Licensing question

[minimaldesign - Blaž]

Hi,

is there any possibility to work whit corona without internet?
Our router went down and we missed the submission deadline because we couldn't make renders! The intention was to upload the project in the office next door when it's finished. Corona was reporting that it could not verify the license.
I think this is unacceptable and it represents business damage for the user!

Regards,
Blaž

[maru]

Hi, yes, it is possible to work with Corona without internet connection.
Unfortunately, things like routers failing and ISPs having issues may happen but even in that case Corona will keep working in your current session.

Please see:

Do I need to have Internet access to use Chaos products? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/360020330337

Can I activate a license without internet connection? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/4913299196689

Will I be able to render if my Internet connection is lost? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/4526312697489

What happens if I lose my internet connection during rendering? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/4913815623057

Borrowing license for offline use - https://docs.chaos.com/display/LIC5/Borrowing+Licenses+for+Offline+Use

[minimaldesign - Blaž]

Hi, yes, it is possible to work with Corona without internet connection.
Unfortunately, things like routers failing and ISPs having issues may happen but even in that case Corona will keep working in your current session.

Please see:

Do I need to have Internet access to use Chaos products? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/360020330337

Can I activate a license without internet connection? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/4913299196689

Will I be able to render if my Internet connection is lost? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/4526312697489

What happens if I lose my internet connection during rendering? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/4913815623057

Borrowing license for offline use - https://docs.chaos.com/display/LIC5/Borrowing+Licenses+for+Offline+Use

Hi MARU,

yes, if you have internet at that time. if you don't have it, it doesn't work.
we wanted to start the final renders of the project and we threw 14 days of work and money over the window because of something that can be solved in another way, if nothing else you bind the license to the IP and have it checked 1x every 14 days + if it is floating check if it might not work where else? this can be easily solved without science fiction.
Since you are under chaos, everything is only going downhill, including the new license policy that you have now introduced with an +85% price increase on a monthly basis.
really, we have never had as many bad moments as we have recently with Corona.
We are already on the edge of going to learn 3dsMax, changing everything and going to Fstrorm, to be honest.

[ianosss]

I agree with minimaldesign - Blaž.

Corona didn't work over the weekend one morning as it couldn't connect to the liscense sever and I had 3 projects to do. My internet was fine though. Can Corona work offline? Is there something I can setup just once in order to use offline forever? This is unnacceptable for my work, to only be able to use Corona if the liscense sever and my internet is working all ok.

Also I quickly signed up for a trial, which I didn't need in the end. Is it possible to stop my trial and reactivate it in case I need it in the future?

Thanks. 

[burnin]

Hmm... even unable to connect via hotspot?

[minimaldesign - Blaž]

Hmm... even unable to connect via hotspot?

Look...if you're paying for a license and because of a weird paranoid license verification policy you create business financial damage, not to mention relationship between us and the client.
I expect something I'm paying for to work without factors such as potential internet access outages.
But now, due to paranoia, I will have to finish my IT PhD for things that can basically be solved in a million different ways.
Just as they expect money for a product, I expect it to work flawlessly

[BigAl3D]

Well, I just got burned by this annoying limitation. i was already working in C4D and Corona when there was a sizeable internet outage in my area. One thing I learned is that Corona checks with the sever for EVERYTHING! Even though I'm already logged in, if I clicked on a material to adjust it, 30-60 sec. of spinning then an error popped up saying the license could've be verified. Hit render, same thing. Interactive rendering, nope. Nothing. This is absolutely unacceptable! Not only could I not even set up a scene to render later, now I'm thinking how much this constant checking with the Chaos server is slowing my workflow down? I mean even a thumbnail needs verification? So stupid. I can't believe I'm even writing this.

I tried to connect via my phone's hotspot, but for whatever reason didn't seem to connect fully. Not Chaos' fault, but I shouldn't have to even try that considering I was already logged in. Why not just check the license when the app is launched? That would avoid so much headache, unless you have a crash, but at least it would help. Why on earth is Chaos thinking that someone stealing their software would have a proper license upon launch, then not have one after they start working? This doesn't make any sense.

Luckily, a major outage is not common for me, but I imagine it may be more common for some others out there or maybe they have a slow connection and all these unnecessary Chaos checks could actually slow them down. I did lose most of a day's work because of this.

And next year, I'll get to pay 45% more for this stupidity.

Yes, I'm annoyed in a big way unless someone can explain the necessity of all those server checks.

