Evaluation Licenses

License Key Files

Golden Code uses a digitally signed license key file to protect its intellectual property. This file is named LICENSE.KTO (see the Installation section for more details).

This key file is ALWAYS necessary. It does not have to reside in the same directory as the KTRACE.EXE, there is a search order that will be followed (see the File Listing section for more details). If this file is not found, then Kernel Trace will not run AT ALL. The following screen will be displayed in this case:

Since this file is digitally signed, any changes (even a single bit) to this file will be seen as a corrupt license file. Kernel Trace will refuse to operate under this condition. The following screen will be displayed.

The -v option to KTRACE.EXE provides a mode where the license key file is both verified for validity and the contents are displayed to the user. The command would be:

KTRACE -v

This can be run from anywhere from which KTRACE.EXE can be run when actually taking a trace. The following example shows the results for a registered user (non-evaluation, non-restricted):

Evaluation Licenses

Golden Code provides license key files for KTRACE evaluation purposes. All evaluation licenses are time-limited. That is, they will stop working after a specified number of days, which is a value stored in the LICENSE.KTO. Golden Code certainly wishes to provide an evaluation license for a long enough period of time to ensure that potential customers have every opportunity to evaluate the product. If the time was not sufficient to meet your testing needs, please contact Golden Code for a new LICENSE.KTO.

The following screen shows an evaluation license which has expired:

The following screen shows an evaluation license without restrictions:

This non-restricted license would generate the following run-time screen, by default:

The following screen shows an evaluation license with restrictions on the number of records per trace file, and the maximum length of time each file can capture kernel activity:

This restricted license would generate the following run-time screen, by default:

Golden Code can also provide registered (i.e., non-evaluation) licenses with restrictions specified by the customer, for security purposes or to meet specific customer needs.