Activation
Before it is activated, SINKRO Server runs as a trial. Everything works, but any instance you start stops after one hour. Activating removes that limit. The licence does not expire, and it is tied to the one machine you activate it on.
Before you start
Before you can activiate you must first have purchased a licence from sinkro.co.uk/SINKROServer.
You will then receive a certificate PDF by email.
You need two details, both printed on the licence certificate PDF we emailed you when you bought the licence:
- Serial Number, for example
SN100001 - Licence Owner Name, the name the licence was issued to
We advise you keep your certificate PDF safe, because you need it again if you ever move the licence to another machine.
Step 1: Find your App ID
On the machine you want to license:
- Open SINKRO Server.
- From the menu bar choose About -> About SINKRO Server.
- Read the App ID. It looks like
A1B2C3-D4E5F6. - Click Copy App ID.
This App ID is unique to your computer. The first time you open the dialog it takes a moment to appear. If it
still reads Loading..., give it a moment. If it reads UNKNOWN, see
Troubleshooting.
Step 2: Get your product key
Go to sinkro.co.uk/activate and fill in all three fields:
| Field | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Serial Number | Your licence certificate |
| Licence Owner Name | Your licence certificate |
| App ID | The About dialog, from step 1 |
The serial number and owner name have to match the certificate exactly, so paste them rather than type them where you can. Press Activate. We email the product key to the email address the licence was bought under.
The key is long. Copy it out of the email in one piece. A key that has been cut short, or that picked up a line break when you pasted it, is rejected.
Step 3: Enter the key in the app
Back in About -> About SINKRO Server:
- Click Activate using your product key.
- Paste the key into the Product Key box.
- Click OK.
You should see "Activation successful", and the dialog then shows:
- Status: Activated
- Expiration: No Expiration
- Serial Number: your serial number
Once you are activated instances will no longer stop after an hour. The key is saved to config.ini next to
the SINKRO Server executable and checked again each time the app starts, so you
only do this once.
Troubleshooting
| What you see | What it means |
|---|---|
Missing required fields | One of the three fields on the activation page is empty. |
No matching licence found | The serial number and owner name do not match a licence. Check both against the certificate, including spelling and spaces. |
An active activation already exists for this serial. | This licence is already activated on a machine. See Moving to another machine. |
This serial has been terminated | Get in touch and we will look it up. |
The product key is invalid. (in the app) | The key does not match this machine's App ID. Usually the key was issued for a different App ID, or it was cut short when copied. |
App ID readsUNKNOWN | The app could not read the machine's hardware identifiers. Start SINKRO Server again, andcontact us if it persists. |
Moving to another machine
A licence covers one installation, so a product key only works on the App ID it was issued for. Replacing the motherboard or processor changes the App ID, which has the same effect as moving machine.
To move a licence, go to sinkro.co.uk/activate and submit your details. When you are told an activation already exists, choose Request a Deactivation Declaration Form. On that form you declare that the original installation is no longer in use and no longer accessible. Having two installations in use at once breaks the licence agreement. Once we have processed the form, activate again with the new machine's App ID to get a fresh key.