KeyGen Licensing

12 min

Requires AMICS 5.2.0 or newer.

AMICS 5.2 uses the KeyGen cloud-based licensing system for license activation and validation, replacing the previous license manager.

License Types

Type	Description
Instrument-based	License tied to a specific SEM instrument
Time-based	License valid for a specified time period

License Status

The current license status is displayed in the application title bar. Expiration warnings appear when the license is approaching its end date.

Managing Your License

Access the License Manager from:

Tool application → License Manager

Process or Investigator → Other Tools tab → License Manager

{{FIG: License Manager dialog showing license status, key field, activation and server URL controls | IDD_LICENSE_MANAGER_DIALOG}}

Activating a License

Open the License Manager

Enter your license key in the License Key field

Click Activate

AMICS validates the key against the KeyGen server and activates the license

{{FIG: License Key Confirmation dialog showing key entry field and confirmation buttons | IDD_LICENSE_APPLY_DIALOG}}

Updating License Status

Click Update to refresh the license status from the KeyGen server. This is useful to:

Verify the license is still valid

Check for entitlement changes

Confirm that a renewed license has been applied

Removing a License

Click Remove to deactivate the license on this machine. This frees the license seat for use on another machine.

Warning: After removing a license, AMICS will no longer function until a valid license is reactivated.

Machine Fingerprint

AMICS generates a unique machine fingerprint based on:

Disk serial number

Machine name

Platform information

This fingerprint ensures the license is tied to a specific machine. If you change hardware components, you may need to reactivate your license.

Moving a License to a New Machine (New in 5.3.2)

If your machine fingerprint changes — for example after a VM migration/clone or a hardware change — AMICS (Process and Investigator) now offers to move the license for you:

Machine fingerprint was changed from the last activation (it's a sign that some hardware was changed in your computer). Move the license to this machine? It will be deactivated on the previously registered machine.

Click Yes to deactivate the license on the previously registered machine and activate it on this one. If you click No, the license stays as-is and AMICS will offer to move it again the next time it detects the mismatch. Previously, this situation required a Bruker administrator to free the machine slot in the KeyGen dashboard before you could reactivate.

Note: This prompt appears in Process and Investigator; Tool.exe does not prompt.

Online and Offline Validation

Mode	Description
Online	License is validated against the KeyGen server periodically
Offline	License works without internet for a grace period after last successful validation

AMICS attempts periodic online validation when an internet connection is available. If validation fails (e.g., no internet), the license remains valid for a configured grace period.

Investigator startup (New in 5.3.2): With a cached activation, Investigator now opens even when the license server can't be reached or the checkout lease has expired — the license only gates the SEM hardware connection, not the ability to open the application. Only a machine with no cached activation at all still requires the strict online activation prompt.

Cached license status also auto-refreshes when it looks stale (not a known-good status), instead of requiring a restart or waiting for the checkout lease to expire.

Server Configuration

For enterprise deployments, the KeyGen server URL can be customized:

Open the License Manager

Locate the Server URL field

Enter the custom KeyGen API endpoint

Click Apply

This is useful for organizations that host their own KeyGen relay or proxy.

Time Synchronization

AMICS compares the local system clock with the license server time to prevent clock manipulation. A configurable threshold window allows for minor time differences between the local machine and server.

If the time difference exceeds the threshold, AMICS will warn you and may require synchronization before the license can be validated.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
"License expired"	Contact your Bruker representative for renewal
"Machine fingerprint mismatch"	Reactivate the license on the new hardware
"Cannot connect to server"	Check internet connection; license works offline for a grace period
"Time sync error"	Synchronize your system clock with an internet time server