Deactivating License Keys

Deactivating License Keys

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Affected Roles:  Owner

Related Digital Watchdog VMS Apps:  DW Spectrum

Complexity:  Low

Last Edit:  March 31, 2020

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License Deactivation

While it is free to stream camera video using DW Spectrum, the use of recording licenses are required for DW Spectrum users to archive the camera footage to the DW Spectrum Server.

License keys are registered and linked to the Hardware ID of the DW Spectrum Server, meaning that a license key cannot be duplicated and used on more than one Server at a time.  In some cases, users may need to migrate their recording licenses to another Server.  Before the license key(s) can be activated/added to the other Server, they will need to be deactivated.

There are limitations to deactivating licenses such as:

• License keys can only be deactivated up to three times
• You must have an active Internet connection to deactivate a license key
• Timed/Trial Licenses cannot be deactivated

This article will outline how to deactivate DW Spectrum license keys.

To learn more about recording licenses, you can read:

DW Spectrum License Types

Activating Licenses

Supported/Affected Devices

• DW Blackjack Series

Deactivating Licenses

To deactivate a license key:

1. Launch the DW Spectrum Client.

Log in with the Owner (admin) account. 

The default login is:

• • Login:  admin
  • Password:  admin12345

Note:  If you do not have access to the Owner role, you must submit a License Deactivation Form from the Digital Watchdog website to deactivate the license(s).

2. Open the Main Menu, then navigate to System Administration (CTRL+ALT+A).

3. Click on the Licenses tab.

Select the License Key that you want to deactivate. 

If you are logged in with the Owner role, click the Deactivate button, located at the bottom of the Active Licenses list.  If you do not see the Deactivate button, you may not be logged in as the system Owner.

4. A dialogue box will display.

Enter your name, email address, and select the reason for deactivating the license to confirm and explain the action.

Once the process is complete, it will then be possible to activate the license key on another Server.

Note:  Clicking the Remove button will remove the license key from the Active Licenses list.  Only deactivated or expired license keys can be removed from a Server.