serial number installed and serial number in license server file doesn't match?

[tech3design]

serial number installed and serial number in  license server file doesn't matching. Will an audit cause problems?

do these two have to match? and if they don't what is the audit all about? explain. 

[Mark.Lancaster]

@tech3design

When installing a network version of an Autodesk product the serial # used is not crucial since its activation may pull another related license due to the cascading order of a license.  No reason to be concerned about if the installed serial # doesn't match the serial # used in the license file.

[tech3design]

So we purchase licenses not software. So I don't need the media, I can installed a 90 day trail or I can install a copy of a friend and as longs as I have a licenses to pull of the server I good, Great! thanks....

So what do they mean in the below para....

Can you guaranty that there is no need for the Serial Number. I need concrete input:) 

2.6 You agree that Autodesk has the right to audit (electronic or otherwise) Your or Your Users’ Installation, use and/or Access of any Benefits including Access to machine IDs, serial numbers and related information. As part of any such audit, Autodesk or its authorized representative will have the additional right, on fifteen (15) days’ prior notice to You, to inspect Your records, systems and facilities, including machine IDs, serial numbers and related information, to verify that the Installation, use and/or Access of any and all Benefits is in conformance with this Maintenance Plan Agreement and any related Benefits Terms.  Additionally, within fifteen (15) days of such prior notice for audit, you will provide to Autodesk all records and information requested by Autodesk in order to verify that the Installation, use and/or Access of any and all Benefits is in conformance with this Maintenance Plan Agreement and any related Benefits Terms. You will provide full cooperation to enable any such audit.  If Autodesk determines that Your or Your Users’ Installation, use of and/or Access to any Benefit is not in conformity with the Maintenance Plan Agreement and any related Benefits Terms, You will immediately take such steps as are necessary to bring Your or Your Users’ Installation, use and/or Access into compliance with this Maintenance Plan Agreement and applicable Benefits Terms, and pay the reasonable costs of the audit.  In addition to such payment rights, Autodesk reserves the right to seek any other remedies available at law or in equity, whether under this Maintenance Plan Agreement or otherwise.

[Mark.Lancaster]

@tech3design

First of all there's no 90 day trial..  Its only 30 days...

The software installation can come from anywhere, its the information you use to activate it is the main thing.  If you used media that your friend had to install then its not an issue but if you used your friend's serial # to activate then yes you could get in trouble under an audit.   But if I activate my Autodesk Product using a standalone serial # that was issued to my company and then later on switch it (prior to 2017 - registry change) to a network, the activation is coming from the license server but the serial # listed still may show it as your standalone but the activation is shown as a network license.   If I install Inventor through a network license of Product Design Ultimate using its associated serial #, it will grab a lower suite license if possible that has a different serial #.  Meaning when it comes to network license of an Autodesk product, the activation is through the license manager and the initial serial # that you used (meaning assigned to your company) doesn't really matter.

Pre-2017 version:  A serial # is required to install the software..   Like I said if you installed using a serial # not associated to your company/organization then yes you get in trouble if an audit occurs.  If you use serial #s associated to your account then you are fine based on how the activation occurs.

2017 version:  All 2017 versions do not require serial #s at the time of installation..  It is required when the application first launches.  If you select network license, it only prompts you for your license server name and no serial # is actually entered.

[tech3design]

What is the point if the Serial Number doesn't matter?

https://license-review.autodesk.com/GettingInventory.aspx

Inventory Management

Heading                                                                                              Description

PC Name                                                                       Unique ID of the PC/Server/Device this application is installed on.
Application Name                                                         Application software name – e.g. "Autodesk Mechanical" Or "Maya".
Application Version                                                      Commonly known Version name - e.g. for AutoCAD 2015 the version Is "2015".
Serial Number                                                               Unique serial number of the Autodesk software, as reported by the Autodesk Inventory Advisor.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Installation Type (Standalone Or Net                             Type of license used for this software – three options: stand-alone, multiseat stand-alone or network license

[Mark.Lancaster]

@tech3design

The serial # does matter..  You are reading too much into this...

Simple rule:  When it comes to a network license of an Autodesk Product (I'm taking about Pre-2017)..  You may install it with a given serial # that was issued to your organization but when it comes time to activate it through the license server it may be using a different serial # associated to the license that is in the network license file.   If the activation is through the network license manager, the serial # is not really a concern at that point..

Main thing..  If you are using the correct license with the correct activation then there's no need to be concern about an audit.  Even if you did get an audit you are not going to get dinged for have incorrect serial # listed at the time of the installation.  If the activation is correct then you're fine.  Unless that serial # has nothing to do with that product (like its been cracked), educational or the serial # belongs to someone outside of your organization.

[DarrenP]

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@tech3design wrote:

What is the point if the Serial Number doesn't matter?

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this is how autodesk keeps track of everything in their database