[minimaldesign - Blaž]

Well, I just got burned by this annoying limitation. i was already working in C4D and Corona when there was a sizeable internet outage in my area. One thing I learned is that Corona checks with the sever for EVERYTHING! Even though I'm already logged in, if I clicked on a material to adjust it, 30-60 sec. of spinning then an error popped up saying the license could've be verified. Hit render, same thing. Interactive rendering, nope. Nothing. This is absolutely unacceptable! Not only could I not even set up a scene to render later, now I'm thinking how much this constant checking with the Chaos server is slowing my workflow down? I mean even a thumbnail needs verification? So stupid. I can't believe I'm even writing this.

I tried to connect via my phone's hotspot, but for whatever reason didn't seem to connect fully. Not Chaos' fault, but I shouldn't have to even try that considering I was already logged in. Why not just check the license when the app is launched? That would avoid so much headache, unless you have a crash, but at least it would help. Why on earth is Chaos thinking that someone stealing their software would have a proper license upon launch, then not have one after they start working? This doesn't make any sense.

Luckily, a major outage is not common for me, but I imagine it may be more common for some others out there or maybe they have a slow connection and all these unnecessary Chaos checks could actually slow them down. I did lose most of a day's work because of this.

And next year, I'll get to pay 45% more for this stupidity.

Yes, I'm annoyed in a big way unless someone can explain the necessity of all those server checks.

I totally agree!
We lost a couple of thousand € because of them and most likely also the client. Who will paid off us for the damage? Chaos will only have a million excuses as he has them all the time.
This is their fault, not ours.
What should I tell the client that we are late because at Chaos they are paranoid and despite paying for the program they think we are stealing from them? Is this the right answer for the client?!
Personally, I'm not surprised that some people have pirated versions for such cases. In our case, a pirated version would save us a client and a lot of money... isn't that a tragicomedy that the pirated version would allow us to use what we pay for?
We've already started looking and testing other render software to get away from Corona, to be honest. Because we won't be watching this movie again..I don't even want to watch commercials anymore.

[BigAl3D]

How do the other companies handle this issue?

[babumbol]

Well, I feel you. We eventually got a mobile router for cases like that. It's supplying internet via mobile networks (mostly G4, very fast) for cases like that. And it saved our ass several times. But it's not very cheap, to be honest.

In fact, you have to be very carefull. Because lot's of software likes to download stuff in the background without telling you, and the internet connection is paid by volume You can tell windows to consider billed internet connections, but this does not affect other porgrams.

[davetwo]

While I agree that the constant checking is totally user-unfriendly and a massive pain in the ass. I seem to remember that there was a way of having (borrowing?) an offline licence?
Perhaps one of the Corona staff could refresh my memory as it may have changed in the latest licencing update...?

[minimaldesign - Blaž]

While I agree that the constant checking is totally user-unfriendly and a massive pain in the ass. I seem to remember that there was a way of having (borrowing?) an offline licence?
Perhaps one of the Corona staff could refresh my memory as it may have changed in the latest licencing update...?

I understand that they check the license, but they should check it at the end of the month or when the subscription expires... everything else is paranoia and potentially causing high business damage, as it was in our case.
With us, what happened went over the edge and we will not eat this. If I pay for the month ahead I expect it to work with or without internet.
Maybe it wouldn't even be a bad decision to ask a lawyer what he thinks about all this. It really crossed the line of good taste

[maru]

Please see my earlier message from this thread:

Hi, yes, it is possible to work with Corona without internet connection.
Unfortunately, things like routers failing and ISPs having issues may happen but even in that case Corona will keep working in your current session.

Please see:

Do I need to have Internet access to use Chaos products? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/360020330337

Can I activate a license without internet connection? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/4913299196689

Will I be able to render if my Internet connection is lost? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/4526312697489

What happens if I lose my internet connection during rendering? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/4913815623057

Borrowing license for offline use - https://docs.chaos.com/display/LIC5/Borrowing+Licenses+for+Offline+Use

If you need any further help/information, or if something isn't working (for example you can't use your license even with internet connection), please send us a ticket here: https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

[minimaldesign - Blaž]

Please see my earlier message from this thread:

Hi, yes, it is possible to work with Corona without internet connection.
Unfortunately, things like routers failing and ISPs having issues may happen but even in that case Corona will keep working in your current session.

