Is my iLok failing?

[aMUSEd]

I have a second gen iLok. Seems to be connected OK and I have tried on 2 different USB ports, and updated drivers and rebooted. However it is taking an age to startup the manager and even when it eventually loads my licenses it is also taking much longer than usual to activate anything. So I'm wondering if it is close to failing? Is there anyway to run diagnostics? I guess flash memory doesn't last forever - should I order a backup key just in case? (I do have ZDT activated)

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Good thing you have ZDT (I refuse). I mean, depending on your PC requirements a third-gen iLok might not be a bad idea, or even one of the new USB-C ones. But with ZDT, I'd probably just wait and see what happens before spending money. Unless the slow performance is bothering you.

[aMUSEd]

I was thinking of getting a third gen one - USB A would be fine (don't have a lot of USB C ports and anyway, they are more expensive). However I read on the ZDT page that is you generate a RMA they send you one anyway so yes I'll wait and see. I would like to know if slowing down is a sign a key is failing though and I wonder if I should maybe move the licenses off the iLok and onto my computer temporarily? 'ZDT' seems a bit of a misnomer because if a key fails there must be some downtime until you get the temp keys unless you have transferred them onto the host computer already.

[jancivil]

Well, I don't know how zero an iLok downtime is, but I lost my syncrosoft key this year and Steinberg and VSL both had emergency licenses within seconds. (VSL had permanent licenses for me before I arose (reported on Friday night), Steinberg took a whole business week.) So automated processes can be nearly instantaneous today.

[jdnz]

How many licenses do you have on the ilok? Gen2 was never fast and got slower as you put more licenses on it - one of the selling points of gen3 was better speed ( both loading new licenses on to it and when authenticating licenses ) - as well as a vastly increased license capacity

I changed to a gen3 as soon as they were available - was money well spent

[wvshpr]

Good thing you have ZDT (I refuse).

Isn't it ridiculous how one has to continuously pay to keep one's (already paid for) licenses safe? Almost makes me want to steal the software rather than to deal with iLok.

[aMUSEd]

How many licenses do you have on the ilok? Gen2 was never fast and got slower as you put more licenses on it - one of the selling points of gen3 was better speed ( both loading new licenses on to it and when authenticating licenses ) - as well as a vastly increased license capacity

I changed to a gen3 as soon as they were available - was money well spent

Yeah maybe I will do that - it seems to be running normally again at the moment so must have been a glitch somewhere in the Matrix.

[MirkoVanHauten]

Good thing you have ZDT (I refuse).

Isn't it ridiculous how one has to continuously pay to keep one's (already paid for) licenses safe? Almost makes me want to steal the software rather than to deal with iLok.

No. You just don't seem to know what zero down time is.

[wvshpr]

No. You just don't seem to know what zero down time is.

What is it then?

[excuse me please]

My experience? USB completely sucks like no other.

[jancivil]

No. You just don't seem to know what zero down time is.

What is it then?

so you came up with your definition out of what exactly?

It's a way to recover licenses in an emergency because the physical key has failed in some way. I don't use a USB key for iLok today, I'd have to check to know if it costs money to sign on to their ZDT. Here, with my Steinberg licenses it was just a matter of asking for it after the fact. Twice this has saved my bacon over the years. Now, they told me they reserve the right to refuse it if it occurs again very soon, 'try not to lose it again in the next few months, ok'. With my VSL licenses it isn't called that, it's either you have not insured it thru them and replacing a license is 50% of the current regular price, or you pay a sum so that it's all replaced. The current one (they're moving off of Syncrosoft eventually, it's for one year now) is 30 euro.

[wvshpr]

No. You just don't seem to know what zero down time is.

What is it then?

so you came up with your definition out of what exactly?

It's a way to recover licenses in an emergency because the physical key has failed in some way. I don't use a USB key for iLok today, I'd have to check to know if it costs money to sign on to their ZDT. Here, with my Steinberg licenses it was just a matter of asking for it after the fact. Twice this has saved my bacon over the years. Now, they told me they reserve the right to refuse it if it occurs again very soon, 'try not to lose it again in the next few months, ok'. With my VSL licenses it isn't called that, it's either you have not insured it thru them and replacing a license is 50% of the current regular price, or you pay a sum so that it's all replaced. The current one (they're moving off of Syncrosoft eventually, it's for one year now) is 30 euro.

It was a trick question. It is exactly what I said, a continuous subscription for licenses you have already paid for ($30 per year). You don't even get a new iLok. It's all artificial and designed to suck you dry for your money.

[BertKoor]

Insurance is for peace of mind, just in case you might lose something you can't afford to lose, in exchange for your petty cash (which does add up)

If, and only if, you can afford the loss, then it's a waste of money.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Funnily enough, my old iLok2 was misbehaving today. This is the one I use for my laptop, while my desktop has an iLok3. I installed some licenses on the iLok2 today, but at some point afterwards, the licenses were failing to be read by any iLok protected plugins. They still appeared in on the iLok in License Manager, but the plugins weren't seeing them and a restart didn't fix it either. I deactivated all licenses then reactivated them, and now things are working, but I also ordered a USB-C iLok3 to try to avoid any problems if this is a short-term fix. Very annoying.

[aMUSEd]

I swapped everything over to the new iLok today - all good