Installing VirtServer Licensing

Important Notice for VirtServer Customers

Starting from ReadyAPI 3.62.0, VirtServer 3.29.0, and TestEngine 1.34.0, SmartBear Product Family has fully deprecated file-based licenses and transitioned to the ID-based SmartBear License Management (SLM) system. Any customers still using file-based licenses must complete their migration to SLM by September 30, 2025.

From October 1, 2025, existing and activated file-based licenses will continue to work for some time. However, SmartBear will no longer generate new file-based licenses or support activation and deactivation of file-based licenses in ReadyAPI, VirtServer, or TestEngine. All new and updated licenses are now issued in SLM only.

All technical support for file-based licenses has now ceased, and SmartBear no longer maintains the file-based licensing system. Any access or service issues will result in service disruptions that we will not be able to restore.

If you have not completed the process of migrating, contact your Account Manager or SmartBear representative today. Our teams are ready to assist you with smooth transition strategies. For additional support, log a request with our SmartBear Support.Migration Process

For more information and timelines, refer to the File-based License End-of-Support Policy page.

Install the VirtServer license

Starting with VirtServer 3.16, licenses are installed through the WebUI instead of the command line.

  1. Open the VirtServer WebUI.

  2. Click the Admin tab, then select License in the Administration section.

  3. Click Add License.

  4. The Install SmartBear ID License dialog appears, where you complete the license installation.

    Screenshot of the “Install SmartBear ID License” dialog in VirtServer. The dialog shows a dropdown field labeled “License Hosted,” set to SmartBear. Below, an empty text field labeled Access key is provided for entering a license key obtained from SmartBear License Management. Buttons for Cancel and a disabled Install option are at the bottom. A link labeled “Learn more about ID-based licensing” is visible below the form.

License types

VirtServer activation depends on your license type:

  • SmartBear ID-based: A key-based license type for users starting from VirtServer 3.16.

    We call them SmartBear ID-based because the license needs to be assigned to a user in the customer organisation (usually a License Administrator with SmartBear ID) on manage.smartbear.com and VirtServer uses a licensing credential to request the license. For offline use, the license can be converted and made available to the VirtServer Administrator so the license can be installed on the product and used. The License Administrator and VirtServer Administrator can, of course, be the same person.

  • File-based (Deprecated): File-based licenses remain usable in VirtServer 3.28.0 and earlier. We call them file-based because you need to apply a license file that you receive from SmartBear to activate and bind the product to your computer. For details about deprecation timelines, support status, and required actions, see Important Notice for VirtServer Customers.

    Important

    From September 2025, we no longer provide file-based licensing. Instead, we replaced it with SmartBear ID-based licensing. You should immediately engage with your SmartBear Account Manager to understand the steps involved in completing the process of migrating. See SmartBear ID-based Licenses to learn more.

For information on the licenses, see About VirtServer Licensing.

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