Windows To Go and VSTi licensing?

[Caroozo]

Hi,

Someone has experience with using Windows To Go on SSD/USB 3.0 pendrive for VSTi? I have already 3 machines with the same OS, plugins and presets and thinked about buying external pendrive/SSD with drivers for MIDI controllers, audio interface and plugins I use the most? Sometimes I want to play some VSTi on other computer - for example testing performance on certain machines, or just working in studio and playing on my friend's PC.

What about authorization of plugins? I use Spectrasonics, KORG and Roland Cloud stuff mainly, and every time I install it on another PC, I have to authorize them. But if I install them on bootable pendrive with Windows, the licenses remains, or they recognize another PC as totally different configuration and I'll need to authorize them over and over?

Installing OS, DAW, plugins etc takes a lot of time. I know I can put samples from Omnisphere/Keyscape (130 GB) on external SSD, but being able to test my plugins on every machine I want will be very nice .

[Burillo]

most likely you'll have to reauthorize them. depends on the licensing system though.

[chk071]

The KORG plugins definitely do a hardware check, so, you'll probably end up having to authorize them again every time.

[Reefius]

For this purpose, a physical dongle like iLok or eLicenser is a great solution. No matter what PC you're using, if the dongle is connected the licenses are recognized. So if you use any plugins that are protected with soft iLok or soft eLicenser, get a dongle and move the licenses onto it.

My guess is that the Roland stuff will probably work, as long as you have internet access. No idea about Korg or Spectrasonics.

Only way to know for sure is to try.

[chk071]

I'm doubtful that iLok works on a portable device. It also, like eLicenser too, checks for hardware changes. Don't think that will work. Actually, I'd drop the whole idea, if you have many plugins with different authorization methods.

Portable might work if you only work with plugins and hosts with serial protection, for anything else, you might already head into trouble.

[Caroozo]

As I thought - they check entire system and hardware changes... But maybe it's possible to install my entire setup on external SSD and just run it from USB with several profiles? It takes me several hours to make fresh OS install and make all plugins work - so if there's a way to just connect SSD, where I have stored my plugins AND make several profiles with already authorized plugins, it should work for me. For example, I had to buy bigger SSD for HP 2170p just to install there Keyscape+Omnisphere, so just connecting SSD, booting (on my desktop+2 notebooks) will smooth out my workflow (no need to make changes in 3 setups). Sounds complicated .

[Reefius]

The point of the dongles for iLok and eLicenser is that there is no need to check the hardware. The dongle IS the copy protection, so as long as it's connected the licenses should work.

[Caroozo]

Ok, thanks for an answer!

[whyterabbyt]

I'm doubtful that iLok works on a portable device. It also, like eLicenser too, checks for hardware changes. Don't think that will work.

whit? the point of an iLok dongle is that it removes a dependency on having to check against the system hardware profile.

[chk071]

True for the dongle. The soft eLicenser, which will have to be installed in any case, will stop working though. Not sure how it is with soft iLok, but, I guess it will be similar.