Licensing Modes
In Babel Licensing, licensing modes define how software licenses are distributed, activated, and managed. The licensing mode you choose determines how your customers will interact with your software, how licenses are validated, and what kind of infrastructure is required to support your licensing strategy.
Primary Licensing Modes
Babel Licensing offers three primary licensing modes, each designed to address different deployment scenarios and business needs:
- License File: Traditional license files distributed directly to customers
- License Activation: Licenses that are bound to specific machines through an activation process
- Floating License: Shared licenses that can be used concurrently by multiple users
Each mode provides distinct advantages and is suitable for different types of applications and customer environments. Understanding these licensing modes is essential for designing an effective licensing strategy that balances security, flexibility, and user experience.
Token-Based Extensions
In addition to the primary licensing modes, Babel Licensing provides token-based extensions that can be applied across licensing modes to enhance functionality:
- License Tokens: Track concurrent usage by temporarily allocating tokens to active clients
- Consumption Tokens: Track usage volume by permanently consuming tokens during service operations
These token-based approaches can be combined with the primary licensing modes to create sophisticated licensing strategies:
- A floating license may use License Tokens to manage concurrent connections
- Any licensing mode can utilize Consumption Tokens to track and bill for actual usage volume
Documentation Structure
This section explores each licensing mode and token approach in detail, highlighting their characteristics, benefits, implementation considerations, and typical use cases. By understanding the capabilities and limitations of each approach, you can select the most appropriate strategies for your software products and licensing requirements.