The Free version has no limitations besides restricted to 3 seats. If you need more than 3 seats there is a Business license available.
When you buy a license, you just pay once. It's not a subscription.
A license gives you access to 1 year of free upgrades. If not renewed after this period, it will enter maintenance mode, which means you'll be able to keep using any of the versions released until the license expiration date.
Our license is server side, which means you buy a number of seats.
It is just a file that you drop into your server folder. There's no need for assigning seats to users, it works on concurrent users.
This means that if you have a total of 5 seats, there can be 5 users connected to the server, regardless of how many users you have in that server.
You can also setup multiple servers with the same license if that is the way you prefer to work. Think of it as a license tied to the organization, not the server.
Currently the process is manual, so you will be sent the license via email alongside your invoice. If there are any issues, please contact licenses@ark-vcs.com.
The only restriction these licenses have is that they are meant for use by the purchasing entity, you cannot use them to run Ark for a third party (e.g. as a service provider).
No, a license is a file that you drop on your server's folder.
Yes, as long as all the servers belong and are being used by the license owner, you can setup multiple servers and drop the same file in each of the servers' folders.
Upon reaching the expiration date, your license enters maintenance mode. This means you can keep using the server normally, you'll just not be able to use an Ark version released after your license's expiration date.
Currently it's a manual process, you'll need to contact licenses@ark-vcs.com.
Permanent licenses make things a bit harder, but we think we came up with a very friendly approach.
Let's go through a concrete example:
Please note that this also applies to when your license has entered maintenance mode, you may choose to just purchase the extra seats and continue in the maintenance mode.
Yes, the only thing you need to do is remove the license file from your server folder and it will default to the Free version.
The Free version has 3 seats, but if you require more please contact licenses@ark-vcs.com and we'll hook you up with a Trial license.
If you use the Free version but would still want to support us, please consider Donating to support Ark's development.
Don't feel pressured into doing it, but in case you do and eventually want to get a license please contact us before doing a purchase, since we believe in generosity being rewarded.