Is internet connection needed for validation (offline licensing)

[r-brown]

Vendor request

Do my customers have to have an internet connection for the license to work or can they be offline?

[r-brown]

NetLicensing support both validation modes: online and offline

Online validation

This scenario requires a permanent internet connection.

PROS:

• instant license activation and validation
• always up-to-date customer status

Offline validation

With this option, we distinguish between two scenario

Offline validation using NetLicensing Agent

Use case: usually B2B context with strong restrictions on the firewall side and many users/products with corporate network

PROS:

• fulfils enterprise-grade security requirements
• highest protection for your products

CONS:

• licensing assets update need to be established (scheduled or upon new license acquisition/assignment)

Offline validation using TTL & Cache

Use case: usually B2C context if there might be no internet connection

PROS:

• Licensing event without being online

CONS:

• Additional handling of the validation responses/caches needed to be addressed in the product

[r-brown]

Let me elaborate a bit on the last option "Offline validation using TTL & Cache"

Every NetLicensing validation response contains an attribute with the TTL (Time-To-Live) value. Successful validation response can be cached with the expiry time set to this interval and used to validate product without sending online validation request.

TTL Interval can be defined in the Settings form and be in the range from 1 minute to several days.

Caching functionality need to be realised by means of the specific product implementation and technology stack.

Please find below a typical flow for the “Offline validation using TTL”