USB-Based Offline License Management

What is USB-Based License Management?

USB-based license management allows you to distribute and enforce licenses in environments without internet connectivity (air-gapped systems). The license is physically tied to a USB device, ensuring that the software can only run when the authorized physical key is present.

This is a specific implementation of Offline Validation that uses the USB drive as a hardware anchor.

When to Use This

Air-Gapped Systems: High-security facilities or industrial environments with no network access.
Industrial Control Systems: PLCs, SCADA, or control terminals where stability is paramount.
Field Deployments: Research stations or remote sites where connectivity is unreliable.
Portable Licenses: Allowing users to take their software license from machine to machine on a physical key.
Multi-Machine Licenses: Managing several licenses across different machines via physical distribution.

How It Works

The system relies on a cryptographically signed Offline License File (.lic) stored on a USB drive.

1. Hardware Anchor

The license file is typically bound to a unique identifier of the USB drive (e.g., Serial Number or UUID). The SDK verifies that the file is being read from the correct physical device.

2. Cryptographic Security

Every offline license uses RSA-4096 signatures. This ensures that the license data (expiry, features, status) cannot be modified by the user. If a single byte is changed, the validation will fail.

3. State Enforcement

Even without a connection, the License State Machine is enforced. The embedded expires_at and status fields determine whether the software continues to run.

Key Benefits

No Internet Required: Total independence from network availability.
Physical Control: Hardware-level security through physical possession.
Portable: Easily move the license between different workstations.
Secure: Uses industry-standard RSA-4096-SHA256 signatures.
Simple Deployment: Just copy the license file to the root of the USB key.

Implementation Steps

1. Create a Product

First, ensure your Product is configured in the Admin Portal with “Offline Support” enabled.

2. Generate the Offline License

Use the Offline License Generator or the API to create a signed license file. You will need to provide the target Hardware ID (HWID) or USB identifier if binding is required.

3. Deploy to USB

Place the generated .lic file onto the authorized USB drive.

4. SDK Integration

Integrate one of our SDKs into your application. Configure the SDK to look for the license file on the mounted USB path.

License Lifecycle — Understand the different states of a license.
Generators — How to create offline licenses at scale.
Products — Configuring your products for offline use.
Activations — Managing existing license activations.

How to Access

Navigation: Admin Portal → Products → [Select Product] → Generate Offline License SDK Configuration: Set the public_key_file path to the locally stored public key for verification.

Last updated on January 29, 2026