This article explains how to register/activate a new product license using CalderaDock.
You can read the full instructions below or watch the short overview video:
1. Create a Caldera account
To create an account, go to Caldera's customer portal WorkSpace, and fill in the account creation form (need help with this? Click here). You will receive an activation email soon after.
2. Download and Install CalderaDock
Before requesting a demo license or activating any license, you must install CalderaDock on your workstation. This application automatically generates your system’s unique hardware identifier (called a fingerprint file) during the license management.
Download the latest version of CalderaDock from the main dashboard of WorkSpace and install it (need help with this? Click here).
3. Get your License
You can request a demo license directly from CalderaDock. The application includes a form that allows you to submit a request:
The demo license is software-based and generated automatically. It becomes available in your account within a few seconds, unless:
- The allowed demo period has already expired (in which case you can request a renewal), or
- Too many demo licenses have been requested for the same account.
After purchasing a Caldera product, the license information is provided in one of the following ways:
- Sent directly to the end user in a Welcome email
- Sent to the partner or reseller responsible for the installation
The email typically contains the required license details (such as the access number and activation code).
Good to know
You may obtain different types of commercial licenses (such as perpetual or subscription). Licenses can also be hardware-based (historically more common with perpetual licenses) or software-based, depending on how the license is delivered and activated. Learn more.
4. Activate your License
- Open CalderaDock.
- Sign in with your Caldera account if you are not already signed in:
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In the Home tab, click "Register a license":
Info
You can also register a license from the Licenses tab using the Add button:
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Enter the required license details depending on your license type:
- Software-based License: Access number (6 digits) and Activation code (20 digits). These details are provided by email after purchase or when requesting a demo license.
- Hardware-based License: Access number (6 digits) and Dongle code (10 digits). These details are provided by email after purchase. You will also receive a Media Pack containing the physical dongle.
After entering the information, click Fetch:
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When the license is found (for example, a CalderaRIP license), review the included features and click Next:
- (Optional) If your license includes printer drivers, you can assign them during this step. This can also be done later if needed:
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In the final step, activate the license on the current machine:
Click Activate my license:
Connect the dongle if it is not already plugged in:
Once detected, click Activate my license:
- Wait a few moments while the activation completes:
- When finished, you can:
- Click Manage my Applications to install a Caldera product, or
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Click Manage my Licenses to view and manage your licenses.
Info
If only one compatible license is available, CalderaDock automatically attaches it to the installed product after activation. The status will appear as “Pending for attachment” until the software is launched. You can verify the attachment in the Licenses tab before launching the software.
If you are running Caldera on a Virtual Machine with a software‑based license, the attachment process is different. For more details, refer to this article.
Related Articles
- How to update a license on my workstation?
- How to rehost or move a software-based license?
- How to share a Caldera license between multiple workstations?
- The previous manual license registration method is still available if needed: