Use a licensed USB dongle versus the painful authorization codes.

[autocad.wishlist1734]

Summary: Provide a licensed dongle in lieu of key codes

Description: As the IT person at an environmental engineering firm, we are constantly upgrading our hardware and as a result, license migration is always a big hassle. It would be more convenient for Autodesk to provide a software license USB dongle which allows the user to install AutoCAD on as many computers they want, but the software won't work unless the licensed dongle is inserted in the USB drive. Other software does this which makes deployment and use very convenient. By using the license dongle, Autodesk wouldn't have to keep track of the number of deployments (can you say cost savings). The replacement cost to replace a lost dongle could be half the price of the software.

Product & Feature: AutoCAD

Submitted: Wed, 05 Oct 2011

[dgorsman]

Node-locking a software license to a specific hardware configuration is a little annoying, but thats easily solved with network served licenses. Tracking and updating the firmware in multiple dongles is just as difficult as tracking node-locked software licenses.

[jaberwok]

AutoCAD used to have serial port dongles, then it had parallel port dongles, now it uses codes.
I'd guess that AutoDesk find it to be more convenient and cheaper (for them) than the old ways.

[winwoodj]

Not only can the dongles be lost they can also be stolen. Then you are left paying for a new dongle. The Authorization Code method has never proved to be a problem for us and we upgrade to new machines frequently.

[wrmarshall]

If you look at the future of technology everything will connect to servers either local or external. computer companies are slowly doing away with USB ports... typical example is Apple macbook. I don't see Autodesk re-implementing this system as there are better ways controlling licenses like having network licenses. It is also less expensive on end users if a dongle goes faulty, is lost or stolen....