Survival Guide: What Actually Happens if Your Physical USB License Key Fails?
  

George Fady Lv2Posted 2026-Jun-24 21:28

Infrastructure stability depends on licensing, but many administrators are unaware of the safety mechanisms built into the Sangfor HCI platform when a physical dongle (Gold or Red USB Key) is disconnected or fails.
Essential Knowledge Points:
  • The 30-Day Safety Net: If a USB key is removed or suffers electrical failure, the system does not shut down immediately. You are granted exactly 30 days of operational grace period.
  • The 60-Day Reset Rule: Simply plugging the key back in for a few minutes won't reset your timer. To get back to a full 30-day grace period, a valid physical key must remain connected continuously for at least 60 days.
  • The Accumulation Risk: If a key is disconnected for 10 days, reinserted for 50 days (failing the 60-day rule), and then disconnected again, your timer does not reset. You will restart from the remaining 20 days.
  • Operational Limit: While existing VMs continue to run, the system will prevent you from powering on new VMs once the grace period expires.
Pro-Tip: Since HCI 6.1.0, you can transition to Virtual Keys to eliminate these physical failure risks entirely

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