Hardware key for ArcGIS

To run ESRI's ArcGIS/ArcInfo software, a computer needs a license, either its own or from a license server. The computer with the license must have a license file, and also an ESRI hardware key inserted into either a USB port or a parallel port. A sample of each kind of key is pictured at right. A key costs $35 but then it is yours forever, and can be used indefinitely.

The license file is generated specifically for a particular computer (identified by its hostname) and a particular hardware key (identified by its 8-digit number which begins with "37"). The license file is plain text file which can be emailed, usually as an attachment. Some email programs always display plain text attachments in the body of a message; in that case, the license can be copied from the email and pasted into a new text file. The contents of a typical 2005-2006 license file are displayed below.

The fee for a 2006-2007 ArcGIS license file (1 process) is $98 under the current site license. For clusters of computers, one computer can be the server, and provide a license to up to N client computers if it has an N-process license, which costs $98 per license. For instance, a 3-process license would enable any 3 computers in the cluster to run ArcGIS simultaneously at any given time. Only the server needs to have a hardware key.

To get an ArcGIS license, or for more information, contact the Site Licensing office, sitelic@colorado.edu, (303) 492-8995.

A typical 2005-2006 license file looks like this (note the expiration date of 30 July 2006):

 --------------

 START_LICENSE

 SERVER geogr.colorado.edu ESRI_SENTINEL_KEY=37114711 27004

 VENDOR ARCGIS

 FEATURE ARC/INFO       ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 0CC090A125EE9976FB66 \

                     vendor_info="73LHEHJ3RJKC6NJLT230" ck=3

 FEATURE Plotting       ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 AC802031F628C56C6692 \

                     vendor_info="TEFNMNAK3T0THK8J7050" ck=5

 FEATURE Network        ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 9C801021187F153522E9 \

                     vendor_info="J11PX0YKXP7H5FHRE093" ck=173

 FEATURE TIN            ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 EC00E0D197E06BCC6DCA \

                     vendor_info="Y6EAAHASTC9XK60L1089" ck=128

 FEATURE COGO           ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 9CD0D0C1EF0E1EE879B3 \

                     vendor_info="J1JHE0HEK8APZ2FX2135" ck=61

 FEATURE Grid           ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 BCF0F0015C558952CA6D \

                     vendor_info="PYJ02E8TMLPKGHPH6056" ck=285

 FEATURE ArcScan        ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 5C70E0C131891ABF0F1A \

                     vendor_info="DJNEDZCS0CE71ZLHL210" ck=219

 FEATURE ArcStorm       ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 2CC0E031FD195976BD8D \

                     vendor_info="9HH77PG2RJLGENJLL009" ck=18

 FEATURE ArcStormEnable ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 2C8070613BF7CBE2CC09 \

                     vendor_info="CNLEJLA1N14JPC6H8115" ck=83

 FEATURE Publisher      ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 9C80B0C1F25B10610276 \

                     vendor_info="J11PP6J0LJE5GTE6A090" ck=205

 FEATURE TIFFLZW        ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 CC501021006C2B5C77CF \

                     vendor_info="H1HKN7N9JE0LLT6Y1083" ck=223

 FEATURE ArcPress       ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 2CF0E071FE215782C782 \

                     vendor_info="9H1GH5SH687L6AC5T051" ck=231

 FEATURE Survey         ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 5CF000E1EA91A715CE84 \

                     vendor_info="DJAJSEPE0SXTXTFJ2095" ck=39

 FEATURE Viewer         ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 7C5060E10BFBB7E81668 \

                     vendor_info="GEJEL0XG0H7T1HNAR013" ck=59

 FEATURE GeoStats       ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 FCC010811B567C93CA65 \

                     vendor_info="0HH7AHL01JXTGE1EK122" ck=228

 FEATURE Editor         ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 9C10F071D5510E110B23 \

                     vendor_info="J1J78HNG101N7ZRFJ068" ck=166

 FEATURE StreetMap      ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 FCC090E111770919877D \

                     vendor_info="0HH7NP5PBZ1HE1X7F050" ck=5

 FEATURE Maplex         ARCGIS 9.0 30-jul-2006     1 9CC01021DB510B3B1BB5 \

                     vendor_info="J1EHJ3J6NE8PST0LD105" ck=236

 END_LICENSE