Stand-Alone License

Stand-alone licenses are called "node-locked" licenses, because each license is bound to a single user and computer. For some Autodesk products, you can install a second copy of a stand-alone product for non-concurrent use by a single user. For more information, see the Software License Agreement (SLA) for your product.

Stand-alone licenses are ideal for small offices and dedicated production users, because they do not require network connectivity to run and often cost less than network licenses for the same product.

Grace Period

Most stand-alone licensed products include a grace period between installation and mandatory product registration and activation. After purchasing your product, you can install and use it for a specified time. After this grace period expires, the product will stop working until you register and activate it. You can activate your license any time during or after the grace period.

Online License Transfer (OLT)

Most 2010 stand-alone licensed Autodesk products include the new license transfer utility, a feature also known as online license transfer (OLT). OLT replaces the Portable License Utility (PLU) previously offered with Autodesk products. OLT exports your product license over the Internet to an Autodesk "parking area." You can retrieve your license over the Internet onto any computer that has the same Autodesk product installed, with the same serial number. With OLT, you can export your license publically or privately. A license exported publically can be imported by anyone using the same product and serial number. This option is useful when you want to move the license from one user to another. A license exported privately can be retrieved only by the person who exported it. If a private license has not been retrieved in two weeks, it automatically becomes public.

Registration and Activation

In most cases, when you install stand-alone licensed Autodesk products, you are asked to enter your serial number and product key. When you start your product for the first time, you are asked to enter registration information. The registration process automatically generates an activation request code. This request code—along with your serial number, product key, and registration information—is sent to Autodesk, and an activation code is generated for you. If you use in-product online activation, the request and activation codes are transmitted automatically, and you do not need to enter them. You can also register and receive an activation code by visiting the Autodesk product registration page. If you require assistance, please complete the License Registration and Activation Assistance form.