Product Key vs Dongle


LDK is available as a product key or as a dongle.


If you use a product key, the license is tied to the hardware such as the motherboard, RAM, or hard disk. Changing any hardware will cause the license to fail and you will no longer be able to run the RIP. The Transfer procedure also will not work with Virtual Machines VM. Hence it is not possible to transfer a license from one VM onto another VM.


Compose is under no obligation to provide a free replacement key when the hardware has changed causing the license to fail, whether you have a support contract or not.


If you use a dongle, the license is in the dongle and is not tied to the VM hardware. You can change the hardware without affecting the license. Hence it is recommended that you use a dongle when the RIP runs in a Virtual Machine VM.


Backing Up the License for Product Key


After activating your RIP, you can find the license file here -

\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\SafeNet Sentinel\Sentinel LDK\installed\109670

Please copy this file to a save place. 

Note you cannot use this backup to re-activate the VM if hardware has changed. However if you have only updated the OS without updating the hardware and have lost the license, and this is the same VM you ran the RIP, you should be able to use this backup to re-activate the RIP.


Changing Hardware or Re-hosting a VM with a Product Key


  1. Send us the current VL product key, we will prepare a disable key.  
  2. We will send back a temp key for the new VM and the disable key for the existing VM.  
  3. Load the rip with the temporary license on the new VM, validate it works as expected 
  4. Deactivate the older Product key on the old VM with the disable key
  5. We will creates a new, permanent VL once they are notified of the deactivation.