2.7 KiB
id, title, sidebar_label
| id | title | sidebar_label |
|---|---|---|
| claim-free-licence | Claim a Free licence | Claim a Free licence |
A self-hosted install stays read-only until you give it a licence. You claim a Free one from Vantage HQ, and it takes a couple of minutes.
:::warning An unlicensed install is read-only You can sign in and look around, but adding servers, keys, workflows and everything else is refused until a licence is installed. Do this before adding your first server. :::
What a licence is
A signed file that names your instance, its tier, how many servers you may manage, which features are enabled and when it expires. Your install checks the signature itself, so it never has to reach Vantage HQ to work.
:::info One Free licence per account, per deployment A Free cloud instance does not use up your Free self-hosted one. They are separate. :::
1. Find your instance ID
Open the Licence page from the sidebar of your install. The instance ID is shown at the top, and it is the value Vantage HQ asks for.
2. Create the instance in Vantage HQ
- Sign in at Vantage HQ. If you have no account yet, see Accounts and signup.
- On Overview, choose Create a self-hosted instance.
- Choose Self-hosted, then the Free plan.
- Paste your instance ID, give the instance a name you will recognise, and click Create licence.
The new instance now appears on the Overview page.
3. Download the licence
Expand the new instance on Overview and click View Instance Settings. From there, use Download licence or Copy to clipboard.
4. Install the licence
Back in your self-host install, open the Licence page, paste the licence and save. Your instance confirms the licence was issued to it, then shows your tier, server allowance and expiry date.
:::info Cloud instances need none of this A cloud instance is licensed automatically when it is created. These steps are for self-hosted installs only. :::
Renewing
Free licences run for a year. The renew button appears in Vantage HQ seven days before expiry and stays available after it, so a lapsed instance can still be rescued. See Free tier.
Moving the install to new hardware
A rebuilt install gets a new instance ID, and a licence only works for the ID it was issued to. Use Relink in Vantage HQ to move the licence across. You get three relinks per term, and the portal shows how many are left.