Please see:

Do I need to have Internet access to use Chaos products? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/360020330337

Can I activate a license without internet connection? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/4913299196689

Will I be able to render if my Internet connection is lost? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/4526312697489

What happens if I lose my internet connection during rendering? - https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/articles/4913815623057

Borrowing license for offline use - https://docs.chaos.com/display/LIC5/Borrowing+Licenses+for+Offline+Use

If you need any further help/information, or if something isn't working (for example you can't use your license even with internet connection), please send us a ticket here: https://support.chaos.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

if you don't have internet, it doesn't work...when you don't have it, you can't edit the license and I don't even see a reason why you should edit it if it's paid for a whole month.
Chaos should check license at the end of the month when the subscription expires and that's all art...everything else is nonsense and BS
if I don't have internet for say a whole month and it happens the day after I pay...will I get my money back or will I still pay for something I can't use?
I know you all know exactly what I'm talking about and you're coming up with excuses in endless ways...
it's quite simple... if you have no internet, no corona render "party" despite payment. and when you don't have internet you can't manage things differently..is that right? yes, it certainly is ;)

... and I pay the license monthly not when I have internet access...so there's no point in making excuses because it's total nonsense and causing potential financial loss/harm to the user who paid for the service for a whole month and can't use it because of your paranoia

and from 30,49€ to 73.08€ for the same floating license per month for such way and this is only for one of the work position..it was perspective, beautiful, but it was enough with such prices and way of working under Chaos...thanks no

P.S. If someone is looking for paid job/work to convert our library of 3d models + corona materials into others render software, please write privately

[Stefan-L]

if you use the borrow license function, then it works also without internet ( i think some like this should be ON  default )

[BigAl3D]

@Stefan-L Yes, BUT if your connection is out unexpectedly, then you are stuck with using Blender I guess. Even if you can use your phone to edit you settings, your PC won't know you've borrowed anything. In theory, you should be able to use your phone's hotspot (tethering) function so your PC can get to the web that way. I wasn't able to get it working, but in theory...

[burnin]

as noted, PC can always connect via mobile "hotspot" (is already possible and have been doing it for ages)

btw as I'm aware and have read: every SW EULA resolves dev(s)/program creator(s) and provider(s) from any responsibility in all cases of mishap - there's simply no warranty their stuff works flawlessly on any machine! Fun fact of life. Most one can hope for is "money back" or some sort of compensation for product value, but none for damage(s). Unless it's a criminal act (specifically done w/ intention to cause harm or damage). 

not for kids :D

[minimaldesign - Blaž]

as noted, PC can always connect via mobile "hotspot" (is already possible and have been doing it for ages)

btw as I'm aware and have read: every SW EULA resolves dev(s)/program creator(s) and provider(s) from any responsibility in all cases of mishap - there's simply no warranty their stuff works flawlessly on any machine! Fun fact of life. Most one can hope for is "money back" or some sort of compensation for product value, but none for damage(s). Unless it's a criminal act (specifically done w/ intention to cause harm or damage). 

not for kids :D

Why should I bother with the license if it's already paid?
And should I need an IT PhD now because of stupidity/paranoia of Chaos? I didn't see this when I bought the licenses ;)
So Chaos have all business partners as potential thieves....there is no other way to explain it

look...if I pay for the license today and the internet goes out tomorrow, what the hell does corona have to check the license until the next expiry date?
If I am without the Internet for a whole month, with the exception of the day of the license renewal payment...and corona doesn't work for a whole month because of stupidity...did you cause me great business damage or not?

Do you understand the nonsense or?

I repeat...if you don't have internet you can't edit the license and also why edit something that is paid for?

If I pay for something it has to work with or without internet.
I have an active license from this to this date, not from this to this minute or after use...end of story

[Stefan-L]

"@Stefan-L Yes, BUT if your connection is out unexpectedly, then you are stuck"

well if you use that as default lic setup (the internet isnt needed, and if internet fails for some hours or days nothing bad happens. Internet then is only needed every 2 weeks or so i think).

we do it that way at least to be more save.

[burnin]

@Blaž
Yes, I totally get what you're on about and am also knowledgeable ( about how juridical and administrative systems operate and can interpret acts, clauses, contracts, etc., from my previous career working for gov.).
So, again, short interpretation of case as I observe it:
 "Customer" did pay for license to use "SaaS" for certain time period, which it had also been given access to, but at same time, that same "customer" then failed to either set-up, administer and/or maintain it's own system the way which should and would prevent "SaaS" to fail to operate and could cause damage in case of any unforeseeable accident (such as loss of connectivity or disruption in power grid distribution due to HW/mechanical malfunction as a consequence of natural occurrence like weather storm, earth quake... bla, bla, bla..."

Still, don't take mine or any other word solely for granted. Especially when in doubt and "is first advice perfectly suited for you. Seek more opinions, preferably from experienced and highly skilled professionals.
If you have an option, do consult your legal advisor.

This merely is MHO and hopefully a sound word to get you a bit faster over such unpleasant experience, going on towards brighter & better future.

   Keep it up.

