What’s the difference between the PSIM stand-alone version and the PSIM network version?

Standalone licenses

For a Sentinel USB Key stand-alone license (dongle), one needs to have the license key (USB key) plugged into the machine to run PSIM. With a stand-alone license, one would need to move the USB key to each computer to run PSIM (one at a time). You may install the software on as many computers as desired. Additionally, you cannot ‘remote desktop’ into a USB key license.

A Stand-alone Softkey license is restricted to two computer registrations at a time (computers must be registered with PSIM). Once registered, an internet connection is no longer required. You will not be able to run the software concurrently on both softkey standalone installs (per license), to switch computers you will need to manually release the license and reactivate on the other computer with an internet connection (Options>Deactivate). You can ‘remote desktop’ into a softkey license.

Network licenses

With the Sentinel USB Key network license (dongle), the USB key is installed on any computer on the network, and then any computer with access to the network can access available licenses. As many computers as desired can have the software installed. With the network license, you do not have to move the USB key around to different computers to run the software. The number of simultaneous users of PSIM is limited by the number of users purchased. With the USB key network license, if you try and use PSIM and the USB key is not present on the network, PSIM will not run.

With a Network Softkey license, a server is setup either on the customer server or on the Powersim server. Once the server is setup a license is checked out by the users. A user can choose to ‘hold’ a license which means that they will be able to use PSIM without an internet connection. This seat will not be accessible by the other network users while it is ‘held’. PSIM can be installed on as many computers as desired and the license will release when you close PSIM. Computer registration is unlimited (no maximum). The number of simultaneous users is limited by the number of users purchased.