26 Nov
2001
26 Nov
'01
2:15 p.m.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Dittman" <dittman(a)dittman.net>
To: <classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 1:33 PM
Subject: Re: one shoe down ...
You can patch VMS to always return a valid status for
a requested product,
but some products request a bogus license to check if this patch is in
place. If it is, the product will disable itself.
Or you can run a little app that correctly creates what appears to be a
valid installed license for what particular products you wish to run,
including the version, number of license units etc.
I have plenty of VMS licenses, including a few unlimited user non expiring
ones, and a smattering of app licenses, so I don't need it. But I can tell
you that the app in question apparently works with any LDB based product.
I don't remember any of DEC's/Compaq's
products checking for the patch,
but I know of at least two third-party products that perform the check.
They would still work with this particular method.
Just as a matter of interest, which apps?
Some 3rd party stuff is a bit strange, PerfectDisk, for instance, uses some
oddball method, not the LDB.
Personally, I firmly believe that all such license enforcement systems are a
waste of time, since ultimately they can all be circumvented. It's just a
question of how bad you want to do it...
Geoff Roberts
Computer Systems Manager
Saint Mark's College
Port Pirie, South Australia
geoffrob(a)stmarks.pp.catholic.edu.au
ICQ 1970476