Altera Software Licensing Options

You need a valid Altera^® license file to run the following design software, tools, or intellectual property (IP):

• Quartus^® II design software (Includes SOPC Builder)
• MAX+PLUS^® II design software
• ModelSim^®-Altera Edition tool
• DSP Builder tool
• IP MegaCore^® functions

Table 1 lists Altera software licenses, information you will need to obtain licenses, and the software and tools each license supports. Please see more information below the table notes on the required IDs and methods to obtain them. 

Notes:

1. Altera can no longer generate licenses for the LeonardoSpectrum-Altera software. Contact Mentor Graphics^® for information on obtaining additional licenses and support for the LeonardoSpectrum-Altera software. The Quartus II and Quartus II Web Edition software now includes integrated VHDL and Verilog HDL synthesis capabilities. MAX+PLUS II users can now download the MAX+PLUS II Advanced Synthesis software from the Altera website.
2. The Quartus II software prior to version 8.0 uses a FIXEDPC license that is tied to a software guard (a T-guard or dongle). Beginning with the Quartus II software version 8.0, Altera issues a FIXEDPC license that is tied to the network interface card (NIC ID).
3. The ModelSim-Altera Edition software requires a valid license. You can purchase the software from the Altera website.
4. ModelSim-Altera Starter Edition for Quartus II Web Edition versions 8.1 and later do not require license files. The ModelSim-Altera tool is available for either VHDL or Verilog HDL simulation. 
5. FLOATPC, FLOATNET, and FLOATLNX legacy network licenses also require an Altera ID, NIC ID, or Host ID.
6. The FLEXlm License Manager allows up to three redundant license servers to serve a network license. The first server specified is the master; use the master’s NIC ID or Host ID when obtaining a license.
7. If the PC has more than one hard disk, select the hard disk where the Windows operating system is installed.

Altera ID

Your Altera ID number is assigned by Altera. This 6-digit number allows Altera to identify customers when they purchase an Altera product or request technical support. For new Quartus II or MAX+PLUS II software users, the Altera ID number is printed on the software’s shipping label or packing slip. The number is also on some correspondence received from Altera.

• If you are not the original purchaser of the license, register as a secondary user of the software by contacting Altera Customer Service
• If the Altera ID used for the license is unknown, use six zeros (000000) to request a license file.

Quartus II Software Serial Number

The Quartus II software serial number is a 15-character alphanumeric number beginning with the letter A. Your Quartus II software serial number is provided when you purchase the Quartus II development system.

Software Guard ID

The software guard ID is a 10-character ID. Guards that connect to the parallel port or USB port have an ID that begins with a “T” followed by 9 numbers. Software guard IDs can also begin with an “S,” followed by 9 numbers, which are displayed when you install the software. USB software guards are only supported for the Quartus II software on Windows XP.

You can obtain the ID using one of the following methods:

• Read it from the printed label on the guard.
• Make certain Quartus II software has been installed and the guard is attached. Choose License Setup (Tools menu). Your Software Guard ID appears under Local System info in the Software Guard ID field.
• Make certain MAX+PLUS II software has been installed and the guard is attached. Choose License Setup (Options menu) and click System Info.

USB software guards are supported only for the Quartus II software versions prior to version 8.0 on Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000.  

Beginning with Quartus II software version 8.0, Altera issues a FIXEDPC license that is tied to the NIC ID. Additionally, if you use the Quartus II software on more than one computer, you can request one companion license for each FIXEDPC license. To request a companion license, contact Altera Customer Service. 

Host ID

The server Host ID is an 8-character hexadecimal string that identifies the UNIX workstation that serves Altera licenses. Contact the server system or network administrator to obtain this ID, or use the lmutil lmhostid command.

You can use the FLEXlm licensing scheme to configure up to three redundant license servers. The first server specified is the master; use the master server's NIC ID or Host ID when obtaining a license.

NIC ID

The NIC ID is a 12-character hexadecimal string embedded in the network interface card that Altera uses to uniquely identify the PC on which the software is installed.

The NIC ID is required for network licenses when the license server machine is a PC. It is also required for PC software provided for evaluation. Find the NIC ID by one of the following methods:

• Microsoft Windows: Type ipconfig /all at a command prompt.
  The NIC ID is the physical address without the dashes. If your PC has more than one network card, you can use any of the cards' NIC IDs as long as the selected network card is always connected to the computer. On PCs, you can also obtain the NIC ID by typing ipconfig /all at a command prompt.
• Linux: Type /sbin/ifconfig eth0 at a command prompt. The NIC ID is the ID to the right of HWaddr, without the colons (e.g., 00B0D0ABCCBA).
• If the Quartus II software has been installed, choose License Setup (Tools menu). Your Software Guard ID appears under Local System info in the Network Card (NIC) ID field.
• If the MAX+PLUS II software has been installed, choose License Setup (Options menu) and click System Info.
• If the FLEXlm software has been installed, type the following at a command prompt to determine the ID for any machine: lmutil lmhostid

You can use the FLEXlm licensing scheme to configure up to three redundant license servers. The first server specified is the master; use the master server's NIC ID or host ID when obtaining a license.

Hard-Disk Serial Number

The hard-disk serial number is an 8-character hexadecimal ID that identifies the PC with the Altera license. Find the hard-disk serial number for the PC by any of the following methods. Ensure that the ID is 8 characters long; include a leading zero if necessary.

• Microsoft Windows: Type vol at a command prompt; the ID is the volume serial number. If the PC has more than one hard disk, use the drive where the Windows operating system is installed. The Windows operating system is typically installed in a folder called WINDOWS.
• If the Quartus II software has been installed, choose License Setup (Tools menu). Your hard-disk serial number appears under Local Systems info in the C: drive serial number field. This method ensures use of the correct hard-disk serial number if multiple hard drives are in use.
• If the MAX+PLUS II software has been installed, choose License Setup (Options menu) and click System Info. This method ensures use of the correct hard-disk serial number if multiple hard drives are in use.