Licensing and Editions
DEP is licensed per feature. Your licence decides which workspace actions you may use, such as editing models, running SIL or working with a HIL bench through NI VeriStand. Licences are signed files that DEP checks offline. This page describes the editions, the licence models and every way to activate a licence.
Editions
| Edition | For | Includes | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEP Operator | People who run prepared projects | Open projects, run test campaigns, view results, operate HMIs. No editing. | Node-locked file or floating seat |
| DEP Engineer | Model developers | Everything in Operator, plus: edit projects; author native, physical and state-machine models; export FMUs; execute MIL; author tests and HMIs. | Node-locked file |
| DEP Integrator | Integration and network engineers | Everything in Engineer, plus: execute SIL; import and run FMUs; import and export SSP; virtual CAN, CAN FD, LIN, Ethernet and ARINC networks; author and execute restbus; measurement and A2L calibration experiments; fault injection. | Node-locked file |
| DEP HIL Runtime (per target) | HIL benches with NI VeriStand | Use of DEP with a HIL bench that runs on NI VeriStand. VeriStand provides the real-time execution and all hardware I/O. | USB licence key |
| DEP Enterprise | Organisations | All features, a pool of seats and targets. | Floating server |
Ask DEVlink for current prices and academic or evaluation terms. Feature names you may see in DEP messages:
| Feature | Allows | Lowest edition |
|---|---|---|
project.open, test.campaign, results.view, hmi.operate | Opening, running campaigns, viewing results, operating HMIs | Operator |
project.edit, model.native.author, model.physical.author, model.state_machine.author, fmi.export, runtime.mil.execute, test.author, hmi.author | Editing, modelling, MIL runs, writing scenarios and HMIs | Engineer |
runtime.sil.execute, fmi.import, fmi.runtime, ssp.import, ssp.export, network.can, network.canfd, network.lin, network.ethernet, network.arinc, restbus.author, restbus.execute, measurement.xcp, calibration.a2l, fault.injection | SIL, FMI, SSP, virtual networks, restbus, measurement and calibration experiments, faults | Integrator |
runtime.hil.execute | Working with a HIL bench through NI VeriStand | HIL Runtime |
If you install more than one licence, for example Integrator and HIL Runtime, their features combine.
Licence models
| Model | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Subscription | Valid until its end date. DEP warns 30 days before expiry. After expiry you have 14 days of grace (LIC_GRACE). |
| Perpetual with maintenance | Never expires. It covers DEP versions released before the end of maintenance. Later security-only builds remain covered. |
| Evaluation | 30 days, bound to one computer. |
| Academic | For teaching and non-commercial research. |
| NFR | Not for resale, for partners and demonstrations. |
The licence page
Open Settings → License & ownership.
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Machine ID | The identity of this computer, for example M-0D62-E195-…. Node-locked licences are issued for this ID. |
| Resolved features | The combined features of all valid licences. |
| Refresh licence | Re-reads licences, keys and the floating server. |
| Install licence… | Installs a .dlic file for your Windows user. |
| Remove licence… / Confirm removal | Removes an installed licence. Projects and results are never deleted. |
| Save activation request… | Writes the activation request file for DEVlink. |
| Installed licences | Each licence with its edition, model, expiry and status code. |
| USB licence keys | Detected DEVlink licence keys. |
| Floating licence server | Server URL, Save and connect, Disconnect, and the seat status (Seat acquired or No seat available). |
Activate a node-locked licence
- Save the requestSelect Save activation request… and save the JSON file.
- Send itE-mail the file to DEVlink or your reseller. It identifies the computer, not your projects.
- InstallWhen you receive the
.dlicfile, select Install licence… and choose it. The maximum file size is 1 MB. - VerifyThe licence appears under Installed licences with
LIC_OK, and its features appear under Resolved features.
A licence that was changed after signing, damaged or issued for another machine is rejected (LIC_WRONG_MACHINE), and your previous licences stay installed. Do not change the Windows clock to test expiry.
Licences installed through the page apply to your Windows user. An administrator can place licence files in %ProgramData%\DEVlink\DEP\licenses to make them available to every user of the computer.
Use a floating licence server
- Ask your administrator for the server address.
- In Server URL, enter only the origin, for example
http://licence-server:27100(no path, user name or password). - Select Save and connect. DEP acquires a seat for 15 minutes and renews it every 5 minutes while DEP runs.
- Select Disconnect to release the seat.
If no seat is free, DEP shows No seat available. A floating seat cannot be borrowed for offline use.
Use a USB licence key
DEP HIL Runtime licences are delivered on a provisioned DEVlink USB key. Plug it into the bench PC and select Refresh licence. The key appears under USB licence keys. Copying a .dlic file onto an ordinary USB stick does not work (LIC_KEY_NOT_GENUINE).
What a licence controls
DEP applies your licence as follows:
- Controls that need a feature you do not have are disabled, with the explanation Requires <feature>. Included in <editions>. Open Settings → License & ownership.
- Without a usable licence, you can open only the bundled examples, read-only: This bundled example is open read-only. Open a licensed project to edit or run.
- DEP re-checks the licence every 10 seconds. If a licence becomes invalid during a run, MIL or SIL stops at the next tick boundary and the run is marked licence-stopped. Software processes are terminated.
- Stop, pause and recovery actions are always available, with or without a licence.
- Removing or losing a licence never deletes projects or results.