Introduction
EdgeVis v9 introduces a new licensing scheme that provides two key features:
It allows you to utilise and manage your SaaS licences for your v9 encoders. All v9 encoders will require a valid SaaS licence to operate for the duration of your contract.
It continues to provide perpetual legacy licences to your existing v8 encoders.
Licence Types
In EdgeVis v9.1 there are currently two types of licence:
EVVR Container licences (for v9 containers)
For every camera you attach to an EdgeVis Container, you must have an EVVR Container licence. These will be stored in a licence pool which is held on our cloud-based Central Licensing Service (shortened to CLS).
EdgeVis Legacy licences
These are granted automatically by EdgeVis Server for v8 encoders (including body worn devices and Android mobile encoders), and allow full use of any product features. There is no longer a need to contact Digital Barriers for licences for these encoders, as they are automatically free-issued by EdgeVis Server.
When you connect an encoder to your EdgeVis Server v9, this is the expected behaviour:
Are there any new requirements for v9 Licensing?
Either during installation of a v9 server, or manually after upgrading a v8 server, you can authenticate your server with our cloud-based central licensing service (CLS).
To allow v9 encoders to...
Automatically acquire a licence, and
Perform their daily check that their licence is still valid
...your EdgeVis Server installations have to maintain a connection to our cloud-hosted central licensing service. The connection uses standard Internet web protocols.
More info: EdgeVis Licensing Architecture
How do I get started with v9 Licensing?
There are two different paths depending on whether you are either installing a new server or upgrading an existing v8 server:
Upgrading from a v8 to v9 EdgeVis Server
EdgeVis Server v9 will fully support all v8 encoders and will be our standard platform for both v8 and v9 encoders moving forward. We recommend all customers upgrade to EdgeVis Server v9, as all significant fixes/features will only be released on v9 moving forward.
Users with v7 devices should continue operating a separate v8 server to host v7 devices.
The upgrade process will be simple for most users, with small differences based on your encoder models/versions:
For users who only have v8 hardware encoders or body worn cameras
Simply upgrade using the standard instructions. Your existing v8 licence is no longer required, and your server will automatically issue your encoders EdgeVis Legacy licences. While you are able to connect your server to CLS, it is not a requirement.
For users who have v8 Android mobile encoders
The same process applies as hardware encoders; however, you must authenticate your server to CLS, so that we can grant your server the ability to licence EdgeVis Mobile Encoders.
For users who also want to use v9 EVVR Containers
You will upgrade your server to v9, as above, and confirm your v8 encoders are fully functioning. Once you purchase v9 licences you will be supplied the appropriate login details for CLS to allow you to authenticate your server to CLS and access a licensing pool that contains your new v9 licences.
After upgrading your server to v9, if you have/want to authenticate your server with CLS, it's a two-step process:
After completing authentication, your server will be able to issue any licences you have entitlement to.
Installing a new EdgeVis Server v9
Installing EdgeVis Server v9 now requires that you authenticate your server with CLS.
Install EdgeVis Server v9 using the instructions appropriate for your platform.
As part of the first run wizard, authenticate your server with CLS.
After completing authentication, your server will be able to issue any licences you have entitlement to. Your server will also check in regularly with the CLS, so please ensure your server can access the internet and access the CLS.
How are licences issued?
All of your v9 licences are stored in a licence pool, which tracks how many licences you have and the date of expiry for the pool.
More info: What is a licence pool, and what's stored in it?
There are several standard operations around licence management:
Licence allocation | Licence allocation is almost entirely automatic, regardless of your product type (v8 or v9). |
Freeing up licences | Freeing up an allocated v9 licence can be done by removing a camera from your encoder, but there are a number of other manual/automatic ways this can be accomplished. |
Licence pool expiry | When your licence pool approaches its expiry date (for v9 encoders) there are various warning messages displayed, followed by errors and a gradual cutoff of functionality as the expiry date passes. |
Licence renewal | If your licence pool expires, it is possible, once renewed, to have your system automatically fully operational within 24 hours. |
Managing your licence pool
To manage your licence pool, you will log into the CLS licensing portal.
Here you will:
See all your servers that are authenticated with CLS.
Be able to authenticate new servers with CLS.
For each authenticated server, the licence count used by each v9 encoder.
More info: How to use the licensing portal
By default, only one person within your organisation has access to the CLS licensing - this will either be the person who requested the licensing pool, or the person named on the purchase order for v9 licences.
You can however, add additional users who can also log in and manage your licensing pool.