Basic Licensing addon tutorial - for those who need a little extra help - UPDATED

[bigideaguy]

I wrote a guide for this a while back and posted it here on the WHMCS forums. My previous guide included no code and was a bit confusing. I have updated my new guide with actual code and an example to help anyone out. Feel free to contact me with any question.

 

How to configure and setup WHMCS Licensing addon

http://markustenghamn.com/configure-setup-whmcs-licensing-addon

 

Old thread (Feel free to merge or close)

http://forum.whmcs.com/showthread.php?t=31882

 

Best regards,

Markus

[zomex]

Great job, there's been a lot of requests on this forum for better documentation regarding the licensing addon.

[Peter M Dodge]

This is a great resource for people using that plugin, and I think this thread should be stickied accordingly.

[disgruntled]

ive copied this from your site i hope you dont mind, its just for this.

 

if ($results["status"]=="Active") {
   # Allow Script to Run
   if ($results["localkey"]) {
       # Save Updated Local Key to DB or File
       $localkeydata = $results["localkey"];
   }
} elseif ($results["status"]=="Invalid") {
   # Show Invalid Message
} elseif ($results["status"]=="Expired") {
   # Show Expired Message
} elseif ($results["status"]=="Suspended") {
   # Show Suspended Message
}

 

could be this, cleaner, faster i wouldnt know without a few thousand iterations to test. but i should think it would be.

 

switch ($results['status'])
{
       case 'Active':
               //allow to run
               //update local as required
       break;

       case 'Inactive':
       case 'Expired':
       case 'Suspended:
       default:
               //show status message here
               $result = "Your license key is $result['status']";
       break;
}

[disgruntled]

HA i missed a quote after Suspended lol

[bigideaguy]

ive copied this from your site i hope you dont mind, its just for this.

 

if ($results["status"]=="Active") {
   # Allow Script to Run
   if ($results["localkey"]) {
       # Save Updated Local Key to DB or File
       $localkeydata = $results["localkey"];
   }
} elseif ($results["status"]=="Invalid") {
   # Show Invalid Message
} elseif ($results["status"]=="Expired") {
   # Show Expired Message
} elseif ($results["status"]=="Suspended") {
   # Show Suspended Message
}

 

could be this, cleaner, faster i wouldnt know without a few thousand iterations to test. but i should think it would be.

 

switch ($results['status'])
{
       case 'Active':
               //allow to run
               //update local as required
       break;

       case 'Inactive':
       case 'Expired':
       case 'Suspended:
       default:
               //show status message here
               $result = "Your license key is $result['status']";
       break;
}

 

Thanks, yea that's another good way of doing it. I personally like to use the if else solution

 

Thanks for the good feedback i received so far and I hope it helps, if you need any help just contact me, I have already helped a few people.

[Red John]

Thanks for the link. I was greatly helped by the existence of these guidelines, so I can know the mistakes that often occur when configuring the addon.

[mrl14]

Can someone please better explain the local key? Is this hardcoded into the script or is it generated for each new install, stored in a file and then used to compare it to the license key?

 

This is the only part I am confused about.

[bigideaguy]

I will look into this and update my post as I stated in the other thread. Both threads should really be combined if an admin could possibly do this so we don't have two different conversations going on the same topic.

[alaali]

The local key is generated when the application call the licensing server. This local key will include the "allowed domains, directories, IPs, and other data related to the license as well as a Date/Time value. the data/time value is used to make the local key expired after some time (You can set this time at the code). when the local key is expired the system should call the licensing server again to get another local key.

[mrl14]

So then do I really need to store the local key in a database and then recall it each time the script is run?

[bigideaguy]

Here are updated tutorials for storing the key in a text file and in mysql

 

Text file: http://forum.whmcs.com/showthread.php?54826-HOW-TO-Storing-the-local-key-in-a-text-file

 

MySQL: http://forum.whmcs.com/showthread.php?54478-HOW-TO-Storing-the-local-key-in-mysql

[drew13]

Think this is really stupid.

[bigideaguy]

Think this is really stupid.

 

Why? Some people have had trouble configuring this addon and have found the guide helpful?

[Manchester Web Hosting]

A helpful guide as many people just want a simple and easy way to implement. Its great!

[BasicDev]

I followed the information WHMCS provided and this guide, I still am unable to get the licensing module to work. Every time I try it shows a blank page with no errors. When I check my whmcs admin area on License requests, it doesn't display anything like the script isn't "phoning home" would anyone be able to offer assistance?

 

Thanks you.

[mbino]

Is it normal that the sample script shows a blank page with no errors when you pull it up?

[mfoland]

Love this! I've built tremendously upon the licensing script.