Licensing using a node locked virtual machine

A method of managing a license of software executing on an instance of a Microsoft Windows® operating system executing on a virtual machine, abbreviated VM, belonging to an Active Directory domain, including:

• receiving from a software application executing on an instance of a Microsoft Windows® operating system executing on a VM and belonging to an Active Directory domain, a request including a machine ID and a domain ID or a unique value derived from the machine ID and the domain ID;
• incorporating into a response the machine ID and domain ID, or the unique value derived from the machine ID and the domain ID;
• digitally signing the response;
• and
• sending the response to the said software application.

A method of managing a license of software executing on an instance of a Microsoft Windows® operating system executing on a virtual machine, abbreviated VM, belonging to an Active Directory domain, including;

• obtaining a machine ID from an instance of a Microsoft Windows® operating system executing on a VM and belonging to an Active Directory domain;
• obtaining a domain ID for said Active Directory domain;
• generating a current unique value derived from the machine ID and the domain ID;
• retrieving digitally signed stored data which includes a registered unique value;
• verifying the digital signature on the stored data;
• and
• verifying that the current unique value matches the registered unique value.

A computer system for obtaining a license certificate for software executing on an instance of a Microsoft Windows® operating system executing on a virtual machine, abbreviated VM, belonging to an Active Directory domain to the VM, including:

• a processor and a computer readable storage medium storing computer instructions configured to cause the processor to:
• obtain a machine ID from an instance of a Microsoft Windows® operating system executing on a VM and belonging to an Active Directory domain;
• obtain a domain ID for said Active Directory domain;
• send to a license grant application the machine ID and the domain ID or a unique value derived from the machine ID and the domain ID;
• and
• receive from the license grant application digitally signed license data that includes the machine ID and the domain ID or a unique value derived from the machine ID and the domain ID;
• and
• store the digitally signed license data.

A computer system for managing a license of software executing on an instance of a Microsoft Windows® operating system executing on a virtual machine, abbreviated VM, belonging to an Active Directory domain, including:

• a processor and a computer readable storage medium storing computer instructions configured to cause the processor to:
• receive from a software application executing on an instance of a Microsoft Windows® operating system executing on a VM and belonging to an Active Directory domain, a request including a machine ID and a domain ID or a unique value derived from the machine ID and the domain ID;
• incorporate into a response the machine ID and domain ID, or the unique value derived from the machine ID and the domain ID;
• digitally sign the response;
• and
• send the response to the said software application.

A computer system for managing a license of software executing on an instance of a Microsoft Windows® operating system executing on a virtual machine, abbreviated VM, belonging to an Active Directory domain, including:

• a processor and a computer readable storage medium storing computer instructions configured to cause the processor to:
• obtain a machine ID from an instance of a Microsoft Windows® operating system executing on a VM and belonging to an Active Directory domain;
• obtain a domain ID for said Active Directory domain;
• generate a current unique value derived from the machine ID and the domain ID;
• retrieve digitally signed stored data which includes a registered unique value;
• verify the digital signature on the stored data;
• and
• verify that the current unique value matches the registered unique value.

A computer readable storage medium storing computer instructions configured to cause a processor to:

• obtain a machine ID from an instance of a Microsoft Windows® operating system executing on a VM and belonging to an Active Directory domain;
• obtain a domain ID for said Active Directory domain;
• send to a license grant application the machine ID and the domain ID or a unique value derived from the machine ID and the domain ID;
• and
• receive from the license grant application digitally signed license data that includes the machine ID and the domain ID or a unique value derived from the machine ID and the domain ID;
• and
• store the digitally signed license data.

A computer readable storage medium storing computer instructions configured to cause a processor to:

• receive from a software application executing on an instance of a Microsoft Windows® operating system executing on a VM and belonging to an Active Directory domain, a request including a machine ID and a domain ID or a unique value derived from the machine ID and the domain ID;
• incorporate into a response the machine ID and domain ID, or the unique value derived from the machine ID and the domain ID;
• digitally sign the response;
• and
• send the response to the said software application.

A computer readable storage medium storing computer instructions configured to cause a processor to:

• obtain a machine ID from an instance of a Microsoft Windows® operating system executing on a VM and belonging to an Active Directory domain;
• obtain a domain ID for said Active Directory domain;
• generate a current unique value derived from the machine ID and the domain ID;
• retrieve digitally signed stored data which includes a registered unique value;
• verify the digital signature on the stored data;
• and
• verify that the current unique value matches the registered unique value.