iLok - Zero Downtime...yes or no?

[cbergm7210]

Booted up today and for some reason my iLoks were not being recognized. After a minute of heart failure before realizing what the deal is, I unplugged and plugged them back in again, so all is back to normal. But...

How many of you fellows have ZDT (zero downtime) on your iLoks? This little episode prompted me to wonder what I would have done if one of my iLoks went on the fritz. Not been able to put food on the table for a few days, I would think, while I was sorting out the mess. I have 130 licenses on these so the potential headache seems like could be enormous.

Thanks for the two cents.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

That is a concern here as well. My backup is to have at least some basic non-iLok VIs and MIDI modules available for the transition until the issue is resolved. I also have a backup iLok with no authorizations on it. I has an iLok with a bad connector and was able to transfer the licenses to that with no down time (I did have to hold the defective one in place for a few minutes).

I didn't buy the "insurance" from iLok and for me that would be a waste, but some sort of musical armageddon backup is essential IMO.

[Kubi]

I have Zero downtime, plus a spare iLok2. No-brainer for me. The difference between scrambling to recreate a mix (not even possible, really - how would I replace i.e. MachFive?), and simply continuing to work as if nothing happened...

Note that some plug-ins are *not* covered by that, most notably Waves (old iLok version). But if you're WUP'd, they have their own online insurance policy. Still, another reason I'm weening myself off Waves entirely...

[kgdrum]

There is not any other company I use that I despise more than Pace,yes I have ZDT which just renewed.
But the Zero level of direct customer support or a phone # pisses me off!
I like the concept of iLok but the iLok2 seems to have more issues and failures than ilok1.
The way they setup ZDT with a 10 day window is infuriating and the fact that you have to get new licences issued by the companies additionally makes the whole procedure moste distasteful for me.
I'm all for copy protection but Pace for me is as bad as it gets.
I wish another company who were more customer friendly and easier to get hold of controlled iLok.

[cbergm7210]

I guess that was my question as well. What's the process if your iLok does go down even with ZDT. You still have to contact each company to get them to reissue?

[kgdrum]

Luckily I have never had to do it but that's my understanding, maybe I'm wrong but that's what I've heard.
Also quirks like the authorization process happens to be very browser sensitive.
Many versions of Firefox will not authorize etc......

[mikehalloran]

No love for PACE here.

>Many versions of Firefox will not authorize etc......<

It doesn't matter the browser - all say to use some ancient version of FF that hasn't worked in years.

Although I have encountered that error every time I go to the PACE web site, when I click through, it works.

Another example of a company that just doesn't care to get it.

I have ZDT but hope that I never have to use it.

[nk_e]

I'm no fan of iLok, but out of all my protected plugs, it's the easiest to deal with. Everything in one place, no need to hunt through archived emails for SNs, no license files to hunt down, etc.

The point of zero downtime is insurance. You either think insurance is worth it or you don't.

You don't have to contact each plugin provider for a license. From their literature:

IMMEDIATE deposit of 14-day temporary licenses to your iLok.com account
Licenses can be downloaded to a new iLok within minutes of deposit
Why buy ZDT? ZDT provides continuous access to licenses you can't afford to be without!

I've got over a hundred licenses on this thing. Considering the $ investment and the time investment in installation and set up, for $30/yr, $2.50/mo, $0.08/day the peace of mind is worth it to me.

[kgdrum]

I'm no fan of iLok, but out of all my protected plugs, it's the easiest to deal with. Everything in one place, no need to hunt through archived emails for SNs, no license files to hunt down, etc.

The point of zero downtime is insurance. You either think insurance is worth it or you don't.

You don't have to contact each plugin provider for a license. From their literature:

IMMEDIATE deposit of 14-day temporary licenses to your iLok.com account
Licenses can be downloaded to a new iLok within minutes of deposit
Why buy ZDT? ZDT provides continuous access to licenses you can't afford to be without!

I've got over a hundred licenses on this thing. Considering the $ investment and the time investment in installation and set up, for $30/yr, $2.50/mo, $0.08/day the peace of mind is worth it to me.

For me it's not simply do you think insurance is worth it or not,it's the insurance carrier you have to use and their terms and policies.


The key phrase you pulled from their site is "14 day temporary licenses"
I think you you have to then contact the various vendors and arrange to get permanent licenses which can be time consuming and difficult with some companies,add to that then your dealing with Pace who provide no phone or email contact with a support person from what I've ever seen.
Have you ever had to replace an iLok and utilize ZDT?

I've heard some horror stories and I hope I never need to go through the process.
Additionally there seems to be a much higher failure rate with iLok 2 than version 1 so the entire iLok / Pace ZDT experience does not feel like "I'm in good hands" I like the concept of iLok and I have too many license's & ZDT to drop it but I wish there was a more customer friendly company running the show.

[nk_e]

I'm no fan of iLok, but out of all my protected plugs, it's the easiest to deal with. Everything in one place, no need to hunt through archived emails for SNs, no license files to hunt down, etc.

The point of zero downtime is insurance. You either think insurance is worth it or you don't.

You don't have to contact each plugin provider for a license. From their literature:

IMMEDIATE deposit of 14-day temporary licenses to your iLok.com account
Licenses can be downloaded to a new iLok within minutes of deposit
Why buy ZDT? ZDT provides continuous access to licenses you can't afford to be without!

I've got over a hundred licenses on this thing. Considering the $ investment and the time investment in installation and set up, for $30/yr, $2.50/mo, $0.08/day the peace of mind is worth it to me.

For me it's not simply do you think insurance is worth it or not,it's the insurance carrier you have to use and their terms and policies.


The key phrase you pulled from their site is "14 day temporary licenses"
I think you you have to then contact the various vendors and arrange to get permanent licenses which can be time consuming and difficult with some companies,add to that then your dealing with Pace who provide no phone or email contact with a support person from what I've ever seen.
Have you ever had to replace an iLok and utilize ZDT?

I've heard some horror stories and I hope I never need to go through the process.
Additionally there seems to be a much higher failure rate with iLok 2 than version 1 so the entire iLok / Pace ZDT experience does not feel like "I'm in good hands" I like the concept of iLok and I have too many license's & ZDT to drop it but I wish there was a more customer friendly company running the show.

You make a good point. That IS a key phrase.

So from their site:

Sign up for Zero Downtime™ and use spare iLoks for fast license replacement:
-When a covered iLok breaks or is lost/stolen, log in to iLok.com and submit an RMA.
-We will deposit eligible, time-limited temporary licenses in your ilok.com account.
-Download these to a spare iLok (you're up and running!)
-Send us the broken iLok. We validate the broken iLok, and provide you with permanent replacement licenses in your iLok.com account.
-You can download the replacement licenses to any iLok on your account.
-If the iLok was defective and under warranty, we send you a blank replacement.

Now the part I don't know: What if the problem is not a broken iLok but a stolen or lost one? How do they validate that?

But it seems like they handle getting you the replacement licenses (at least in the case of broken iLoks). Am I missing something?

And no (thank god), I've never had to do it.

[kgdrum]

Yeah I saw on a thread on GS a user had his iLok stolen or lost ,I can't remember which & it sounded like a nightmare!
He was treated like a criminal and had all sorts of problems getting everything back ,authorized and running,if I remember correctly he had a several plugs from companies he could not get in touch with(they might have gone out of business) so he had several licenses that he couldn't get authorized again.
I like the concept of iLok,what I don't like is Pace,their policies and absolutely no way to contact a support person directly by phone or email.
They are a faceless corporate entity and from how it appears to me if there's a major issue it's almost impossible to get it addressed.