License validation checks that a license key is genuine and not already in use somewhere else. It also records the device where the license is assigned: on one computer, on your LAN Zoo server, or in your Rhino Account or team. Rhino can’t use a license until it has been validated.
Validation happens online when the computer has an internet connection. If it doesn’t, Rhino and the LAN Zoo walk you through getting a validation code offline from another computer.
Where Validation Happens
You validate a license on the device where it will be used. Choose the licensing method first. See the licensing overview if you aren’t sure which one you need.
| Licensing method | Where you validate | Offline validation |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Zoo (Rhino Account or team) | Your Rhino Account, on the licenses page | No. |
| Single computer | In Rhino, on the computer you’re licensing | Yes |
| LAN Zoo | In Zoo Administrator, on the LAN Zoo server | Yes |
Validating Online
Cloud Zoo
Adding a license key to your Rhino Account or team validates it.
- Go to the Rhino Accounts licenses page and log in.
- Add your license key to your account or to a team.
Then log in to Rhino with that account when it starts. See Add a license to your Cloud Zoo for details.
Single Computer
- Start Rhino. The Rhino needs a license to run dialog appears.
- In the lower-left corner, click Options, then click Use only on this computer.
- Click Continue.
- Enter your license key.
Rhino validates the license online. To switch a running Rhino from a Zoo to a single-computer license, see Lock a License to a Computer.
LAN Zoo
When you add a license key in Zoo Administrator, the Rhino License Validation Wizard opens. Follow the instructions on the screen. See Adding Licenses to the LAN Zoo.
Admins: if the server is behind a firewall, allow HTTPS access (TCP port 443) to api.mcneel.com.
Validating Offline
If the computer or LAN Zoo server has no internet connection, get a validation code from another computer that does.
- Enter the license key. Rhino tells you it can’t connect to the validation server.
- Click Get Validation Code Manually. (A LAN Zoo server shows the offline instructions directly.)
- Write down the License Key, Device Name, and Device ID and the Validation URL.
- On a computer with internet access, visit the validation URL.
- Enter your email address, license key, Device Name, and Device ID.
- If you’re validating an upgrade, also enter the license key for your previous version of Rhino.
- Your validation code is displayed. Print it or save it to a text file. Use the code within 24 hours.
- Back on the offline computer, enter the validation code in the Validation Wizard and click Next.
For step-by-step screenshots, see Validating an Offline Installation. For a LAN Zoo server, see Validating Your License Offline.
Validating an Upgrade
An upgrade license is paired with a license for the previous version of Rhino when you validate it. Validate the upgrade on the same device as the previous license: your Rhino Account, your LAN Zoo, or the computer it’s locked to. Each previous license can be used for only one upgrade, and together they count as one seat - each seat can only be used on one computer at a time. For details, see Upgrading Your License.
Moving a Validated License
If your license is in Cloud Zoo or locked to a single computer, and that computer has been online recently, the license can be moved to another device by assigning it to the new device. You must use the same email address you used when validating your license previously. See Changing Your Licensing Method.
Troubleshooting
- The key is already in use. It was validated on another computer, LAN Zoo, or Rhino Account. Use the license lookup tool to find where, by the email address you used at the time. If you can’t release it yourself, contact McNeel Sales.
- Validation fails with an error. Contact McNeel Technical Support and include the error description.
- Rhino won’t start and doesn’t offer a licensing method. Reset Rhino’s license files. See Troubleshooting in the single-computer guide.
