Valesco licences can be installed as a Concurrent/Distributor system. This comprises of the network server acting as the Licence Server, and the Client software installed on the Windows devices running Valesco.
The Licence Server and the Client Component can be installed on separate machines or on the same machine.
If you are installing on the same machine there are two choices, installing Server + Client or installing the Server in one folder and then the Client in the second. The second option allows for separation, and when receiving updates, means you’re only updating the client part, the server component requires less updates.
Pre-Requisites
Prior to installation of the Server Licensing system, there are prerequisites which will need to be installed.
- .NET 3.5 Installed and Updated (Dependencies required in 3.5 to function correctly)
- .NET 4.5 Installed and Updated (Dependencies required in 4.5 to function correctly)
The Licensing Server will need to understand ASP.NET web application framework.
This can be done in a couple of ways for pre-2016 servers (see Note2 below).
- Install IIS Server Role with options for ASP and ASP .NET ticked
(Registers the required ‘Temporary ASP .NET Files’ Folder)
See Note1 below for Update errors
- Install ASP.NET from http://www.asp.net/downloads
Create Folder or Change permissions on
C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NET Files
(Does not register the ‘Temporary ASP.NET Files’ Folder required)
Note1:
If you have suffered a Microsoft Update Error you may need to run ‘aspnet_regiis’
[To initialise the ASP.NET components that Distributor requires one should, in an elevated command line, navigate to the correct Framework directory and run ‘aspnet_regiis –ir’. In a 32-bit OS the aspnet_regiis will be in various version sub-folders under
C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\ and 32-bit OS and in C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\ in 64-bit environments]
Note2:
If the server is 2016 or above all you would need to do is install both .Net’s specified then create the folder C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NET Files as .Net 3.5/4.5 now includes the ASP libraries.
Proxy Configuration
If you are using a proxy server, this will need to be configured to allow the Crest Software licensing system to communicate with the following web addresses over https(Port 443) and http(Port 80) for licence activation and renewal:
https://srv.softwarepotential.com/SLMServerWS/ActivationWS.svc
http://srv.softwarepotential.com/SLMServerWS/ActivationWS.svc
Licence Server Installation & Activation Procedure
Note: Please ensure you perform the ‘Server’ installation first
Upon running the installer, please select the ‘Server’ option for the machine on which the component is being installed
Licence Server Activation
Once the installation is complete, you are ready to register the server licence.
Valesco licensing is performed via a portal opened from the licence server web browser, although the ASP.net portal files themselves are local to the machine. To access the portal open the web browser on the licence server machine and type in the machine’s IP address with these extras, as follows:
Or by server name:
This will then open the Licensing Portal:
Select the ‘Activation’ tab and enter your Activation Key, followed by the ‘Submit’ button
(this part of the activation procedure requires an internet connection to allow the licence to be validated and activated)
It’s worth also noting that the same Licensing Portal can be used to view the licence usage at any time and shows the user machine(s) currently accessing Valesco etc.
Installing the Client
Please note:
Valesco v5.4 uses .NET 4.7 and this will be installed during the client installation.
However it may be prudent to pre-install this on the system prior running the Valesco installation.
Also ensure that before installing, you have closed all Office programs, as Office will automatically close when installing.
Once the licence server is up and running, simply install the first of the client machines using the same setup file, but selecting the ‘CLIENT’ install option.
Configuring the Client
Before the users can open Valesco, a small configuration file (Slps.config) must be populated with the licence server machine IP address or server name, which will reside in the following folder on the client machine:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Crest Software\Valesco
Open the Slps.config file in Notepad (Administrator Mode) and remove the comment out markers ‘<!--’ and ‘-->’
Then change the IP address to that of the Licence Server or enter the ‘servername’ if preferred
(e.g. http://YOURSERVER:8731/)
Note: Notepad must be run as administrator to edit file
Save the config file (as this file can be used for all PC’s on the network)
This configuration file directs the Valesco software to the correct licence location, which in this case is the network Licence Server.
Testing Valesco
Finally, a simple check to ensure everything is working as expected is to start up the Valesco application, it should open without any further prompts into a blank grey window with the Valesco toolbar along the top.
If you do have issues, please check that the relevant port 8731 is open on the licence server and client machines.