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Pdftools Licensing Service

Learn about the available configuration options for managing the Pdftools license keys. This page provides a basic overview of the licensing system and links to relevant documents that guide you through installation and configuration.

A valid license key is necessary to use the Pdftools products. A cloud-based Pdftools Licensing Service (PLS) manages the license key validation. You can also use a Licensing Gateway Service (LGS) that sends the validation data to the PLS. An internet connection is necessary to validate the license keys in the LGS default configuration. You can also configure offline license key validation, where the license keys stay valid without an internet connection for various periods of time.

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The PLS is available for:

  • Pdftools SDK
  • Conversion Service (version 4.7+)

License validation modes​

You can set up the Pdftools products in several ways to validate the license keys. The Licensing Gateway Service (LGS) is an intermediary between your local installations of Pdftools products and the Pdftools Licensing Server (PLS). The LGS can borrow license keys for products installed in your network. As a result, machines with Pdftools products don't require an internet connection to validate their license keys.

On this page, you can learn about:

Direct connection to the PLS​

In the default configuration, the Pdftools software validates the license keys directly with the PLS. This setup requires a continuous internet connection. Any network outages may disrupt system operations and limit access and usability of the Pdftools products due to connectivity issues.

Direct connection to the Pdftools Licensing Service

Partial or full offline license key validation​

You can configure the LGS to validate the license keys offline for varied periods of time.

  • Connected mode (partially offline configuration): Validate the license keys for one or many installations of the Pdftools products in your local network. Your local network can stay without an internet connection, and the license keys are validated from one computer, which serves as the gateway. This computer is the only machine in your network that needs to be online to send the usage data. The computer with the gateway can also stay offline for varied amounts of time.
  • Full offline mode: Stay fully offline with valid license keys for at least three months or more, depending on the type of your license. This option has the same benefits as the connected mode and lets the computer with the LGS stay fully offline.

Connected mode example use cases​

The Licensing Gateway Service (LGS) is an intermediary between your local installations of Pdftools software and the Pdftools Licensing Server (PLS). The LGS lets you work offline with a valid license key without a network connection. In the connected mode, you only need an occasional internet connection to validate the license key. The following image illustrates the described configuration:

Using the Licensing Gateway Service in a single system

Manage license keys in your local network with one LGS. A single LGS enables you to use Pdftools software across multiple machines. One machine with LGS can occasionally connect to the internet to keep your license key valid, while the rest of the Pdftools software installed in your local network can stay offline. The following image illustrates the described configuration:

Using the Licensing Gateway Service on a private network

To configure the connected mode, review Connected mode page.

Full offline mode example use case​

Stay fully offline with your whole system. No internet connection is necessary. You only need to send a license activation token once per three months or more from another machine. This machine can be disconnected from your local network where you work with the Pdftools software. The following image illustrates the described configuration with a fully offline private network:

Example of a fully offline private network

To configure the full offline mode, review Full offline mode page.