Functioning of the ibaQDR system is generally an essential factor in production, without which quality analysis and documentation for a product or process is extremely restricted, if not impossible. Therefore, the risk factors that can lead to an interruption in acquisition need to be minimized.

As is normal with an ibaPDA system, there are regular checks for a valid license. When using USB dongles, the dongle is periodically scanned. If no dongle is installed, or the required license is missing from the dongle, data acquisition is stopped or the corresponding function is terminated.

This is different for ibaQDR. If ibaQDR storage is in progress and the dongle is damaged or removed, or the soft license is suddenly invalid or not available, the system continues to run in emergency mode. This emergency mode is maintained for four days unless acquisition or storage is stopped in another way.

The period of four days gives users the opportunity to temporarily remove a dongle during operation, e.g. to install a license upgrade. If a dongle is damaged or lost, it should be sufficient time to either obtain a replacement dongle from iba AG Support or to get to the next scheduled production stoppage.

When using soft licenses, a new soft license can be installed during operation.

The license and dongle status can be monitored in various ways:

• Information on SNMP server (...PDA\General\Licensing\Is valid and … Time limit objects)

• Information on OPC UA server (PDA\Licensing\Is valid and … Time limit tags)

• Virtual signal with DongleInfo function (Info type 0 and/or 3)For further information see DongleInfo

In addition, a missing dongle/license is indicated in the display on the ibaPDA client:

• Entry in event log

• Conspicuous message on all connected clients daily at approx. 09:30 warning that the license is missing.