Software Registration, Purchase and License Recovery
From Tallus LLC Wiki
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Software Licensing Overview
Cinemar software is licensed to the original purchaser for installation on one (1) home system or one (1) business location. The licenses are non-transferable and non-refundable.
Most components of MainLobby software suite will install and operate for 30 days in a trial period. Once the trial period has expired, that software component will not continue to work on that PC until it is properly licensed and activated.
MLServer3 is registered first with the license key that was received on purchase. After it is licensed, it is Activated to that PC. Once Activated, the license is not reusable on additional PCs. Optional plugins and addons are typically registered within the MLServer3 Plugins window. They too require Activation once license is applied. MLServer3 is licensed to support multiple clients. The typical MLServer3 license allows for up to 5 MainLobby clients, or web sessions, to be open concurrantly. Each Web session (window) is considered one "client" with respect to licensing. Licenses are available in packs of 5 clients as upgrades. If the MLServer3 is licensed with 5 clients and then Activated, and then a new license that supports up to 10 clients is added, the software requires Activation again to make the 10 client capability permenant.
There is also the "Zero Client License" for MLServer3. This is for a MLServer3 server that is intended to support plugins only and no client connections. It is typically used for where there are at least two seperate areas with equipment that is required to be controlled by MLServer3 and there aren't hard wires between the two areas (except a network connection to connect the two MLServer3 PCs). The Zero Client MLServer3 are typically called "Secondary" servers as opposed to the "Primary" MLServer3 where the MainLobby Clients are networked to. The Zero Client License is a less expensive option than a full MLServer license, due to it's inability to support client connections. The software (MLServer3) is same between primary and secondary servers. The only difference is the license key which unlocks client connections.
Permanent Activation keys will be made available within 48 hours of purchase AND activation request. The license and activation keys are emailed to the original purchaser. Keep these emails as both proof of purchase and as reference to help rebuild a PC and reuse the same license and activation codes (assuming the same PC hardware is reused). To avoid any down time, make sure that you request activation and apply activation before the trial period is over.
Fill out the registered owner's information in MLServer which will make Activation for products easy to complete. There is also an option to have MLServer send an email if a license trial period is expiring so you have enough time to complete permanent Activation with no lapse of service.
To Register MLServer3
Set up Owner information in the MLServer3 Registration tab. Click the Owner Information button. Add the customer and Dealer information on the respective tabs. This creates variables within MLServer that can be used on a “Support Information” scene for contact information, for example. The dealer enters the information here, and the Support scene that displays these variable values populates with the appropriate information.
Setup the Environment Values in Options / Environment Variables Tab.
If the PC MLServer is installed on does not have access to the Internet, simply open this URL in a browser on an Internet connected PC: http://www.cinemaronline.com/activation.request.php?productname=MLServer Type the hardware ID code (bottom of registration window) and fill out rest of fields. Click Submit. Shortly you will get an email with your Activation Code that you can type into MLServer Help / About Registration activation code field. Click Activate Now. If you have NO access to the Internet, call Cinemar at 262-859-2666 and provide the MLServer ID code. Note that many of MainLobby 3 components requires persistent Internet access.
Note:
• MLServer is registered and activated to the PC that it is originally installed on and shouldn’t ever require reactivation.
• If you upgrade the PC’s hardware, you probably still will not have to reactivate MLServer.
• Occasionally with a hardware change, you might have to reactivate. Try to use your saved backup email activation code to attempt reactivation.
• If activation fails due to significant hardware changes (like moving MLServer to a different PC) OR due to back-dating the Operating System time since MLServer was first registered, you can request a new registration Activation Code. Use the above phone process or by emailing your ID code and a brief description of the activation circumstance. Email address: info@cinemaronline.com.
• If MLServer is installed on a second PC system, a 30 day trial period will start providing time to get and install a permanent activation code.
• If you need to replace a hard drive that had Cinemar MLServer software installed on it, simply reinstall all software and reactivate using your saved Activation Code.
• Cinemar keeps record of all registration requests to protect against software piracy. If Cinemar were to stop supporting MLServer, permanent registration codes would be sent to all registered licensee’s of MLServer application. Please help us update Cinemar’s records by providing your updated email and / or address (if different than your ordering information) to: info@cinemaronline.com.
To Register MLServer3 Plugins
Some plugins (usually commercial paid for plugins) require software registration. To enter registration for these types of plugins, right click on the plugin name in the MLServer Plugin window and select Registration from the list. The License code is what unlocks particular capability that the plugin is licensed for.
When you purchase a plugin that requires this type registration, you will get an email with a License code. You update the License code similar to how you licensed MLServer (see above). After you update the License code, you then need to Activate the plugin by sending in an Activation Request. Upon receipt of the Activation email, update the Access code. The MLServer log file (and most plugin logs) should indicate that the plugin is now activated permanently. Keep record of all you license and activation codes for all Cinemar products.
