Activating Fixed Licenses on Headless Machines

Applies to ReadyAPI 3.58, last modified on February 11, 2025
Important Notice for ReadyAPI Customers

ReadyAPI has fully transitioned to the ID-based SmartBear License Management (SLM) system. We are now moving into the final phase of deprecation of file-based licenses. Customers still using file-based licensing need to plan for migration to SLM before September 30, 2025.

If you are still in the process of migrating or have yet to start, contact your Account Manager or SmartBear representative today. Our teams are ready to assist with smooth transition strategies. For additional support, please log a request with our Customer Care Team, who are standing by to help.

For further information and timelines, please refer to this page.

You can activate licenses on headless machines by using a command-line license manager.

  1. Download the License Manager packaged application from the SmartBear website.

    Note: The License Manager requires Java 12. You can use Java shipped with ReadyAPI or download the required version from https://jdk.java.net/archive/.

  2. Run the License Manager .bat (or .sh on Linux and macOS) file with the -f <license file> option:

    • For example, if you use Java shipped with ReadyAPI, perform the following commands:

      cd <ReadyAPI directory>\jre\bin
      <path to license manager>\license-manager.bat -f C:\work\ReadyAPITestLicense.key
      Note: Use license-manager.sh on Linux and macOS.

    • If you use Java 12 installed in your operating system, perform the following command:

      license-manager.bat -f C:\Work\ReadyAPITestLicense.key
      Note: Use license-manager.sh on Linux and macOS.

  3. The License Manager will ask you to choose the activation mode (Online or Offline).

  4. If your computer can access https://activation.smartbear.com, enter 1 to select online activation.

  5. If your computer does not have an Internet connection, enter 2 to select offline activation.

Online activation procedure

If you select online activation, the License Manager will ask you to provide the following credentials:

  • Title

  • First name

  • Last name

  • Company name

  • Address

  • City

  • State

  • Country

  • Zip code

  • Phone number

  • E-mail

After you specify your credentials, the License Manager will activate the license.

Offline activation procedure

Offline activation is usually used when the computer you want to activate ReadyAPI on does not have Internet access. When you select offline activation, the License Manager displays text like this one:

License Number: [2024-01-01 00:00:00] SUIP-1Y-SBN-NL - 83262bd2-7e0d-4ae8-bfd3-97d24ef22386
Activation Key: 9DEFC-5NMDE-8U5GJ-KE8F7-G3VQ8
Do not close the License Manager window until you complete the activation.

Please go to offline activation/deactivation page, choose the ‘Activate License’ action and fill in the form with the License Number and the Activation Key. The SmartBear license service will activate your license and send you the activation file that you can use to activate your local ReadyAPI copy.

Tip: On Windows, you can right-click and select Mark to select text in the command line. Then, press Enter to copy the selected text. Make sure to remove extra line breaks before sending an email.

When you receive the response, copy the activation.key file to the computer where you want to activate the license and specify the path to it in the License Manager window. This activates the ReadyAPI copy on the computer.

See Also

Headless Machines

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