SLM FAQ

In 2021, SmartBear announced that it is moving to a proprietary, unified licensing approach, SmartBear License Management (SLM). In October 2023, SmartBear discontinued its legacy ProtectionLS licensing model.

SLM is now implemented in ReadyAPI and SmartBear is informing you about this new licensing model to give you time to understand SLM and plan the switch to the new model.

In the past, SmartBear products used different key-based license types and systems. The company has now moved to a unified licensing approach, binding licenses to individual users, instead of computers where the licensed products are installed.

This approach has several benefits over the previous system:

A licensed user can install their SmartBear product on any number of computers, and the system will automatically enforce concurrency limits based on the number of seats.
A license administrator can see idle time across the organization's licenses, and they can now disconnect idle licenses.
Reports detailing usage statistics are now available and exportable.
One licensing tool covers all participating SmartBear products.

SLM provides license administrators, end users, and SmartBear sales operations with a simple solution to distribute, view, assign, consume, and manage licenses for desktop products.

The benefits to administrators and users include:

ReadyAPI can be used on multiple systems at once, using a single User Account. Concurrent usage of the same license is possible. The number of concurrent users is limited by the license.
SLM licenses are bound to individuals (users), not to computers where the licensed products are installed.
Both online and offline license access is supported.
Simplified license management is provided across all SmartBear products.
There is improved reporting on license usage and access.
Administrators can revoke licenses that are no longer being actively used.
There is improvement in customer experience in terms of performance and security, as SLM removes the dependency on 3rd Party Licensing via ProtectionLS.

ReadyAPI, VirtServer, and TestEngine are all available on SLM from July 2023.

SLM uses two license types: Fixed User and Floating. The difference between them is in the way users consume the license seats. (License seats define the number of allowed concurrent license users.) Online and offline use is differentiated.

Online licenses are controlled by the SmartBear license servers available on the Web.
Offline licenses work in private networks, which have no connection to the Web and SmartBear license servers.

By default, purchased licenses are online licenses. They can be converted to offline licenses (and vice versa) on the SmartBear Licensing Portal. For complete information, see Licensing in Private Networks.

Pre-Process: When a customer reaches out asking to convert to SLM, the SmartBear Account Manager will request written confirmation (email) that the customer agrees to deactivate their current license(s) following the rollout of SLM. This is required to convert to SLM.
A license admin contact is required to manage SLM licensing.
Your SmartBear Account Manager will work with you to confirm SLM works and that SLM conversion is successful.
Your SmartBear Account Manager will confirm the deactivation/decommission of all older HASP/JPROD licenses. This avoids duplicate use of prior/SLM licenses.

No. This is simply a change of licensing management systems. SLM does not affect the pricing of SmartBear products. All support to convert to the new system is provided by SmartBear without any additional cost.

Starting from ReadyAPI 3.62.0, VirtServer 3.29.0, and TestEngine 1.34.0, SmartBear has deprecated file-based licenses in favor of the ID-based SmartBear License Management (SLM) system. As of October 1, 2025, file-based licenses are no longer issued, activated/deactivated, or supported; all new and updated licenses are managed through SLM. For further information and timelines, refer to the File-Based License End-of-Life Policy page.

From October 1, 2025, existing and activated file-based licenses will continue to work for some time. However, SmartBear will no longer generate new file-based licenses or support activation and deactivation of file-based licenses in ReadyAPI, VirtServer, or TestEngine. All new and updated licenses are now issued in SLM only.

All technical support for file-based licenses has now ceased, and SmartBear no longer maintains the file-based licensing system. Any access or service issues will result in service disruptions that we will not be able to restore.

If you have not completed the process of migrating, contact your Account Manager or SmartBear representative today. Our teams are ready to assist with smooth transition strategies. For additional support, log a request with our SmartBear Support, who are standing by to help.

For further information and timelines, refer to the File-Based License End-of-Life Policy page.

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