# The License Key File

Before you install License Server, you must have a license key file (`licensekey.dat`). You obtain this file from IDOL Technical Support when you purchase IDOL.

The license key contains information about the components that you can run, and the limits for those components (such as index size, or limitations to the types of actions that you can perform).

The license key also contains information about the machine on which you install License Server. You must install License Server in a fixed location, which you can identify by using:

- an IP or MAC address for a static machine.

- a cloud virtual machine instance UUID.

You must provide this information to IDOL Technical Support when you request the license key.

For information about how to obtain the required instance UUID value, refer to the documentation for your cloud provider.

NOTE: On Linux, to use a UUID-bound license, License Server must be able to access the system DMI/SMBIOS information. This usually requires root access. In this case, configure License Server to run with `setuid root`.

License Server releases the extra privileges as soon as it verifies that the license key is valid for use on that server, and continues to run as the user that started the process.

If you need a new license key file, you can update the license key in place. See Update Your License File.

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