The BlackBag Technologies (BBT) License Server application allows labs with multiple forensic analysis machines to authorize BlackLight over a Local Area Network (LAN). Multiple BlackLight dongles (one for each analysis machine) are no longer needed once the BBT License Server is in place.
For new purchases, the network license file is installed onto a BlackLight USB dongle before it is shipped. For purchases prior to 2018 or renewals, refer to the software activation email to activate and install the network license file onto the BlackLight USB dongle.
Insert the BlackLight network license dongle in a designated machine and install the BBT License Server app. This can be installed on Windows or macOS. The BBT License Server app can be found within the BlackLight installer that can be downloaded from the Software Downloads page here https://www.blackbagtech.com/resources/software-downloads.html.
Launching the BBT License Server app
Select the BBT License Server icon to launch the BBT License Server application Graphical User Interface (GUI).
The application launches and displays all current product licenses contained on the network license dongle. The IP address and default License Server port, 6672, is displayed at the bottom of the window.
To change the default License Server port, create a text file named BBT License Server Settings.txt and save it in the same folder as the BBT License Server application. Type the line “Port = x” (without quotes), where x is the desired port number.
Configuring a BlackLight analysis workstation client
To configure a BlackLight forensic analysis workstation client, connect the client to the same network segment as the machine running the BBT License Server. Create a text file to tell BlackLight to look for the License Server if a local USB dongle is not present, as follows:
1 - Create the following file in the current examiner’s home directory:
- Mac OS X - /user/Library/Application Support/BlackBagTech/BlackLight/Network Dongle.txt
- Windows 7 and newer - \user\AppData\Roaming\BlackBagTech\BlackLight\Network Dongle.txt
2 - Add a line with the server IP address and port (located at the bottom of the License Server window) in the following format:
Server = 172.17.2.20:6672
In the example above, if a BlackLight dongle is not attached to the local machine, BlackLight looks for the License Server at 172.17.2.20 over port 6672.
Note: For the BlackBagTech folder to exist, BlackLight needs to be launched at least one time on the client workstation. Also, the file name Network Dongle.txt is case-sensitive.
Authorizing a BlackLight license
When a networked forensic analysis workstation client authorizes BlackLight via the License Server, the License Server subtracts one license from the total number of available licenses on the License Server dongle.
When all available BlackLight License Server licenses are in use, additional instances of BlackLight fail to initialize. Additional licenses must be purchased and installed on the network license dongle, or an examiner must release the license on a currently-authorized workstation by quitting the BlackLight application or by shutting down the currently-authorized workstation system.
Once a license becomes available, either through purchase or when a workstation client releases an authorization, another forensic analysis workstation can successfully initialize and run BlackLight.