The License Configuration File (progress.cfg)
The License Configuration File, is created at install time using the install-media's template progress.cfg, when the Serial Number and Control Code licensing information is provided. This file is written to the OpenEdge Install Directory (DLC) and updated when new products are installed.
The content of the License Configuration File can be viewed by running 'showcfg' from a PROENV command shell and shows:
- Which product licenses are installed,
- When the product installation was built,
- The expiration date of the product(s),
- The Serial Number(s) and Control Codes that were used to install each product,
- The Licensed User Count,
- The Operating System platform (port) the installation was built against.
A License Activation File
A License Activation File, identifies specific licensing information encoded in the Serial Number and Control Codes. This information is found in the ESD License Addendum (“green sheet”)
When adding new licenses to an existing installation, the License Activation File specifically updates the 'right to run bits' to be able to use the new license in the existing environment, in addition to the necessary install tailoring and updating the current progress.cfg.
A License Activation File can be provided at install time to populate this information instead of having to manually enter it during interactive installs or edit silent install response files with this information for each install site. For example: How to silent install the same products with different licenses?
Since OpenEdge 11.6 a customised deployment install bundle can be created for deployment. This has the advantage of providing an ‘install bundle" used to deploy OpenEdge smaller. For further information refer to Article:
The License Configuration File utility
The License Configuration File utility is available in the Customer Self-Service Portal. This feature is supported for OpenEdge 10.2B, 11.x and 12.x licenses. It provides the ability to:
1. Generate your own Configuration File
A new License Configuration File can be created to update existing installs (progress.cfg)
- Evaluation installs can be upgraded to Full licenses without having to run the installer
- Existing licenses user count or expiration date can be changed without having to run the installer
Licenses from current and previous Sales Orders can be combined together for a particular machine and OpenEdge version, to generate a license configuration (.cfg) file based on either a subset of products in a single License Addendum (“green sheet”) or a combination of products across multiple License Addendums.
Once created, a license configuration file can then be used to replace the current progress.cfg file, without the need to run the License Update utility and subsequent re-install of a Service Pack and/or Hotfix. OpenEdge will however need to be restarted in order to read this information when Brokers are started.
Since OpenEdge 11.7.5, 12.1, when deploying a new Client Networking MSI install, this tool can be used to generate the Client-Networking progress.cfg required to be able to use the Client Networking license post-msi-install.
2. Generate your own License Activation File
Create License Activation files to install specific product licenses
- It is easier to install each Customer's specific OpenEdge licenses
- Select Licenses don't have to be removed from a full Activation file at install time
- Silent install response files can use this information for each install site
Adding product licenses to a progress.cfg file that have not been installed previously to replace the current installed products is inadvisable. Additional files need to be installed and environment tailoring is required to allow specific product license features to be used. These would not be on the current system unless the OpenEdge Installer was used to add the product license initially. The License Configuration File utility can also be used to create a customized Activation File to provide the required license information to the OpenEdge Installer. For further information refer to Article:
Using the License Configuration File tool to create:
- A new License Configuration File (progress.cfg) for existing licenses
- A License Activation file to install new licenses
1. Navigate to the Customer Self Service (CSS) web page:
https://www.progress.com/support/customer-self-service
Scroll down and select OpenEdge.
Or go directly to:
https://secure.progress.com/css/sec
2. Log into the CSS portal and navigate to: ACCOUNT > Licenses > Download OpenEdge Activation Files
Or Select the Licenses ICON 
3. Select "Create New Activation File" which opens the "Activation File Wizard"
For example: To create an Activation File for Client-Networking
- The Client Networking MSI, OpenEdge Version would be 11.7 or 12.1 (and later) on Windows 32bit or Windows 64bit
- Select NEXT, and under "Available Products", Scroll through the list of available products or use the grid filtering to find the Client Networking License
- Select SAVE ; Enter a "Reference Name" for the Activation File to find the configuration later and Agree to the Progress ULA, example: 11.7 CNMSI 64-bit
4. The data grid in the Download Activation Files page displays all configurations that were previously created and are managed with the options provided in the "ACTION" column:
To generate a License Configuration File (progress.cfg)
- Select Action: Download Config File
- Then Save the progress.cfg file to disk
To generate a License Activation file for the OpenEdge Installer
- Select Action: Download Activation File
- Then Save the progress.txt file to disk
The License Configuration File (progress.cfg) can be used to replace the existing install's license information or the Activation File can be provided for a new interactive or silent install.
For example: The new Client Networking file will be visible under the "Reference Name" Column: 11.7 CNMSI 64-bit
These instructions are also available in the Customer Self Service Help manual. The relevant sections have been extracted and are attached to this Article for ease of reference: "CSS - Create cfg files.pdf"
If there are any issues with available licenses, trouble with this tool or tool enhancements that would be useful, please liaise with the Progress Customer Order Management Team :
The License Configuration File utility is not the same as the licenses for OpenEdge Development Kit (OEDK) subscriptions. Please refer to the following Articles:
