Activating a License on a USB Security Key

You can bind a GENESIS license to a USB security key so that the license runs on whichever computer the key is plugged into. Learn more about how USB security key licensing works.

Before you begin, make sure you have:

  • A YubiKey that supports Smart Card (PIV). Keys that lack Smart Card (PIV) support cannot hold a GENESIS license.

  • GENESIS installed with the YubiKey Utilities component included. It allows GENESIS to validate the license against the key.

    This component is selected in the component list on the Advanced tab of the GENESIS installer. Learn more

    The GENESIS installer component list with YubiKey Utilities selected

  • An available license on the Web Licensing site, along with your product registration number (P Number) and customer key.

Any license purchased for GENESIS can be bound to a USB security key. The only difference from activating a software license is that the license is tied to the key instead of to the computer's site code.

To activate a license on a USB security key:

  1. Plug the YubiKey into the machine where the license will reside.

  2. Enter license utility in the Windows search box, and open the License Utility with administrator privileges. If a Windows dialog appears, click Yes.

  3. On the Overview tab, click Activate License.

    The Overview tab of the License Utility with the Activate License button

  4. On the License Binding page, under Select license type, select License bound to USB Security Key, and then click Next.

    If the YubiKey is plugged in, this option is selected automatically.

    The License Binding page with License bound to USB Security Key selected

  5. On the Submit certificate blob on the licensing website page, click Copy Certificate Blob.

    If no certificate blob appears, click Reload Certificate Blob. To initialize a new, unused key, click Reset USB Security Key.

    Resetting a key regenerates its certificate and invalidates any license already bound to it. Only reset a key that does not hold a license you want to keep.

    The certificate blob page showing the Copy Certificate Blob button and next steps

  6. Generate the license file on the Web Licensing site by following the steps in Activating a New Software License, pasting the copied certificate blob into the Site Code box in place of a site code. The certificate blob works like a site code but is slightly longer. Save the generated license file (.jws) on the machine.

  7. Return to the License Utility and click Next to open the License File Installation page.

  8. Click Browse File, select the license file, and confirm that the utility reports License is valid and ready to activate. Then click Finish. The Overview tab now shows the activated license, with Bound To listing the USB security key.

    The License File Installation page confirming the license is valid, with the Finish button

Keep the YubiKey plugged in to keep GENESIS licensed. If you remove the key, the License Utility reports No USB Security Key detected, and the computer returns to demo mode until you plug the key back in.

What's Next?