License Management

nFW is commercial software that requires a valid license to operate. This section explains how to obtain, install, and manage your nFW license.

License Overview

Types of Licenses

nFW licenses are issued by ntop.org and come in different types:

Evaluation License: Time-limited license for testing and evaluation
Commercial License: Full license for production use
OEM License: For integration into third-party products
Academic License: For educational and research institutions

License Features

Each license specifies:

Licensed System: Hardware identifier (System ID)
Expiration Date: License validity period
Maintenance Date: Support and updates expiration
Features: Enabled functionality (standard or advanced)

Obtaining a License

Step 1: Get System ID

Run nFW with the --show-system-id option:

nfw --show-system-id

Important: The System ID is derived from hardware identifiers and must match the system where nFW will run.

Step 2: Request License

Contact ntop.org to purchase a license:

Website: https://www.ntop.org
Email: sales@ntop.org
Information Needed: - System ID - License type (evaluation, commercial, etc.) - Company/organization details - Intended use case

Step 3: Receive License File

ntop.org will provide a nfw.license file tied to your System ID.

Installing a License

License File Locations

nFW searches for the license file in the following locations (in order):

./nfw.license (current directory)
/etc/nfw.license (system-wide)

Recommended Installation

Install the license system-wide:

# Copy license file
sudo cp nfw.license /etc/nfw.license

# Set appropriate permissions
sudo chmod 644 /etc/nfw.license
sudo chown root:root /etc/nfw.license

Verifying Installation

Check that the license is valid:

nfw --check-license

Expected output:

License is valid
Licensed to: Your Company Name
Expiration: 2026-12-31
Maintenance: 2026-12-31

If the license is invalid, you’ll see an error message:

Invalid license: License expired
Invalid license: System ID mismatch
Invalid license: License file not found

License Validation

Checking License Status

Check License Validity:

nfw --check-license

Check Maintenance Status:

nfw --check-maintenance

Output:

Maintenance valid until: 2026-12-31
Updates and support available

Display System ID:

nfw --show-system-id

Validation at Startup

When nFW starts, it automatically validates the license:

sudo nfw -q 0 -z tcp://127.0.0.1:1234

If the license is invalid, nFW will not start:

ERROR: Invalid license
ERROR: License expired on 2025-12-31
ERROR: Please contact ntop.org for license renewal

License Expiration

Grace Period

Some licenses may include a grace period after expiration, allowing nFW to continue running with warnings.

Renewal

To renew an expired license:

Contact ntop.org sales team
Provide your current System ID
Receive updated license file
Replace /etc/nfw.license with the new file
Restart nFW (if running)

sudo cp nfw-new.license /etc/nfw.license
sudo killall nfw
sudo nfw -q 0 -z tcp://127.0.0.1:1234

Maintenance Expiration

Maintenance Period

The maintenance period covers:

Software updates and bug fixes
nDPI protocol updates
Technical support
Security patches

After Maintenance Expires

When maintenance expires:

nFW continues to operate normally
New updates and features are not available
Technical support may be limited
nDPI protocol database becomes outdated

To restore maintenance:

Contact ntop.org to renew your maintenance agreement.

Troubleshooting License Issues

License File Not Found

Error: License file not found

Solutions:

# Check if license file exists
ls -la nfw.license /etc/nfw.license

# If missing, copy license to correct location
sudo cp nfw.license /etc/nfw.license

# Verify permissions
sudo chmod 644 /etc/nfw.license

Invalid License

Error: Invalid license

Causes:

Corrupted file: Re-download or request a new license file
Wrong format: Ensure binary format, not text
Tampered file: License files are cryptographically signed

Solution: Re-download the original license file from ntop.org

System ID Mismatch

Error: System ID mismatch or License not valid for this system

Causes:

License installed on wrong system: License is tied to specific hardware
Hardware changed: Motherboard, network cards, or other hardware changed
Virtual machine cloned: VM cloning changes hardware identifiers

Solutions:

Verify System ID:
```
nfw --show-system-id
```
Contact ntop.org: Request license transfer or update for new hardware
For VMs: Use stable hardware identifiers or request VM-friendly license

License Expired

Error: License expired on YYYY-MM-DD

Solution: Contact ntop.org to renew your license

# Check expiration date
nfw --check-license

Maintenance Expired

Error: Maintenance expired on YYYY-MM-DD

Impact: nFW continues to run, but updates and support are unavailable

Solution: Renew maintenance with ntop.org

# Check maintenance status
nfw --check-maintenance

License for Virtual Machines

VM Considerations

Virtual machines present special challenges for hardware-based licensing:

VM Cloning: Cloned VMs may have different hardware IDs
VM Migration: Moving VMs between hosts can change hardware
Snapshots: Restoring snapshots may affect licensing

Best Practices for VMs

Use Static Hardware IDs: Configure VM with stable MAC addresses and disk UUIDs
Request VM-Specific License: Some licenses can be tied to software identifiers instead of hardware
Document VM Configuration: Keep records of VM settings for license requests
Test Before Deployment: Verify license works after VM cloning/migration

License Backup

It’s recommended to keep backup copies of your license:

# Backup license file
sudo cp /etc/nfw.license ~/nfw.license.backup

# Store in version control or secure location
# IMPORTANT: Do not share license files publicly

Note: License files are tied to specific systems and should be kept secure.

Moving License to New Hardware

If you need to move nFW to new hardware:

Step 1: Get New System ID

On the new system:

nfw --show-system-id

Step 2: Contact ntop.org

Request a license transfer or new license:

Provide old System ID
Provide new System ID
Explain reason for transfer (hardware upgrade, replacement, etc.)

Step 3: Install New License

Once received:

sudo cp nfw-new.license /etc/nfw.license
nfw --check-license

License Compliance

Terms of Use

nFW licenses typically include:

Single System: License is valid for one system only
No Redistribution: License files cannot be shared or redistributed
No Modification: License files must not be altered
Commercial Use: Requires commercial license (evaluation licenses are for testing only)

Compliance Verification

ntop.org may periodically verify license compliance. Ensure:

License file is authentic and unmodified
System ID matches licensed system
License is not expired
Usage complies with license terms

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use one license on multiple systems?

No. Each license is tied to a specific System ID and can only be used on one system.

What happens if my hardware fails?

Contact ntop.org to transfer your license to replacement hardware. Provide both old and new System IDs.

Can I run nFW without a license for testing?

nFW requires a valid license. Contact ntop.org for an evaluation license for testing purposes.

How long is the license valid?

License validity periods vary. Check with nfw --check-license or review your license agreement.

What’s the difference between license and maintenance expiration?

License Expiration: nFW stops working
Maintenance Expiration: nFW continues working, but no updates or support

Do I need a new license for nFW updates?

No. Your license remains valid for all nFW versions during your maintenance period.

Can I transfer my license to a virtual machine?

Yes, if the VM has a stable System ID. Contact ntop.org if you encounter issues.

Support and Contact

For license-related questions or issues:

Sales: sales@ntop.org
Support: support@ntop.org
Website: https://www.ntop.org
Phone: Check website for regional contact numbers

When contacting support, please provide:

System ID
License file name
Error messages
Output of nfw --check-license

Next Steps

Complete the Installation process
Follow the Quick Start Guide guide
Review Configuration options