How to generate License Key in Web Application?

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I want to host my Asp Dot NET web application project in to my client’s server. The web application project should have a License key that will be valid for certain years. After that particular year ends the application should expire if not renewed before the expired date…could you please tell me how to achieve this…I am feared that he may crack the DLL with dot net reflector or any de complier to find the logic If I have that in CS file. So could you please help me to find the best way to achieve this and how to achieve this in detail?

.....Am sorry i forgot to state that in my client server they have internet available only for that server not for other computer i.e connected to that server through LAN.they use the application through intranet...i mean they upload to their local server and within their office they access the application through LAN connection....So in this scenario will the Service which requires Internet connection WORK?

Posted 6-Mar-13 18:51pm

rahamathullah.v

Updated 7-Mar-13 18:14pm

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bbirajdar 8-Mar-13 1:57am

Use webservice for authentication and host it on your server. In this webservice you can control who can log into the application

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Michael Haephrati · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-07T22:49:00

There are many ways to implement licensing and to enforce your licensing scheme efficiently. Doing so without a guaranteed internet connection makes it even harder, and easier for crackers to bypass.

When you deploy your product to your customer's server, you deploy, among other files, also some binary files, such as DLLs. One of these DLLs can encapsulates your licensing engine, and this engine should read an encrypted data file where the details of the license will be stored. You should ensure that if this data file is missing, the product won't work, so if the encryption is strong enough, it will be very hard to change the terms of the license.

Internet connection is important for many reasons. For example, if your licensing scheme involves date/time, i.e. limiting your product to run for X months, you better connect to an ITS (Internet Time Server) such as http://tf.nist.gov/tf-cgi/servers.cgi[^] to query the date/time and avoid manually change of the server's internal clock, to bypass this restriction.