applications, the SELECTserver Gateway Service must also communicate with the SELECTserver at least once every 30 days. This is necessary in order for the SELECTserver to collect usage logs from pre-XM applications, and for the SELECTserver Gateway Service to download any new licensing information from the SELECTserver. Should the SELECTserver Gateway Service fail to connect to SELECTserver for 30 consecutive days, it will cease to serve licenses.
 
In addition, pre-XM Edition clients still require a continuous (heartbeat) connection to the SELECTserver Gateway Service in order to operate normally. Lastly, the SELECTserver Gateway Service monitors usage information amongst pre-XM clients and then periodically uploads the log data to the SELECTserver, just as an XM Edition or V8i application would.

For detailed instructions on how to download from the SELECTservices Website, please see Software Download Instructions.

 
IMPORTANT:Once the Activation of the SELECTserver Gateway is complete, you will need to point the license file for your pre-XM applications to the machine which you installed the SELECTserver Gateway.  For detailed instructions, please see Pointer File Explained for Pre-XM Products.

For detailed requirements and installation information, please see SELECTserver9.xx.xx.xx Gateway Update Process.

The suggested method of resolving this issue is by following the below technote:

communities.bentley.com/.../obtaining-home-use-license-information.aspx

Inform the user to go through the below mentioned link to resolve the issue.

communities.bentley.com/.../activating-a-home-use-license.aspx

Please note the following.

SELECTserver 08.xx.xx.xx response files are delivered ending with a XML extension.

SELECTserver 09.xx.xx.xx response files are delivered ending with a ZIP extension.

The files should be imnported as delivered

Please confirm the 31GB disk that SELECTServer is being
install into has a minimum of 10GB of Free Disk Space. If the 31 GB HHD space drive,
is the c: volume, have you tried to install into a different drive?

Installing the SQL Server 2008 Express SP1 that comes with
the SELECTserver 9, did you launch the SELECTServer setup.exe, “Run as
administrator”?

If you rerun the SELECTServer setup.exe, what SQL options
are available for you to select under “The following products will be installed
or updated:” screen, Option 3. Microsoft SQL 2008 R2 Express SP1 …

Install SQL Server 2008 R2 Express SP1

Use an existing database

Or

Upgrade MSDE to SQL Server 2008 R2 Express SP1?

If you see “Use an existing database” selected, click the
cancel button to exit the SELECTserver installer.  In Windows Services, check all or if any SQL components
are installed or Started.

If no SQL component installed, please try running the
installation as “Run as administrator.”

In case you have tried the above recommendation, please
provide more details on the Error you are getting or if the symptoms has
changed.