PRTG Manual: Activate the Product

PRTG will activate your license automatically via the internet during the install process. Only if PRTG cannot connect to the internet directly and so cannot access the activation server, will you have to activate your license manually.

You have to complete the product activation process once to use PRTG, otherwise it will not run. Do not forget to activate your commercial license when you want to upgrade your trial or freeware installation!

This only applies to PRTG on premises instances, not to PRTG on demand.

Online Activation

Usually you do not need to enter a key manually after the installation to activate it, because PRTG asks for it during the install process. However, there are still scenarios where you need to change your key and activate this license. You have to provide your commercial license key, for example, if you have purchased a PRTG Commercial Edition and want to upgrade your running PRTG Freeware or Trial installation, or if you upgrade an existing commercial license to a higher edition.

• To enter a new license key, log in to the PRTG web interface.
• Choose Setup | License from the main menu bar.
• Click Change License Key.
• The Update Your License page appears where you can activate your new license.
• Choose the activation type Automatic (online activation with optional HTTP proxy) if your PRTG server can connect to the internet.
  Without internet access, you have to choose Manual (offline activation). The activation process works a bit different in this case and requires manual interactions.
   
• Provide your license information and click Update License.
• PRTG will connect to the Paessler activation server via SSL on port 443 and validate your license.

• If everything works fine, you will see the message Activation was successful as License Status on top of the page.

For details, please see manual section PRTG Status—Licensing Status and Settings: Update Your License.

The PRTG core server needs an internet connection on port 443 to activate. If a proxy connection is needed, please configure it in Step 3: Activate on the Update Your License page. If activation fails, you can also try an offline activation.

This option is not available in PRTG on demand.

Offline Activation

If there is no internet connection available, you have to activate PRTG manually.

This option is not available in PRTG on demand.

• In the PRTG web interface, choose Setup | License from the main menu bar.
• Click Change License Key.
• The Update Your License page appears where you can activate your license.
• Choose the activation type Manual (offline activation) if your PRTG server cannot connect to the internet.
• Provide your license information and follow the instructions in step 3 and step 4.
• Click Update License.

• If everything works fine, you will see the message Activation was successful as License Status on top of the page.

For details, please see manual section PRTG Status—Licensing Status and Settings: Update Your License.

If your PRTG server is offline, you need to manually activate your license after you have renewed your maintenance. This ensures you can enjoy the benefits of an active maintenance like the possibility to install updates. Your maintenance information has to fit the PRTG installer, so accomplish your offline activation before you install an update.

More

Knowledge Base: Which servers does PRTG connect to for Software Auto-Update and for Activation?

• https://kb.paessler.com/en/topic/32513

• Download PRTG
• Update From Previous Versions
• Install a PRTG Core Server
• Create a PRTG on Demand Instance
• Install a PRTG Cluster
• Enter a License Key
• Activate the Product
• Install a PRTG Remote Probe
• Install the Enterprise Console
• Uninstall PRTG Products