CodeMeter License Central 5.1: Cloud-Agnostic, Scalable, and Future-Ready

Customer expectations are rising, markets remain volatile, supply chains are becoming more complex, and regulations are tightening. Today, anyone licensing and delivering software needs more than just a powerful product, they require digital sovereignty, high availability, dynamic scalability, and the ability to adapt quick ly to change. This is exactly where our approach comes in.

CodeMeter License Central is Wibu-Systems’ central back office component for CodeMeter licensing. It enables in dependent software vendors (ISVs) and intelligent de vice manufacturers (IDMs) to define and distribute li censes, create product packages, and manage sales options – either manually or automatically through integrations with CRM or ERP systems.

With versions 5.0 (Q2 2025) and 5.1 (Q4 2025), we are modernizing the operation of CodeMeter License Central through containerization and the use of Kubernetes. This enables us to deliver a cloud-based solution that is vendor-independent and deployable in any public cloud, allowing you to stay flexible across multiple cloud regions and even your own data centers. Built on market-proven technology, it ensures reliability through automatic failover and minimizes downtime during updates. The new Wibu Registry provides verified images and ensures transparency in quality and maintenance.

While your competitors get lost in infrastructure details, you can stay focused on revenue, innovation, and your customers’ needs.

The following sections highlight the technological innovations and their concrete benefits, as well as the upcoming changes to the licensing model.

Scalability and High Availability with Kubernetes

To provide maximum availability, scalability, and resilience, Wibu-Systems has adopted Kubernetes as the orchestration layer for CodeMeter License Central. Kubernetes is the recognized standard across major cloud providers: AWS (with its global infrastructure), Microsoft Azure (the enterprise cloud), Google Cloud (a leader in data and AI), and Alibaba Cloud (the regional powerhouse in Asia). This ensures that Code Meter License Central can be deployed independently of any single provider, offering freedom of choice and guaranteed continuity in a shifting global environment.

The foundation for this step was laid with CodeMeter License Central 5.0, which introduced containerization in spring 2025. Building on this, version 5.1 completes the transition with full Kubernetes orchestration. Customers now benefit from a platform that is not only portable across infrastructures, but also dynamically scalable and resilient by design.

Hosting Operation

Until now, CodeMeter License Central has been operated in two data centers in Germany. From version 5.1 onward, operation moves to AWS Germany or equivalent cloud environments, orchestrated by Kubernetes. This allows us to flexibly select the most suitable hosting provider for any region – ensuring compliance, resilience, and local performance advantages, particularly in fast-growing markets like Asia.

When operated in a hosted setup, CodeMeter License Central under Kubernetes provides customers with key advantages, including:

• Automatic scaling of instances
• Rolling updates without downtime
• Distributed software components for balanced workloads
• High resilience through multiple data centers
• Stable operations on globally proven infrastructure

On-Premise Operation

Customers who prefer or require on-premises operation can continue to run CodeMeter License Central as a virtual ma chine. With version 5.1, the Enterprise On-Premises Edition sup ports improved update handling: Major version upgrades still require planned downtime, but minor and patch updates can now be applied with minimal or no downtime. The Profession al Edition requires a planned downtime with its length de pending on the type of change.

For enterprises with higher demands, the Enterprise Edition On-Premises goes further. In this variant, customers provide both the database and the Kubernetes cluster, and Code Meter License Central runs natively in that environment. The result is permanent scalability, better performance, and high resilience, supported by a modern architecture designed for rapid recovery.

To ensure smooth operation of containerized components, Wibu-Systems has introduced the Wibu Registry. This registry provides regularly updated and fully tested container images, guaranteeing that all components work seamlessly together. For customers with strict security policies that re strict Internet connectivity, we also offer an option to install CodeMeter License Central in an offline environment.

New Licensing Model and Editions

Hosting Editions (as of 5.1):

Until now, customers could choose between Datacenter Edition, Dedicated Server, High Performance Edition, and High Availability Package. From version 5.1, these are replaced by three streamlined editions:

• Basic Edition
• Professional Edition
• Enterprise Edition

The differences lie primarily in the number of CodeMeter Li cense Central instances provided. Thanks to Kubernetes, both permanent and flexible instances can be scaled up at any time. Automatic failover, previously exclusive to the High Availability Package, is now included in all editions. For the Enterprise Edition, failover is immediate; the smaller editions may experience brief downtime. RPO and RTO values are significantly improved, and all customer data is backed up daily for 30 days.

Customers using the Professional Hosting Edition or higher can integrate external systems such as ERP environments.

On-Premises Editions (as of 5.1):

Our upcoming on-premises editions are structured as follows:

• Professional Edition On-Premises: CodeMeter License Central runs in a virtual machine, containerized under Docker.
• Enterprise Edition On-Premises: CodeMeter License Central runs entirely under Kubernetes, with Helm charts provided for deployment.

The previous Desktop Edition and Internet Edition will no lon ger be newly licensed from version 5.1 onward.

Outlook for CodeMeter License Central Customers

With version 5.1 and later, customers previously using Desk top or Internet Edition on-premises will be migrated to sub scription licenses, in line with the hosting model. Depending on the chosen edition, this translates into annual payments that finance the continuous evolution of CodeMeter License Central.

To access the Wibu Registry, all on-premises customers and prospects will require an access token. In the future, Code Meter License Central will, like other CodeMeter components, adopt the global Wibu ID for unified login and authorization across the CodeMeter ecosystem.

Wibu-Systems has prepared migration paths to ensure that existing customers can adopt the edition that best matches their needs under the new licensing model. We understand the complexity and importance of keeping these systems running smoothly on your end; no hosting customer will be migrated without prior communication. The migration of all existing hosting customers is planned for completion by 2027.

In a world of constant change and evolving requirements, Wibu-Systems remains a bastion of stability and quality. With CodeMeter License Central 5.1, you receive a fully containerized, Kubernetes-ready solution that gives you the freedom to adapt your software licensing and operations to your needs. We provide the secure foundation to create, manage, and roll out software licenses with confidence – today and in the future. Many of the upcoming requirements of the Cyber Resilience Act are already covered, enabling you to focus on your core business and maximize returns.

Existing customers are invited to contact our sales or support teams. Together, we will tailor the migration path and timeline to perfectly match your requirements.

CodeMeter License Central 5.1 delivers full containerization and Kubernetes orchestration for both host ed and on-premises deployments. With new editions, cloud-agnostic scalability, and the Wibu Registry ensuring smooth updates, customers gain flexibility, resilience, and compliance – today and for the future.

 

KEYnote 50 - Edition Fall/Winter 2025