Manage license node-locking

To reserve licenses with Offline Qt License Server, you need a node-locked offline license file, entitlement.json. It lists valid licenses with the hardware fingerprint of the machine running Offline Qt License Server and the port number of the Offline Qt License Server instance.

The hardware fingerprint is unique to the Offline Qt License Server host computer, which means that it locks the license file for the host machine running Offline Qt License Server.

To obtain a node-locked offline license file, follow these steps:

1. Ensure you have defined the port number of the running Offline Qt License Server instance in the configuration file (Linux: qt-license-server.service, Windows: qt-service.xml). For example:
   Linux Windows

   Environment="QLS_PORT=8080"

   <env name="QLS_PORT" value="8080" />

   Note: Provide the port number you plan to use in production.

2. Generate the hardware fingerprint on the Offline Qt License Server host computer with qt-license-server:
   Linux Windows

   ./qt-license-server generate-server-fingerprint

   .\qt-license-server.exe generate-server-fingerprint

   Note: Run this command on the machine you intend to use in production.

3. Send the generated hardware fingerprint and the HTTPS port number of the Offline Qt License Server instance to Qt Support for validation.
4. Download the entitlement.json file from Qt Customer Portal once it's ready.
5. Copy the entitlement.json file to the folder where Qt License Server runs. If you already have a license file in the folder, replace it with the new one.
6. Restart Offline Qt License Server to apply the new license file:
   Linux Windows

   systemctl daemon-reload
   systemctl restart qt-license-server.service

   qt-service.exe stop
   qt-service.exe start

7. Verify that the correct licenses are loaded by Offline Qt License Server:
   Linux Windows

   ./qt-license-server status --url <URL>

   .\qt-license-server.exe status --url <URL>

   In case the licenses are not imported correctly, check the logs. Contact Qt Support if needed.

When Offline Qt License Server starts, the new entitlement.json file is automatically imported. A license that includes the node-locking is imported if the hardware fingerprint matches the Offline Qt License Server host computer and the port number matches the port number of the running Offline Qt License Server instance.