Virtual Network Appliance Licensing via Dynamic VM Identifier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for licensing and identification of virtual network appliances in virtualized environments, such as cloud-based data centers, face limitations due to the use of physical media like USB dongles, which are unsuitable for electronic data transmission and restrict usage, assignment, and resale of virtual network appliances.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for licensing and identification of virtual network appliances deployed via electronic data transmission, utilizing a client computer and a licensing server to generate and verify a unique virtual machine identifier based on virtual MAC addresses and unique identifiers, embedding this identifier in a license for proper verification and tying the appliance to a specific virtualization platform.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If physical media (USB dongles) are used for delivering software applications or images for virtual network appliances, then licensing and identification can be implemented, but the system is unsuited for electronic data transmission in virtualized cloud-based environments and restricts usage flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical media system (USB dongles) with an electronic data transmission system. The licensing server communicates with the virtual network appliance over a network using electronic signals, extracting identifiers from the virtual appliance's memory or configuration data, and delivering license keys electronically. This substitution enables operation in virtualized cloud environments while maintaining licensing control and usage flexibility.
2Reliability
If physical media are used for licensing, then identification can be achieved, but it restricts the end-user's ability to assign, redistribute, and resell the virtual network appliance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic licensing system where the license key is not permanently bound to specific hardware but can be dynamically transferred. The licensing server generates license keys that can be reassigned to different virtual network appliances based on user needs. The system dynamically verifies licenses by extracting identifiers from the current virtual appliance and comparing them with the licensed identifiers stored on the licensing server, enabling flexible assignment, redistribution, and resale while maintaining verification reliability.
3Ease of operation
If conventional licensing systems are used, then control over scope and duration of use can be imposed, but the system is unsuited for deployment via electronic data transmission in virtualized environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal licensing system that functions across multiple deployment scenarios. The licensing server can handle both physical media-based licensing (for traditional deployments) and electronic data transmission licensing (for virtualized cloud environments) through the same core architecture. The system extracts identifiers from the virtual appliance's memory or configuration data, generates appropriate license keys, and enforces scope and duration controls regardless of the deployment method, making it suitable for both conventional and modern virtualized environments.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of licensing and identification of a virtual network appliance. The systems and methods obtain information specific to an instance of a virtual machine corresponding to the virtual network appliance. The instance of the virtual machine is deployed on a predetermined virtualization platform. The systems and methods can generate an identifier as well as a serial number for the virtual machine based at least on the information specific to the instance of the virtual machine, and generate a license including license data for the virtual network appliance, embedding at least the identifier for the virtual machine in the license data. The information specific to the instance of the virtual machine can include a universally unique identifier (UUID) and at least one virtual media access control (MAC) address for the virtual machine deployed on the predetermined virtualization platform.