Starwind Licence Key: A Complete Guide for Virtualization and Storage
Starwind Licence Key: What You Need to Know
If you are looking for a reliable and cost-effective solution for virtualization and storage, you may have heard of Starwind. Starwind is a software company that specializes in providing high-performance and fault-tolerant solutions for hyperconverged infrastructure, software-defined storage, backup, and disaster recovery. With Starwind, you can create and manage virtual machines, virtual disks, virtual tape libraries, and more using your existing hardware and network resources.
Starwind Licence Key
But before you can enjoy the benefits of using Starwind, you need to have a valid Starwind licence key. A Starwind licence key is a unique code that enables you to activate and use the Starwind software products. Depending on your needs and budget, you can choose from different types of licence keys that offer different features, limitations, and requirements. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about Starwind licence keys, including how to get one, how to renew or upgrade one, and how to troubleshoot one.
Types of Starwind Licence Keys
Starwind offers three types of licence keys: free, evaluation, and commercial. Each type of licence key has its own characteristics and purposes. Here is a brief overview of each type of licence key:
Type
Features
Limitations
Requirements
Free
- Unlimited nodes- Unlimited capacity- Basic support- Free updates
- No high availability- No data deduplication- No asynchronous replication- No snapshotting- No encryption- No caching- No scale-out
- Registration on Starwind website- Agreement to free license terms
Evaluation (Trial)
- All features of commercial license- Full support- Free updates
- Limited to 30 days- Limited to 2 nodes- Limited to 4 TB per node
- Registration on Starwind website- Agreement to evaluation license terms
Commercial
- All features of evaluation license- Unlimited nodes- Unlimited capacity- Premium support- Free updates
- None
- Purchase on Starwind website or through resellers- Agreement to commercial license terms
As you can see, each type of licence key has its own pros and cons. The free licence key is ideal for testing or learning purposes, as it allows you to use Starwind without any cost or commitment. However, it does not offer any advanced features or high availability that are essential for production environments. The evaluation licence key is ideal for evaluation or proof-of-concept purposes, as it allows you to use all the features and capabilities of Starwind for a limited time and capacity. However, it expires after 30 days and cannot be extended or renewed. The commercial licence key is ideal for production or enterprise purposes, as it allows you to use Starwind without any limitations or restrictions. However, it requires a purchase and a valid agreement with Starwind. Depending on your use case, you can choose the type of licence key that suits your needs and goals. For example, if you want to create a simple virtual machine or virtual disk for personal or educational use, you can use the free licence key. If you want to test the performance and reliability of Starwind for your business or organization, you can use the evaluation licence key. If you want to deploy and manage a robust and scalable hyperconverged infrastructure or software-defined storage solution for your critical workloads, you can use the commercial licence key.
How to Get a Starwind Licence Key
Getting a Starwind licence key is easy and straightforward. Depending on the type of licence key you want, you can follow these steps:
How to Get a Free Starwind Licence Key
To get a free Starwind licence key, you need to register on the official Starwind website and agree to the free license terms. Here is how to do it:
Go to https://www.starwindsoftware.com/starwind-virtual-san-free and click on the "Download" button.
Fill out the registration form with your name, email address, phone number, company name, and country.
Check the box that says "I agree to StarWind Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy".
Click on the "Register & Download" button.
You will receive an email with a link to download the Starwind software and a free licence key file.
Download and install the Starwind software on your computer or server.
Copy the free licence key file to the same folder where you installed the Starwind software.
Launch the Starwind Management Console and connect to your local server.
Go to "Configuration" > "License" and click on the "Browse" button.
Select the free licence key file and click on "Open".
Click on "Apply" to activate your free licence key.
Congratulations! You have successfully obtained and activated your free Starwind licence key. You can now use Starwind for free with unlimited nodes and capacity, but without high availability or advanced features.
How to Get an Evaluation (Trial) Starwind Licence Key
To get an evaluation (trial) Starwind licence key, you need to register on the official Starwind website and agree to the evaluation license terms. Here is how to do it:
Go to https://www.starwindsoftware.com/starwind-virtual-san#trial and click on the "Download Trial" button.
Fill out the registration form with your name, email address, phone number, company name, country, industry, company size, and project details.
Check the box that says "I agree to receive communications from StarWind Software Inc.".
Click on the "Download" button.
You will receive an email with a link to download the Starwind software and an evaluation licence key file.
Download and install the Starwind software on your computer or server.
Copy the evaluation licence key file to the same folder where you installed the Starwind software.
Launch the Starwind Management Console and connect to your local server.
