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J
JJC
Participant
April 11, 2022
Question

Coldfusion 2016 enterprise -> 2021 - serial number not being recognized

  • April 11, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 601 views

Greetings!

 

I have coldfusion 2016 enterprise installed on a windows server, and I would like to upgrade to 2018 or 2021 (enterprise). I have downloaded the following 2018 / 2021 installers:

 

coldfusion_2018_WWEJ_win64.exe -> from http://www.cfmlrepo.com/
coldfusion_2021_GUI_WWEJ_win64.exe -> from https://www.adobe.com/products/coldfusion-family.html

 

I have a Software License Certificate from Adobe with a serial number for "Coldfusion ENT 12.0 ALP AOO License UE LIC SN. The license number of 6 sets of 4 numbers separated by hyphens. I have verified that on the filesystem, the sn in coldfusion2016/cfusion/lib/license_properties matches the serial number in the adobe certificate.

 

My organization purchased a 2018/2021 upgrade license from a reseller called Softchoice last year (which runs out in May), so I assume that we should be able to upgrade our installation with that. Their SKU description is "Coldfusion Ent 2021 14.0 ALP Upgrade License U E".

 

When I run either of the installers above on the server, I get to the point where it asks me to put in the serial number. I do so, and it doesn't accept the serial number. Specifically, the red X next to the field never goes away (I assume it should change to a green checkmark). To proceed, I have to click 30 day trial.

 

The (windows) server is behind a firewall and does not have access to the outside internet, so if this process requires the server to ping an external licensing server, it is almost certainly not able to do that.

 

Does anyone know what I am doing wrong? Thanks!

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

Charlie Arehart
Community Expert
Charlie ArehartCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 12, 2022

The problem is that using an upgrade license will indeed ask for your previous one, but you cannot use a 2016 license to upgrade to 2021. Only a 2018 license would work. (I DO wish an error message there would explain the problem.) 

 

You say you bought the 2021 upgrade license from softchoice. You even refer to it as "a 2018/2021 upgrade license". I would read that as being an upgrade from 2018 to 2021, which is again what is generally offered as THE upgrade license for 2021. I'd recommend you go back to softchoice to see if they confirm or deny what I assert here. 

 

Finally, I will note that Integral, who are both a maker of cf tools AND a cf reseller, have a special arrangement with Adobe through April to sell an upgrade license for use even with cf2016, 11, or earlier, at 25% off the price of a full license. (One needs to be or become a customer of their FusionReactor monitor.) For more, see:

https://www.fusion-reactor.com/blog/news/coldfusion-hot-sale/

 

I hope you'll report how things work out, whatever way you may go. 

/Charlie (troubleshooter, carehart. org)
W
w49369461
Participating Frequently
April 12, 2022

Install with the 30 day free trial. Once its installed, go the activation area in Coldfusion Admin and try there.

 

Also see - https://community.adobe.com/t5/coldfusion-discussions/coldfusion-2021-offline-activation/td-p/12562980

Charlie Arehart
Community Expert
Charlie ArehartCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 12, 2022

Fwiw, w, I'm afraid it would not matter whether one tries to put in the license key in the installer as JJC was doing, or one chooses the trial option and tries to put it in on that activation page of the admin as you propose . See my other reply for the crux of the problem, and possible solutions. 

/Charlie (troubleshooter, carehart. org)
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