TOP Server Licensing Details

TOP Server Perpetual Licenses, Optional Subscription Licensing

TOP Server Annual Support & Maintenance

Your initial TOP Server license purchase includes the first year of support & maintenance allowing you to keep your installation current with the latest version and receive email and phone support, as well as, product re-registrations as needed.

For full details on annual support & maintenance for your TOP Server licenses, including renewals and other benefits, please visit the TOP Server Product Support page.

TOP Server Hardware Key Dongle Support

Optional hardware key dongles are available for TOP Server as an alternative to a traditional software license. Hardware Key Dongles are compatible with any TOP Server  for new or existing software licenses (i.e. we can help you convert existing software licenses to hardware key dongles). Hardware key dongles are delivered with a Hardware Key Certificate file that must be imported into the TOP Server License Utility for the TOP Server you wish to license.

Vertical Industry Suite Licenses are Economical

Need more than one TOP Server driver? Consider the available TOP Server Vertical Industry Suites for a cost-effective bundle of drivers that are most common to specific industries including Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, and more.

Click for Details on Industry Suites

Are there any limits on how many tags or devices I can configure?

Standard TOP Server licenses DO NOT artificially limit you by license on number of tags or number of connected client applications. A client application is an HMI, SCADA, MES system, or other OPC client application that consumes the data TOP Server provides.

With the exception of a few TOP Server driver suites, there are not any license-based limits on the number of devices the TOP Server can collect data from or write data to.  If you do not see a device limit listed on the list of TOP Server drivers page, then there are not any license-based device count limits.

There may be technical limitations for a single instance of TOP Server including but not limited to OS capability, your computer hardware, network performance, protocol limitations and your application performance requirements, but not by license. Please contact us to discuss your application technical requirements.

As stated before there might be practical technical limits, but they are usually in the 1000's of devices, possibly more.  Please contact us to discuss your application technical requirements.

What do I do if I need to run TOP Server on more than one machine?

TOP Server is licensed per machine for each driver, suite or plug-in that you require. So you will need a license of TOP Server for each production computer you plan to run TOP Server on, including redundant servers.

Special pricing is available from your local distributor or Software Toolbox for redundant server licenses if bought at the same time as the main license (you might also refer to these as backup licenses).

Volume licensing is available. If you work with one of our distributors you can contact them to discuss your options, otherwise you can contact us for assistance.

Can I transfer my TOP Server license to another machine?

Yes, the TOP Server License Utility makes it possible to transfer licenses between machines in a two step process:

1. Transfer one or more licenses back to the Software Toolbox registration center.
   • Click for License Transfer How-to Video
     
   • Click for License Transfer How-to Guide
     
     
2. Register the license or licenses in the target TOP Server.
   • Click for License Registration How-to Video
   • Click for License Registration How-to Guide

How is my TOP Server license actually delivered?

If you ordered TOP Server without the optional hardware key dongle, you will receive the following with your purchase (either via online/email delivery or physical delivery or both):

• Serial/License Number
• ActivationID (used to register your TOP Server using our online registration center)
• Emergency ActivationID
• Support and Maintenance Agreement Expiration Date
• Product Download Link
• License Agreement Link
• Registration & Installation Instructions Links
• Physical Delivery Only - CD Media
• Hardware Key License Only - .LIC Certificate File (Link to download or included on physical media)

On the machine where you wish to use TOP Server, you'll activate the serial/license - the procedure for registering your TOP Server online is available in our knowledgebase.

TOP Server hardware key dongles will be delivered pre-loaded with your license for plug-and-play operation after importing the included .lic file in the TOP Server License Utility.

Do I have to pay an annual fee to keep using my license?

If you've purchased a subscription license for TOP Server, yes, you will pay an annual fee each year to renew the right to use that license (subscription licenses are a fraction of the cost of a perpetual license, but you're paying more each year than just a renewal for support/maintenance - this means, over time, a subscription license is actually more expensive).

Most TOP Server licenses are Perpetual Licenses. You own the license! You aren't paying an annual fee to use it!

The only annual cost involved with a perpetual license (and it's optional to renew though highly recommended) is support and maintenance. Support and maintenance is important and we encourage you to consider the benefits you receive including email and phone support, updates to new releases at no additional charge, and more - click for full details.

Does TOP Server have a hardware key/dongle license available?

Yes! It is possible to add a USB hardware key dongle option to any TOP Server license (does NOT include the actual license).

You must either already own a TOP Server license or licenses or add the hardware to your order for new licenses.

Order a TOP Server Hardware Key Here

Select/Order TOP Server Licenses Here

TOP Server Hardware Key Licensing Instructions

Converting TOP Server Software Licenses to Hardware

Yes, users with an existing TOP Server software license can purchase a hardware key dongle and easily convert the existing software license.

We will confirm which software license/licenses you wish to transfer to the new hardware key and provide instructions for either transferring the licenses back to our registration center or a Letter of Destruction (LOD) confirming you've removed the licenses and they are no longer loaded.

We will then ship your new hardware key dongle with the designated license/licenses pre-loaded along with the corresponding .LIC file which you will import into the TOP Server License Utility.

How do I upgrade my TOP Server to a newer version?

The first step in upgrading your TOP Server to a newer version is verifying your current support/maintenance status using the TOP Server License Utility.

• How to verify support/maintenance in TOP Server V6.x
• How to verify support/maintenance in TOP Server V5.x

With one installer for the full product and the free trial, upgrading your TOP Server is as easy as downloading the version you wish to upgrade to and running the installer.

Just make sure your support/maintenance period for you registered licenses are eligible for the version you are installing.

Why do I need support & maintenance?

What happens if your support/maintenance expires on TOP Server licenses?

After the first year of owning your license (support/maintenance is included for the first year), you can renew your access to support and maintenance so that you continue to receive access to our technical support services and all product upgrades.

Your license will keep operating regardless of whether you renew support or not.  However, if your machine fails, and you need to reactivate your license, our services will be limited to one unlock per year, and no other services.

If you are moving to a newer version, you will need an active support and maintenance agreement to be able to use your license on versions newer than the last release available before your support/maintenance expired.

Upgrades when support/maintenance has expired require a reinstatement (generally a cost of around 50% of a new license).

So, while you don't have to renew, it's highly recommended.  Contact us for a quote on your renewal or reinstatement.

Where can I find a copy of the TOP Server EULA?

The TOP Server End-User License Agreement (EULA) is available in our online knowledgebase.

TOP Server End-User License Agreement