Go to "Configuration" > "License" and click on the "Browse" button.
Select the evaluation licence key file and click on "Open".
Click on "Apply" to activate your evaluation licence key.
Congratulations! You have successfully obtained and activated your evaluation (trial) Starwind licence key. You can now use Starwind for 30 days with all features and capabilities, but with limited nodes and capacity.
How to Get a Commercial Starwind Licence Key
To get a commercial Starwind licence key, you need to purchase it on the official Starwind website or through resellers and agree to the commercial license terms. Here is how to do it:
Go to https://www.starwindsoftware.com/starwind-virtual-san#pricing and click on the "Buy Now" button.
Select the edition and the number of nodes that you want to purchase. You can choose from Standard, Enterprise, or Enterprise Plus editions, and from 2 to 64 nodes.
Click on the "Add to Cart" button.
Review your order and click on the "Proceed to Checkout" button.
Fill out the billing information and payment method. You can pay by credit card, PayPal, or wire transfer.
Check the box that says "I have read and agree to the StarWind Software Inc. Terms and Conditions".
Click on the "Place Order" button.
You will receive an email with a confirmation of your order and a link to download the Starwind software and a commercial licence key file.
Download and install the Starwind software on your computer or server.
Copy the commercial licence key file to the same folder where you installed the Starwind software.
Launch the Starwind Management Console and connect to your local server.
Go to "Configuration" > "License" and click on the "Browse" button.
Select the commercial licence key file and click on "Open".
Click on "Apply" to activate your commercial licence key.
Congratulations! You have successfully obtained and activated your commercial Starwind licence key. You can now use Starwind without any limitations or restrictions, with all features and capabilities, and with unlimited nodes and capacity.
How to Renew or Upgrade a Starwind Licence Key
Renewing or upgrading a Starwind licence key is also easy and straightforward. Depending on the type of licence key you have, you can follow these steps:
How to Renew or Upgrade a Free Starwind Licence Key
If you have a free Starwind licence key, you do not need to renew or upgrade it, as it does not expire or change. However, if you want to access more features or capabilities, you can upgrade your free licence key to a commercial licence key by following the steps in the previous section.
How to Renew or Upgrade an Evaluation (Trial) Starwind Licence Key
If you have an evaluation (trial) Starwind licence key, you cannot renew it, as it expires after 30 days and cannot be extended or renewed. However, if you want to continue using Starwind after your trial period ends, you can upgrade your evaluation licence key to a commercial licence key by following the steps in the previous section.
How to Renew or Upgrade a Commercial Starwind Licence Key
If you have a commercial Starwind licence key, you can renew it every year by paying an annual maintenance fee that covers support and updates. You can also upgrade it to a higher edition or a higher number of nodes by paying an additional fee that covers the difference in price. Here is how to do it:
Go to https://www.starwindsoftware.com/support and log in with your email address and password.
Go to "My Licenses" and find the licence key that you want to renew or upgrade.
Click on the "Renew" or "Upgrade" button next to your licence key.
Select the renewal period or the upgrade option that you want to purchase.
Click on the "Add to Cart" button.
Review your order and click on the "Proceed to Checkout" button.
Fill out the billing information and payment method. You can pay by credit card, PayPal, or wire transfer.
Check the box that says "I have read and agree to the StarWind Software Inc. Terms and Conditions".
Click on the "Place Order" button.
You will receive an email with a confirmation of your order and a link to download a new licence key file.
Download and copy the new licence key file to the same folder where you installed the Starwind software.
Launch the Starwind Management Console and connect to your local server.
Go to "Configuration" > "License" and click on the "Browse" button.
Select the new licence key file and click on "Open".
Click on "Apply" to activate your renewed or upgraded licence key.
Congratulations! You have successfully renewed or upgraded your commercial Starwind licence key. You can now enjoy another year of support and updates, or access more features and capabilities, depending on your choice.
How to Troubleshoot a Starwind Licence KeyHow to Troubleshoot a Starwind Licence Key
Sometimes, you may encounter some issues or errors with your Starwind licence key that prevent you from using the Starwind software products properly. These issues or errors may be caused by various factors, such as network problems, software bugs, licence key corruption, or licence key violation. Here are some of the common issues or errors that you may face and how to solve them:
Issue: Licence Key Not Found or Invalid
This issue occurs when the Starwind software cannot find or recognize your licence key file. This may happen if you have not copied the licence key file to the correct folder, if you have renamed or modified the licence key file, or if you have deleted or moved the licence key file. To fix this issue, you need to do the following:
Make sure that you have copied the licence key file to the same folder where you installed the Starwind software.
