05/05/2002 8:35 PM
Hi Larry,

Here is exactly what I am trying to achieve...
Its a permission scheme that ensures a user cannot run our software on more than 1 machine without having an entirely different key. The only thing that is stored in a table is the key we provide, and all other info is dynamic.

A Machine ID is created by getting the mac address of the ethernet card( "00E081107EAF") plus a "~", plus the total of both the C: and D: drives bytes count(18194253824). The machine ID is not dividable because it consists of alpha-numeric characters. So I convert the Machine ID using the ASC() function on each character and concatenate all the ASC() results together. Example, my mac address is "00E081107EAF" and my disk size in bytes is 18194253824, for which my Machine ID is "00E081107EAF~18194253824", which translates to the above mentioned global variable "4848694856494948556965701264956495752505351565052" At this point, we have an absolute machine ID.

Now because we license the software based on the number of records the system is handling we need to generate a different license key based on the reccno() function. Our units of measurements equals 10,000 records, so what I want to do is divide the converted Machine ID(global variable) by the number of units, which will give me a different key which is based on the size of drive C:, drive D:, the mac address, and the number of units they want to license.
So, for the customer, they give me the unconverted Machine ID( "00E081107EAF~18194253824") and the qty of units, and I will generate them a key that will not work on any other machine in the world. I then have enough info to authenticate their license. Also, if they change their net card, or the size of their c: drive or d: drives, they will need to re-license. At that point, I can easily see whats changed, and make decisions on what to do.

Currently, I have such a system working by using hardlocks on the parallel ports, and it works flawlessly. The problem is the initial cost, the hassle of sending new ones out and getting the old ones back. By changing it to the way mentioned above, it can all be done by fax or phone and retain the security the hardlocks offer.

Thanks for listening,
Stanley