[minimaldesign - Blaž]

@Blaž
Yes, I totally get what you're on about and am also knowledgeable ( about how juridical and administrative systems operate and can interpret acts, clauses, contracts, etc., from my previous career working for gov.).
So, again, short interpretation of case as I observe it:
 "Customer" did pay for license to use "SaaS" for certain time period, which it had also been given access to, but at same time, that same "customer" then failed to either set-up, administer and/or maintain it's own system the way which should and would prevent "SaaS" to fail to operate and could cause damage in case of any unforeseeable accident (such as loss of connectivity or disruption in power grid distribution due to HW/mechanical malfunction as a consequence of natural occurrence like weather storm, earth quake... bla, bla, bla..."

Still, don't take mine or any other word solely for granted. Especially when in doubt and "is first advice perfectly suited for you. Seek more opinions, preferably from experienced and highly skilled professionals.
If you have an option, do consult your legal advisor.

This merely is MHO and hopefully a sound word to get you a bit faster over such unpleasant experience, going on towards brighter & better future.

   Keep it up.

If I paid for a period of one month.
The software doesn't even work basically to order renderings if it doesn't have internet. The problem is not about some additional things like Cosmos, etc...which I would still somehow understand, because it is online...corona is not online render software. I understand that it doesn't work the specific part..but not the base which is not online and does not make the slightest sense to check the license every F 3min or so ;)
And what's the point of checking the license 24/7 if it's paid for by the end of the month?!?!

In short...it doesn't matter anymore anyway. We have finished this story and we're moving on without corona. Too much damage was done...we just got excuses that make no sense or logic.
I'm a little sorry because it's a good software...but in such way of operation as it's now with a license that we will shake every day whether we will be able to realize the project + these price increase, which are more than 100%. ..you have to be crazy to accept that

I believe that we are a drop in the ocean and I believe that we are not the only ones who have received such nonsense from corona.
Where corona is going now, yes it's great software and all....but it doesn't outweigh this risk, which is worth more than all the licenses. This is about business and business partners, and our delay can represent a couple of €100,000 in damage to the client.
...x client are suing us because we didn't do it on time (because we couldn't use what we paid for) and because they also suffered enormous financial loss from this because of this stupid chaos policy. What about this? + 14days of work will not be paid and all other costs.
And then they tells you, "you have to borrow a license"...oh great! thanks for the advice! ...but we don't have F internet and for borrow the license you need the Internet again...and if we had internet why would you even borrow a license in the first place? Then they tell you "no problem"!..do an It PhD first and you will sort out our nonsense

[romullus]

@minimaldesign - Blaž, just a thought, if you have internet only one day per month, then maybe software that requires internet to work is not your biggest issue? Did you write angry letters to your ISP as well?

[minimaldesign - Blaž]

@minimaldesign - Blaž, just a thought, if you have internet only one day per month, then maybe software that requires internet to work is not your biggest issue? Did you write angry letters to your ISP as well?

"One month without internet was just an extreme case and what are the consequences."
In our case, it was Friday evening and until Tuesday when they came to change the modem.
No one is working over the weekend, they dealt with the problem on Monday and fixed it on Tuesday.
And if you have the project set up, you also have the license paid, you can't make renders over the weekend.
Despite the fact that we didn't need anything with let's say the Cosmos plugin, etc...we didn't need Internet at that time, because the software is not a cloud version or it is?
When you pay for the license, it must work until the expire date...but it is not like that, is it?
Why does it check every 5 minutes or so? For what?
And because of this nonsense, we have a huge financial business loss.
I'm angry because the software is paid and we don't need internet for what we needed at that time ...and it wasn't even the day the license expires...we just had to make renders..one single click on the mouse.
And write that you can "borrow a license"...all well and good...but if you have the internet at that moment to borrow a license...why would you even borrow it if it works?
I don't even know why the restriction and paranoia, if it's paid from this date to this date?
let's say one of the corona team would say, ok, we messed up, it's not right, we'll fix it, I'd still eat somehow, maybe, Because it's not logical and there is nonsense to check like that..what you get is excuses and nonsense.

the biggest tragicomedy of all is that some pirated version would definitely save our project in my case and that the crime saves you and you can use what you paid for

[romullus]

I've heard the rumours that there are plans to improve how Corona checks for valid licensing. I have no idea when this could happen or if it's true at all, but i agree that it would be nice to hear some statement from devs or support on this matter, since it's quite obvious that there is room for improvement here. One thing is for sure though, spilling anger and frustration here, will help no one.

[minimaldesign - Blaž]

I've heard the rumours that there are plans to improve how Corona checks for valid licensing. I have no idea when this could happen or if it's true at all, but i agree that it would be nice to hear some statement from devs or support on this matter, since it's quite obvious that there is room for improvement here. One thing is for sure though, spilling anger and frustration here, will help no one.

I agree that anger doesn't solve anything...but I'm the one who's paying big time this time for the paranoia for which I don't see any reason or logic