I have never been a huge fan of the Macrovision FlexLM security software that CAD software companies such as Mentor Graphics and Cadence use for their tools. Service bureaus need to manage multiple licenses in several different CAD tools so dealing with dongles can prove very challenging.

This is why I was very pleased to see the new online licensing system created for the Altium Designer suite. Once the license is registered any user that has Altium Designer installed on their computer can connect via an online server to authenticate their software.  This means a much more streamlined setup and maintenance of CAD licensing. It also makes it much simpler to work at a customer’s site whether it is for a full day or simply for a meeting. The license is accessible for on the fly modifications and reviews. It also allows designers to work from home without needing to carry dongles with them.

I was very impressed with Altium’s way of thinking and hopefully other CAD tools will follow suit with this type of licensing. You can learn more about Altium’s line of CAD software by visiting their website at www.altium.com.

Tags: altium, cad, designer, layout, license, pcb

Posted in Software
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