License containers
Depending on the product or product category, different license conditions or routes apply.
Licenses are stored in one of the two license containers , depending on the product:
To help you decide which license container is right for you, see here.
Engineering
The CODESYS Development System is free of charge. The only requirement for installation is acceptance of the End User License Agreement. A license is required for add-on products from the CODESYS Store that extend the CODESYS Development System, such as CODESYS Git. Each product lists its license terms in the Store.
Decision-Making Guide:
Those who work alone or at a fixed workstation use workstation licenses.
A team that shares the tools uses a network license: It purchases only as many licenses as there are people working at the same time and installs them at a single location on the network.
Runtime Systems
Soft PLC systems and add-on products for CODESYS-compatible devices
Anyone who licenses a CODESYS Control SL soft PLC from the CODESYS Store makes two decisions. The application-based license determines how much the controller is allowed to execute. The activation method determines where the license is located: as a single-device license on the controller itself or, in the case of generic runtime systems, as a network license on a license server. The license level is the same for both methods.
Application-Based License
Application-based licenses are the licenses offered by the CODESYS Store for the CODESYS Control SL soft PLC systems. The license is based on the scope of the application, not on the hardware: The same license allows an application to run on an industrial PC running Windows or on an edge device running Linux, and it applies to all CODESYS Control SL products. Application-based licenses are available for all CODESYS Control SL platforms starting with version 4.9.0.0 and for the CODESYS Development System starting with CODESYS V3.5 SP19 Patch 1.
The scope is determined by metrics such as the number of I/O channels, fieldbus networks, and visualized variables, as well as options like SoftMotion. After compilation, the CODESYS Development System displays the project’s metrics and the licenses required by the application. During the download, the runtime system checks whether the installed license covers these metrics and, if not, rejects the download. Without a license, a controller runs for two hours in demo mode and then stops; for continuous operation, it requires a license that matches the application.
The tiers build on one another, ranging from CODESYS Control Basic to Standard to Performance, supplemented by licenses for visualization, communication, SoftMotion, and safety. Tiers and prices are listed in the CODESYS Store.
Decision-Making Guide:
The single-device license is tied to the device and does not depend on any network. The network license is located at a single point on the network; it can be dynamically assigned and maintained redundantly. However, the controllers depend on the license server: If the server fails or the network is disrupted, all connected controllers may lose their licenses without a redundant license server.
Upgrades and Updates for Application-Based Licenses
If an application outgrows its license—for example, by adding another fieldbus—an upgrade license elevates the application-based license to a higher tier. When purchasing an upgrade, you specify the license already installed on the device in the CODESYS Store; the store will fully credit the price of that license, and you’ll only need to pay the difference. After activation, the device will carry only the new license. Upgrades only move you to a higher tier and are available exclusively for application-based licenses.
Every application-based license includes five years of runtime system updates. The five-year period begins with the activation of the license, not with the purchase. The runtime system can be updated at any time to any version released within this maintenance period, even after it has ended. An upgrade does not affect the maintenance period.
After the maintenance period expires, all licensed runtime systems and features remain fully functional; the machine continues to run without any time limit. Only an update to a version released after the expiration date requires a license renewal.
CODESYS-compatible devices from device manufacturers
If you purchase a CODESYS-compatible device from a device manufacturer, the required licenses are usually already included on the device. No additional licenses are required to use the device, unless the device manufacturer specifies otherwise.
If the device supports the licensing of additional functions, the licenses for these are available in the CODESYS Store. Depending on how the device manufacturer has configured the device, these licenses are either stored in the software license container on the device or on a CODESYS Key inserted into the device. The device manufacturer determines which functions can be licensed separately.
Licensing Tools
A license from the CODESYS Store can be added to your license container in three ways: directly upon purchase in the CODESYS Store, at any time in the CODESYS Development System, or at any time via the License Central web interface at license.codesys.com. Which tool is appropriate depends on the product, the controller’s operating system, the type of license, and whether the license is used on a workstation or a controller.
Internet access is required for activation. If the target device does not have Internet access, the activation process is divided into several steps: The License Manager sends a license request; WebDepot uses this request to generate a license update on a computer with Internet access; and the update is then sent back to the target device. The license server running on Linux offers the same process.