Make sure that you have not renamed or modified the licence key file in any way.
Make sure that you have not deleted or moved the licence key file from its original location.
Launch the Starwind Management Console and connect to your local server.
Go to "Configuration" > "License" and click on the "Browse" button.
Select the licence key file and click on "Open".
Click on "Apply" to activate your licence key.
If this does not solve the issue, you may need to contact Starwind support and request a new licence key file.
Issue: Licence Key Expired or Exceeded
This issue occurs when your licence key has reached its expiration date or its capacity limit. This may happen if you have an evaluation (trial) licence key that has expired after 30 days, or if you have a commercial licence key that has exceeded its number of nodes or amount of storage. To fix this issue, you need to do the following:
If you have an evaluation (trial) licence key, you need to upgrade it to a commercial licence key by following the steps in the previous section.
If you have a commercial licence key, you need to renew it or upgrade it by following the steps in the previous section.
If this does not solve the issue, you may need to contact Starwind support and request a new licence key file.
Issue: Licence Key Violated or Revoked
This issue occurs when your licence key has been violated or revoked by Starwind. This may happen if you have breached the terms and conditions of your licence agreement, such as by using the licence key for illegal or unauthorized purposes, by sharing or distributing the licence key to others, by tampering with or altering the licence key, or by using the licence key on more than one server. To fix this issue, you need to do the following:
Stop using the licence key immediately and uninstall the Starwind software from your server.
Contact Starwind support and explain the situation and apologize for any inconvenience caused.
Depending on the severity of your violation, Starwind may decide to reinstate your licence key, issue a new licence key, or terminate your licence agreement permanently.
If this does not solve the issue, you may need to look for an alternative solution for virtualization and storage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a Starwind licence key is a vital component of using Starwind software products for virtualization and storage. Depending on your needs and budget, you can choose from different types of licence keys that offer different features, limitations, and requirements. You can also easily get, renew, upgrade, or troubleshoot your licence key by following some simple steps. By using a suitable and valid Starwind licence key, you can enjoy the benefits and advantages of using Starwind for your hyperconverged infrastructure or software-defined storage solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about Starwind licence keys:
Q: How much does a commercial Starwind licence key cost?
A: The cost of a commercial Starwind licence key depends on the edition and the number of nodes that you want to purchase. The Standard edition costs $2,499 per node, the Enterprise edition costs $4,999 per node, and the Enterprise Plus edition costs $7,499 per node. You can also get discounts for bulk purchases or special offers.
Q: How can I check my current Starwind licence status?
A: You can check your current Starwind licence status by launching the Starwind Management Console and connecting to your local server. Go to "Configuration" > "License" and you will see your licence type, expiry date, and node count. You can also click on the "Details" button to see more information about your licence key.
Q: How can I transfer my Starwind licence key to another server?
A: You can transfer your Starwind licence key to another server by following these steps:
Uninstall the Starwind software from your old server and delete the licence key file from its folder.
Install the Starwind software on your new server and copy the licence key file to its folder.
Launch the Starwind Management Console and connect to your new server.
Go to "Configuration" > "License" and click on the "Browse" button.
Select the licence key file and click on "Open".
Click on "Apply" to activate your licence key on your new server.
Note that you can only transfer your licence key to another server if you have a commercial licence key. If you have a free or evaluation licence key, you need to get a new licence key for your new server.
Q: How can I get support for my Starwind licence key?
A: You can get support for your Starwind licence key by contacting Starwind support through various channels, such as email, phone, chat, or web portal. You can also access the online documentation, knowledge base, forum, or blog for more information and guidance. The level and quality of support that you receive depend on the type of licence key that you have. If you have a free licence key, you get basic support. If you have an evaluation or commercial licence key, you get full or premium support.
Q: How can I update my Starwind software with my Starwind licence key?
A: You can update your Starwind software with your Starwind licence key by following these steps:
Go to https://www.starwindsoftware.com/downloads and download the latest version of the Starwind software.
Run the installer and follow the instructions to update the Starwind software on your server.
Launch the Starwind Management Console and connect to your local server.
Go to "Configuration" > "License" and click on the "Browse" button.
Select the same licence key file that you used before and click on "Open".
Click on "Apply" to activate your licence key with the updated software.
Note that you can only update your software with your licence key if you have a valid maintenance contract with Starwind. If you do not have a valid maintenance contract, you need to renew it or purchase a new one before updating your software. dcd2dc6462