Software Licenses

Software Types

Every software requiring a license is associated with a type. Software types are defined as

• Engineering Software
• Runtime Software

Engineering Software

It comprises all software products for the creation (engineering) of user software applications, such as, configuration, programming, parameterization, testing , commissioning or service. The reproduction of data or executable programs generated with the Engineering Software for own use or for use by third parties is free-of-charge.

Runtime Software

It comprises all software products that are necessary for plant/machine operation, such as operating system, basic system, system expansions, drivers, ...
The reproduction of Runtime Software or of executable files generated with the Runtime Software for own use or for use by third parties has to be paid for.
Information about the license fee duty with regard to the use is listed with the order data (e.g. Catalog). As far as the use of software is concerned, use per CPU, per installation, per channel, per instance, per axis, per closed-loop control circuit, per variable, etc. must be differentiated.
Insofar as extended rights can be derieved for tools for parameterization / configuration that are supplied as components of the Runtime Software package, these will be noted in the accompanying Readme file.

 

License Types

Siemens Automation & Drives offers various types of licenses for software products:

• Floating License
• Single License
• Rental License
• Trial License
• Factory License

Floating License

The software may be installed onto as many devices of the licensee as necessary for internal use. Only the Concurrent User will be licensed/charged. Concurrent User is the person who uses a program. The use begins with the start of the software. One license per Concurrent User is required.

Single License

In contrast to the Floating License, only one single installation of the software is allowed. The type of use with license duty is stated in the order data and the Certificate of License (CoL). As for the use we differentiate among use per device, per axis, per channel etc.
One Single License is required per defined use.

Rental License

The Rental License supports the ”sporadic use“ of Engineering Software. After the installation of the License Key, the software is ready for operation for a defined number of hours in which the use can be interrupted as often as you like. One license per installation of the software is required.

Trial License

The Trial License supports a “short-term use“ of the software in a non-productive application, such as, the use for test and evaluation purposes. This license can be transferred to another license.

Factory License

With the Factory License, the user has the right to install and use the software at one permanent establishment only. The permanent establishment is defined by one address only. The number of devices on which the software may be installed results from the order data or the Certificate of License.

 

Certificate of License

The Certificate of License (CoL) is the proof for the licensee that the use of the software from Siemens is licensed. Every use is assigned to a CoL, which is to be carefully stored.

 

Downgrading

The licensee has the right to use the software or a previous version/release of the software, if the licensee has already purchased it.

 

Delivery Options

Software is subject to constant further development. Access to these developments is possible by means of the delivery options

• PowerPack
• Upgrade

Available bugfixes are supplied with the ServicePack option.

 

PowerPack

PowerPacks are conversion packages to a more efficient software.

With the PowerPack, the licensee receives a new License Agreement including CoL. This CoL together with the CoL of the original product forms the license proof of the new software.

A separate PowerPack must be purchased for each original license of the software to be replaced.

 

Upgrade

An Upgrade enables a customer to use a newer, available version of the software under the condition that he has already acquired a license for a previous version. With the upgrade, the licensee receives a new License Agreement including CoL. This CoL together with the CoL of the previous version forms the license proof of the new version. An Upgrade must be purchased for each original license of the software to be upgraded.

 

ServicePack

Available bugfixes are provided by means of ServicePacks. ServicePacks may be duplicated for a purpose-defined use according to the number of Licenses of Origin in the possession of the licensee.

 

License Key

Siemens Automation & Drives offers software products with and without a License Key.The License Key serves as electronic license stamp and is, at the same time, a "Switch" for the behavior/reaction of the software (Floating License, Rental License, ...)
If the software requires a License Key, the program to be licensed (the software) and the License Key (the license representative) belong to the complete installation .

 

You will find explanations to the license conditions in the "General Business Conditions of Siemens AG" or in the Internet .