If you upgrade a plugin to unlock additional capabilities, you likely will have to ReActivate that the new license that you receive in the same way that the Plugin was initially Activated.
To Move a MainLobby license from one PC to another
Most MainLobby product licenses are locked to one PC. If you have a hardware failure that requires replacement of CPU, then you should send proof of product purchase to dave@cinemaronline.com with request to invalidate the prior license and receive a new one for the new PC.
Moving MLServer from one PC to Another
Copy the MLServer directory to backup media (CD / second hard drive, etc). Also, in MLServer 3 (later versions), click Help / Backup Registry. Back this file up to the backup media as well. This is the Windows Registry hive of settings and license information that may be usefull when you move your install. Most of the registry settings are kept here in the registry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Cinemar
On the new PC, install MLServer and then install all of your plugins so that all Registry entries are made in Windows. There are also Dependency Files that may have to be installed to the new PC. There may also be the need to install the .NET Framework, Java, and other Dependency Files that the Cinemar installers don't automatically install for you. See the Wiki on each product as a reminder on what files are needed. If you have been using the new MLServer Installer, then the downloads should all be in mlserver downloaded files directory. Just run each .exe and let it do an install. This should only take a few minutes.
Once installed, you can then copy the entire MLServer directory from one PC to the new one. A key file to ensure got moved is mainlobby.ini that has lots of settings for WeatherLobby, CallerID, DVDLobby, etc.
When you launch MLServer, it should register all of the plugins (the ones that are checked in the plugins window)with Windows.
The exception to this is that any .dll files found in folders in the plugins directory have to be manually registered using regsvr32.exe. There are never more than 8 or so that this applies to. For speed, just file associate a dll to RegSvr32.exe in Windows Explorer so when a dll is double clicked, it registers it easily.
Restart MLServer. You should be running again on 30 day trials. Then, send dave@cinemaronline.com your old licenses and he will swap for new ones and invalidate the old ones. But, you have 30 days to get this all done. Don't forget to Activate each as well. Put your contact information in MLServer and that makes Activation a few seconds for each plugin. If you do this for all plugins at once, then you will receive a single email with the new Activation codes to batch update all in one effort.
Moving MainLobby 3 Client
Since licensing of the MainLobby clients is controlled by MLServer 3, there is no license migration issues for moving a client load from one PC to another. Here are some tips on how to move the software.
On a brand new machine, do all Windows updates.
Perform the Flash uninstall / reinstall (in the MainLobby 3 Client User's guide). Reboot the PC.
Install latest MainLobby client. This sets an install path with Windows.
Copy the entire Cinemar directory from old over the top of new. If your new PC is networked like your old one, you should be able to connect MainLobby to MainLobby server again.
Any of your GuiGraphix libraries will be copied over to the new PC when the Cinemar directory is moved.
Update the Client files to the latest versions.
Moving DVDLobby 3
Most DVDLobby client settings are in the dvdlobby.ini file in the Cinemar directory. So, when you move the Cinemar directory from one PC to another, your DVDLobby settings go with it. The movie database (on latest dvdlobby.dll plugins) is in the mlserver\data\media.mdb and the coverart is in the coverart directory in MLServer. So, when you move MLServer from one PC to another, you bring over the DVDLobby database and coverart. There are also some settings in the mainlobby.ini file that will move over in this step.
Moving MusicLobby 3
Install J. River and run the musiclobbyserver plugin installer.
Note, this does NOT move your database of music which you might have playlists, etc in that you want to keep.
Users: if you are familiar with where Media Center 12 keeps it's settings, please update this Wiki on how to move those settings to a second PC.
Moving TheaterTek
Install and activate TT and configure autokiller and TT ports. Upgrade TT to the TheaterTek 2.5 release. When you move the MLServer\data\TheaterTek.mdb to the new PC, you will be moving your MLTheaterTek plugin settings. TheaterTek advises that the TheaterTek license includes usage on all PCs within a household, so there should be no problem of reusing your purchased license on a second, replacement PC.
Moving TVLobby
Since the TVLobby client settings are in tvlobby.ini in the Cinemar directory, they will be moved when copying over the Cinemar directory to the new Client PC.
The TV database can easily be redownloaded. The tvlobby.dll settings are maintained in the mlserver.ini in the MLServer directory.
Moving WebLobby
The WebLobby client settings are in the various weblobby.ini files in the Cinemar directory. They will be moved when copying over the Cinemar directory to the new Client PC.
Moving XMLobby
The XMLobby client settings are in the xmlobby.ini in the Cinemar directory. They will be moved when copying over the Cinemar directory to the new Client PC.
The XMLobby.dll settings are kept in the windows registry.