ColdFusion 2018 license transfer

[omegafb1111]

I have an CF 2018 Standard install on a windows server. I set up a new install of CF2018 on Azure windows server. I'm trying use the same license. The current install will not be used anymore so that can be disabled if possible. 

I don't see any way to disable the license on the old install. I don't see a link to Licensing & Activation and CF Admininstrator. 

When I try to add the same license on the Azure server I get a message "Important notice about last submission..." and it just sits like that without doing anything. 

How can I get that license to work on the new server?

I used commandbox to install cf2018 on the new server.

 

[Charlie Arehart · Accepted solution]

Two things.

1) There is no license activation prior to cf2021.

2) As for the odd error, I suspect it's  because of your trying to use that license key with this Commandbox implementation of cf. That's not allowed.

Commandbox deploys cf using war file deployment (under the covers), and licensing of such cf war file deployment is supported only with CF enterprise, not Standard.

FWIW, it's also allowed for use with the free cf trial or Developer edition (which is what you get when you enter no license key), and that may be why you may have never noticed this licensing limitation before.

3) As for solving things, assuming you won't have an enterprise license key to use, just bring the same cf2018 nstaller you had on the old machine, install it on the new, and it's during THAT install when you will be asked for the old license key.

Then you could migrate the cf admin settings either using cf's car file feature, or you can use Commandbox's cfconfig module. That does NOT require that the cf instance itself be running under Commandbox, whether for export or importing of cf admin settings.

4) You are probably aware that cf2018 stopped getting updates 2 years ago. You're at risk of unresolved vulnerabilities, but perhaps your feel the cost to upgrade (license and migration effort) outweighs the risk of being hacked. It's a gamble, but your to take. 

5) Let us know how things go.

(I can help via direct screenshare consulting if needed, or there are others here and elsewhere who like me can help solely via back and forth this way.)

[omegafb1111]

Charlie,

I installed ColdFusion 2018 from the original installer and was able to add the license. Thank you for the information!

Now I have a new problem. The UI for installing updates is horrible. Before I was able to play with the css to get the download links to show up but I'm having hard time getting it to show up now. Any tips for that? or is there a download that includes all updates?  Thank you!

 

[Charlie Arehart]

Yes, first if you read the technote for any of the updates you want to do (I believe the last was 19), you'll see it explains how to do them in an order relative to where you're starting. And one of them fixes that UI problem. Others do other things that keep you from just going to that latest one.

As for doing whatever first one you want to do, you could also follow instructions in the technote to do the update manually from the command line. Or a trick is to tab through that messed up ui and use the space bar to expand or select things. I'd done it for years with people back then, though it's been a couple of years since last having to deal with it--as that UI issue was indeed fixed with one of the cf2018 updates now a few years ago.

Again, you WILL be able to do the update now one way or the other, and if you can't I can help directly (even today). But finally, give serious consideration to getting more recent, over time. You're now 3 versions behind. But as you can see, I don't hold help hostage if you can't or won't upgrade to a newer/supported version. 

[omegafb1111]

You saved me again! I was able to get the updates by tabbing. As for your other points about upgrading cf, that's planned. This app is not publically available so it wasn't as urgent to add to the cost of migration. 

Thank you for all you do for the CF community. 

[Charlie Arehart]

Glad to have helped.