
                    The ionCube Encoder - Version 8.3
                    ---------------------------------

LICENSING THE ENCODER
=====================

The Encoder software comes with an allocation of 1 or more unassigned licenses.
Each license can be assigned to any machine having an active Ethernet network
adapter. 

Licenses can now be obtained automatically via the Internet in seconds if a 
a license is available for use, replacing the email based method used in
previous versions. A license can also be released over the Internet if needing
to upgrade a machine or move a license to a different machine.

Please keep reading for details.


AUTOMATED LICENSING
===================

To Acquire a license over the Internet
--------------------------------------

First:

* Be sure that you have installed the Encoder in the location where you wish
  use it permanently as moving a licensed Encoder can make the license fail.
  A location such as /usr/local may be better than a user Home directory. 
  The location must be writable during the licensing process.

* You will need a spare license. If all licenses are used on other machines, 
  release one of those first.

* Check that you have an active Internet connection.

Then:

* Run with the option --acquire-license (or --acq). 

  After a few seconds the Encoder should say that it is licensed. If this 
  fails try again a little while later. If still unsuccessful, use the
  manual process described in the next section.


To Release a license over the Internet
--------------------------------------

First:

* Be sure that the Encoder install directory is writable.

* Check that you have an active Internet connection.

Then:

* Run with the option --release-license (or --rel). 

  After a few seconds the Encoder should say that the license has been
  released. If this fails try again a little while later. If still
  unsuccessful, use the manual process described in the next section.



MANUAL LICENSING
================

The automated licensing procedure above is strongly recommended, however
there exists a manual method if needed. 

The manual licensing process consists of:

  * Generating a license key request.
  * Sending the license request to ionCube.
  * Installing a license file from us.


To Request a license manually
-----------------------------

* Step One - GENERATING A LICENSE KEY REQUEST

To obtain a license you must first generate a license request file that
identifies the machine to be licensed. The Encoder can do this for you
as follows:

* On Windows
  A license request file called licreq.txt is created automatically during
  installation. This can be found in the licensing folder within Public
  Documents. On Windows 7, for example, this can be found at:

    Public\Public Documents\ionCube\PHP Encoder

* On Unix (Linux, FreeBSD or OS X)
  Run the Encoder with the --gen-license-request option on the machine where 
  you wish to use the Encoder. The Encoder will then create a license request 
  file called "licreq.txt".

  A license on Unix may be affected if the Encoder is moved, and you should
  generate the license request from the location where you intend to use the
  Encoder. Installing to a temporary location, creating a license request and
  then moving the Encoder installation may invalidate the license when you
  receive it.

If there is no output then there may be no active Ethernet interface for that
machine. You should remedy this and try again. Please note that no information
is sent from your machine to us at any point, and the network interface does
need to be physically connected to any network, just visible to the operating
system.


* Step Two - SUBMITTING YOUR LICENSE REQUEST

Email the license request file "licreq.txt" to licenses@ioncube.com

Your license request may be processed automatically, and in this case you will
be sent an email response within a few seconds. If the request could not
be processed immediately, it will be handled as soon as possible by 
the licensing department, and you will receive a response once this has been
done.  


* Step Three - INSTALLING YOUR LICENSE

When you receive a license file (licdata.txt), it should be saved to the
licensing folder/directory. Once this is done, the Encoder will be licensed
and should be fully operational. If you have any problems at that point
please submit a support ticket at

	http://support.ioncube.com



To Revoke a license
-------------------

* Step One - REVOKE THE LICENSE ON THE LICENSED MACHINE

* Windows
  Uninstall the Encoder software. This automatically creates a revoke file in
  the licensing folder. 

* Unix (Linux, FreeBSD, OS X)
  Run the Encoder with the option --revoke-license. To produce a valid file,
  this must be done from the directory where the software was licensed and
  has been being used.


* Step Two - SEND THE REVOKE FILE

Send the revoke file to licenses@ioncube.com for processing. You will receive
confirmation once processed.


* Step Three - LICENSE THE ENCODER AGAIN

Once the Encoder license has been revoked, the license can be assigned to
a different machine as detailed above.


NOTE: The revoke feature may be used when it is necessary to permanently 
transfer a license to a different machine or to effect an occasional temporary
change. If the software is required to be used often on two or more
different machines then additional licenses should be purchased.

Copyright (c) 2002-2014 ionCube Software LLP.
