Sentinel Hardware Keys Developer's Guide - Customer Connection ...

Chapter 1 – Introduction
Contents Glossary Index Troubleshooting
Note: The Secure Communication Tunnel (term used in the diagram above) is
explained on page 14.
License Models to Increase Your Revenue
6 Sentinel Hardware Keys Developer’s Guide
Sentinel Keys provide the most advanced hardware-based protection
against software piracy. For software vendors and developers, it opens a new
world of opportunities by preventing illegal copying and distribution of their
proprietary applications. It also provides better market penetration by
increasing the product usage/trial rate among the potential customers. A
few examples are described below. Using Sentinel Keys, you can:
Lease the protected application for a certain period. Later, your
customers may want to extend the lease or convert it to a perpetual
license.
To lease your applications, you can choose from RTC-based Sentinel
Keys or non-RTC tokens with Sentinel V-ClockTM .
RTC-based Sentinel Keys contain an internal real-time clock to track
the exact date and time of the leased applications. The real clock keeps
track of time independent of the system clock—providing the best
solution against time tampering attacks.
The non-RTC tokens with Sentinel V-Clock also allow reliable and
secure distribution of time-limited applications. These do not require
an on-board battery to detect time tampering.
Sell demo versions of the protected application. These can be
upgraded to full-versions whenever desired.
Provide stand-alone and network 3 licenses for individual customers
and enterprise-level set-ups.
Protect multiple applications with a single Sentinel Key.
3. Also known as concurrent or floating licenses.