Milestone MAC Licensing Myth

I'm sorry, but the way I read it, it sounds like Miletone licensing based on camera MAC address hasn't changed, just the methodology of submitting licenses.

"In current versions of Milestone, the activation process has been automated. For systems which are connected to the internet, the user runs an activation wizard which sends camera information to Milestone....."

Or at least I didn't see anything that said explcitly Milestone does not base it's camera count based on the MAC address of the cameras.

Since the subject of the title of the article is "Milestone MAC Licensing Myth", a simple question from me is, does Milestone associate it's camera licenses based on the MAC address of a camera? So that if I want/need to replace a camera, I have to go through a process to remove the old associated MAC and associate the new MAC?

" Exacq requires a new license key to be applied via file upload or pasting a new license key anytime the license is updated."

Just to be clear - this is not similar to what you describe as the process for Milestone. With Exacq you buy a certain number of camera licenses, Exacq generates your license file and you can add cameras up to your license limit. You can also remove cameras and add new ones, again without any changes to the license.

I like the way milestone does it in the fact that I can pre buy licenses and assign them at will to a server via the registration and licensing portal. We always keep a few on hand. Exacq however has no way to do this and needs to get with the times and allow us to manage our own licenses online.

To correct a few on changing of cameras licenses during operation due to faulty cameras. Milestone do have a wizard for changing of cameras if the previous cameras fails , by using the wizard , we are able to update the new license replacing the previous license automatically.

While doing the above, the old video footages that is stored with the old faulty cam will seamlessly "join" the new camera thus resulting in a seamless transition during this process.

As for the mac address myth, there is no need to see or memorize the mac addresses of the cameras anymore , the license are tied to the base license which in turn tie to the servers GUID for tagging purpose.

Process is simple

Automatic licensing

- Update license if your server is online (automatic go through the licensing policy)

Offline licensing

- While every cam have been installed , (30 days grace) , download the LRQ file (license request file) and upload to Milestone server , a new LIC file can be downloaded automatically , upload new LIC file to server. License activated

You forgot one thing. Problem is in multiserver environment. If you buy licenses for 200 cameras, and you have to use it at five servers. Practically you can install 200 cameras per server. But if you must register every camera, then you can't do that.

Has anyone tried capturing packets on these license update transactions? Online update abilities save so much time and return trips from extracting and emailing, confirming and reapplication of license files it seems the best method. There are many a system that never see the internet as certain customer IT protocols require internet immunity.

What Im saying is...I should be able to take a generated license file from my customers system that will never see an internet connection, process from my own phone app or website a full license update. I can then take my processed file and update my recorders, base station etc. This method of automation needs to be looked at; exhausting manhours due to system design limitations are not acceptable.