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Changed Web Servers Need To Install A New License Key

Changed Web Servers Need To Install A New License Key — APG vNext Guide

Changed Web Servers Need To Install A New License Key — a configuration and setup topic from the APG vNext support community.

Key Configuration Points

  • IIS App Pool: .NET 4.0 Integrated Pipeline mode is required.
  • Connection String: Verify SQL Server name, database, and credentials in web.config.
  • File Permissions: App pool identity needs read/write on the upfiles folder.
  • URL Rewriting: Install IIS URL Rewrite 2.0 module for clean SEO-friendly URLs.
  • Full-Text Search: Enable SQL Server Full-Text Indexing for forum search.

More Help

Moving APG vNext to a New Server - License Key Update

APG vNext commercial licences are tied to the server hostname (or optionally IP). When you move to a new server you must update the licence key or request a server-transfer authorisation from support. Without this, APG vNext will display a licence validation error after the move.

Steps for Server Migration

  1. Contact support with your current licence key and the new server hostname before migrating
  2. Support issues a transfer code valid for 48 hours
  3. Complete the server migration and deploy APG vNext on the new server
  4. Update web.config with the new licence key
  5. Recycle the IIS app pool to reload the licence
<add key="APG.LicenseKey" value="NEW-SERVER-LICENSE-KEY" />

Temporary Grace Period

APG vNext allows a 7-day grace period after detecting a new hostname. During this time the forum operates normally while you complete the key update process. After 7 days without a valid key, the forum enters read-only mode.

Testing Licence Validity

-- Check licence status via admin panel:
Admin Panel -> System -> Licence -> Status
-- Should show: Valid | Expires: [date] | Server: [hostname]

Related Resources

Re-Activating an APG vNext License After Changing Servers

APG vNext licenses are validated against the domain name configured in Admin Panel → Settings → General → Site URL. When you move to a new server but keep the same domain, no new license key is needed — re-enter the existing key in Admin Panel → Settings → License and it will activate against the same domain. If you are also changing domains (e.g., from a staging subdomain to a production domain), contact APG support to update the domain associated with your license key before re-entering it.

Moving License to a New Server (Same Domain)

  1. Deploy APG vNext on the new server with the same web.config settings
  2. In Admin Panel → Settings → License, re-enter your existing license key
  3. APG vNext validates the key against your domain — activation completes in seconds
  4. Verify the License Status shows "Active" with the correct edition and expiry date

Checking Your Current License Key

-- Retrieve license key from the database (if you've lost the email):
SELECT SettingKey, SettingValue, ModifiedDate
FROM   apg_Settings
WHERE  SettingKey IN ('LicenseKey','LicenseStatus','LicensedDomain','LicenseExpiry');

License Validation Troubleshooting

If license validation fails after a server move, the most common causes are:

  • The Site URL in Admin Panel doesn't exactly match the domain registered with your license (e.g., "www." prefix mismatch)
  • The new server cannot make outbound HTTPS requests to the APG vNext license server (firewall rule)
  • The license has expired — annual maintenance renewal is required for continued support and upgrades
<!-- Test outbound HTTPS from the new server (PowerShell): -->
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://license.aspplayground.net/validate" -UseBasicParsing
<!-- Expected: HTTP 200. If blocked, open firewall port 443 outbound -->

Offline License Activation

For servers in air-gapped environments that cannot make outbound internet connections, APG vNext supports offline license activation. Generate an activation request file in Admin Panel → Settings → License → Offline Activation, send the file to APG support, and apply the returned activation response file. Offline activations are valid for 12 months before requiring renewal.

Documenting Your License Key for Future Server Moves

License key management is often overlooked during routine forum administration but becomes critical during server migrations or disaster recovery scenarios. Create a secure internal document that records your APG vNext license key, the registered email address, the license expiry date (for annual plans), and the domains associated with the license. Store this document in your team's password manager or secure document store, not in the APG vNext admin panel alone — if the server becomes inaccessible due to hardware failure, you need this information to set up on a replacement server without delay. Include license re-activation as a specific step in your disaster recovery runbook so that forum restoration after a catastrophic event can proceed smoothly without hunting for license details under pressure.

Testing License Validation After Server Move

After re-activating your license on the new server, test that all licensed features are functional before pointing DNS to the new server. Licensed features in APG vNext that require an active license include: the full member quota (free tier is capped at fewer members), advanced moderation tools, branded email templates, and API access. Run through a quick post-migration checklist that includes verifying one of each feature type, and check Admin Panel → Settings → License to confirm the license shows as active with the correct expiry date. If any feature appears locked despite a successful license activation, a cache clear and application pool recycle usually resolves it.

Related Resources

Looking for more help? Browse the support forum or check the Knowledge Base.