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November 8th, 2005, 08:01 PM
#1
Unique Application
Hi gurus,
Someone has asked me to build a database application for him but i believe he would sell it to his friends who do the same business (---).
HOW CAN MAKE THE APPLICATION RUN ON HIS SERVER ONLY AND NOT ON ANYBODY ELSE'S?
I thought about Serial numbers but these can be shared easily.
Is there any other approches that i can use?
Thank you all.
Floandrod.
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November 8th, 2005, 08:19 PM
#2
Re: Unique Application
Originally Posted by Floandrod
HOW CAN MAKE THE APPLICATION RUN ON HIS SERVER ONLY AND NOT ON ANYBODY ELSE'S?
In short. It can't. It is the same question people have been trying to solve for years. It can't be done.
The only trick I can think of that you could do is if you had access to his server. You could set your application to turn itself off if a network cards MAC address or some distinguishing characteristic about his hardware. But that would require you having access to his computer.
Last edited by peejavery; November 9th, 2005 at 05:15 PM.
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November 9th, 2005, 04:57 PM
#3
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November 9th, 2005, 07:12 PM
#4
Re: Unique Application
Thanks all for your reply.
My first thought was the combination of both peejavery's and JonnyPoet's suggestions.
When a client (a firm) contacts me about application development, i ask then for the Operating System product ID and Mac address for the server. These 2 attributes will make part of my key. Those attributes are then stored in my database in the record of that client. The key is an encrypted file that my keyReader can decrypt. When the server is started for the first time, the administrator needs to register it. The registration will contact my server and then a key will be released for this server (then key release facility disabled). This means that i deploy the application without key and release the key after registration. As you both suggested, this is the approach that would be best, but there are some issues:
1) In case my client (the firm) change either the operating system or the NIC, then the key would not be valid any more.
---> The firm would still need to contact me to request another one (enable the key release facility that will be disabled again after the key is release)
2) What if i decide not to do that kind of business any more?
---> My client's applications will run as long as my server still runs. Will my clients still trust this approach?
Those 2 issues are the things that make me think again and again and again...
Thanks gurus.
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November 10th, 2005, 04:32 AM
#5
Re: Unique Application
Originally Posted by Floandrod
1) In case my client (the firm) change either the operating system or the NIC, then the key would not be valid any more.
---> The firm would still need to contact me to request another one (enable the key release facility that will be disabled again after the key is release)
I Think thats not a too bad problem. If you change OS then you have to do a lot of things to get machine workable again so he has to do that step too. In that case he would I would answer his request with a emailform where he has to give a short explanation why reinstallation is necessary and then you let him do it.
Originally Posted by Floandrod
2) What if i decide not to do that kind of business any more?
---> My client's applications will run as long as my server still runs. Will my clients still trust this approach?
Have an additional ENDOFSERVICE Key in the program which will work in every case and on if released does no additional checks anymore. So when you end your service then the last thing is to send out this key to all your customers.
in an email and telling them how to put it in. For example I have a game which in some cases has problems with the drivechecking. when this happens I wrote an email and they give me a key. then I had to do F8, and some other keys and when I did a consolewindow opened where I could input the code they gave me. Now no Drivecheck is anymore.
Sure then the pgm could be given to everyone. But you have decided to dont care any longer, you see
Is that a solutio for you ?
Jonny poet
Last edited by JonnyPoet; November 12th, 2005 at 04:14 PM.
Jonny Poet
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November 10th, 2005, 07:58 AM
#6
Re: Unique Application
Thanks a lot JonnyPoet,
Your replies gave me light.
I do appreciate.
Floandrod
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