I am surprised with the price of Quartus suscription edition. The price of one year license is $3000 (well, only 2995) (http://www.buyaltera.com/scripts/partsearch.dll?detail&name=544-1247-nd). By contrast, an arria v starter kit (https://www.altera.com/products/boards_and_kits/dev-kits/altera/kit-arria-v-starter.html), which includes one year license, costs $850 . So one should buy an Arria V kit every year rather than renewing the Quartus license? I have just bought one Arria V starter kit. So am I supposed to throw it to the bin after one year, and buy a new kit if I want to continue using it, because renewing the license is more expensive?

I can't comment on Altera's marketing choices, but if you order the kit and expect to use Quartus for other FPGAs, such as a Stratix, check first that the license with the kit is a full license and not one that can only target Arria's. The license is only used for renewal. After one year you don't have to throw your kit away, you can still use the Quartus version that you installed. The only thing you won't be able to do any more is to upgrade Quartus to a version that came out after your license expired. Edit: please note that this rule only applies to Quartus itself. For the licensed IPs, some of them require an updated license if you want to compile them in your design.

I think (but check with FAE) Subscription license allow using Quartus after expiration (i think for 10 years), anyway you can't use new versions that release after your license expire. Arria V starter kit after 1 year expire and you can't use it anymore If you want to update every year kit are fine, but if you want to update every 4 year subscription is better.

--- Quote Start --- I think (but check with FAE) Subscription license allow using Quartus after expiration (i think for 10 years), anyway you can't use new versions that release after your license expire. Arria V starter kit after 1 year expire and you can't use it anymore If you want to update every year kit are fine, but if you want to update every 4 year subscription is better. --- Quote End --- Thanks for the info sharing.

--- Quote Start --- I can't comment on Altera's marketing choices, but if you order the kit and expect to use Quartus for other FPGAs, such as a Stratix, check first that the license with the kit is a full license and not one that can only target Arria's. The license is only used for renewal. After one year you don't have to throw your kit away, you can still use the Quartus version that you installed. The only thing you won't be able to do any more is to upgrade Quartus to a version that came out after your license expired. Edit: please note that this rule only applies to Quartus itself. For the licensed IPs, some of them require an updated license if you want to compile them in your design. --- Quote End --- I am concerted about continued usage of the kit after one year. And it looks like this is the case. I do not intent to use it for Stratix. The manual of the kit says (page 13) (https://www.altera.com/content/dam/altera-www/global/en_us/pdfs/literature/ug/ug_avgx_starter_dev_kit.pdf) --- Quote Start --- Activating Your License Purchasing this kit entitles you to a oneyear license for the Development Kit Edition (DKE) of the Quartus II software. After the year, your DKE license will no longer be valid and you will not be permitted to use this version of the Quartus II software. To continue using the Quartus II software, you should download the free Quartus II Web Edition or purchase a subscription to Quartus II software. --- Quote End --- My concern is, since the free version of Quartus II (web edition) does not work with an Arria V device, does this mean that after one year I can no longer use the kit? You say no, but the activation manual says yes. In addition, I have just downloaded the license file with the serial number from the kit. And it looks like it expires in 6 months !!! --- Quote Start --- # Altera Corporation Software and/or Intellectual Property License File# Issued 02 September 2015# Upgrade to these products will no longer be available after the Maintenance Expiration# date unless licenses are renewed.# Fixed Node License# Primary Machine Name-windev# Primary Machine ID-NIC ID XXXXXXXXXXXX# Companion ID-N/A# Companion ID 2-N/A# Product License Summary:# Quartus II Development Kit Edition, 1 Seat(s)# - Maintenance Expiration of 2016.09# - License Expires 31-Mar-2016# ################################################################################ FEATURE START# The following is a license file for the Altera Design Security feature for the Quartus# II Software.# Number of seat licenses is 1# License Expires 31-Mar-2016 FEATURE quartus_nonvolatile_encryption alterad 2016.09 31-mar-2016 uncounted XXXXXXXXXXXX HOSTID=XXXXXXXXXXXX TS_OK SIGN="XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX"# FEATURE END# ################################################################################ FEATURE START# The following is a license file for the Altera Quartus II Development Kit Edition# Number of seat licenses is 1# License Expires 31-Mar-2016 FEATURE maxplus2 alterad 2016.09 31-mar-2016 uncounted XXXXXXXXXXXX HOSTID=XXXXXXXXXXXX SIGN="XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX" FEATURE quartus alterad 2016.09 31-mar-2016 uncounted XXXXXXXXXXXX HOSTID=XXXXXXXXXXXX TS_OK SIGN="XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX"# FEATURE END# ################################################################################ End of Altera Corporation Software and/or Intellectual Property License File. Issued 09/02/2015 --- Quote End ---

Buy enough devices - and you'll get cheap/free quartus licences!

Licensing question | Altera Community

13 Replies

Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
10 years ago
I can't comment on Altera's marketing choices, but if you order the kit and expect to use Quartus for other FPGAs, such as a Stratix, check first that the license with the kit is a full license and not one that can only target Arria's.
The license is only used for renewal. After one year you don't have to throw your kit away, you can still use the Quartus version that you installed. The only thing you won't be able to do any more is to upgrade Quartus to a version that came out after your license expired.

Edit: please note that this rule only applies to Quartus itself. For the licensed IPs, some of them require an updated license if you want to compile them in your design.
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
10 years ago
I think (but check with FAE)

Subscription license allow using Quartus after expiration (i think for 10 years), anyway you can't use new versions that release after your license expire.
Arria V starter kit after 1 year expire and you can't use it anymore

If you want to update every year kit are fine, but if you want to update every 4 year subscription is better.
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
10 years ago
--- Quote Start ---
I think (but check with FAE)

Subscription license allow using Quartus after expiration (i think for 10 years), anyway you can't use new versions that release after your license expire.
Arria V starter kit after 1 year expire and you can't use it anymore

If you want to update every year kit are fine, but if you want to update every 4 year subscription is better.
--- Quote End ---

Thanks for the info sharing.
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
10 years ago
--- Quote Start ---
I can't comment on Altera's marketing choices, but if you order the kit and expect to use Quartus for other FPGAs, such as a Stratix, check first that the license with the kit is a full license and not one that can only target Arria's.
The license is only used for renewal. After one year you don't have to throw your kit away, you can still use the Quartus version that you installed. The only thing you won't be able to do any more is to upgrade Quartus to a version that came out after your license expired.

Edit: please note that this rule only applies to Quartus itself. For the licensed IPs, some of them require an updated license if you want to compile them in your design.
--- Quote End ---

I am concerted about continued usage of the kit after one year. And it looks like this is the case. I do not intent to use it for Stratix.

The manual of the kit says (page 13) (https://www.altera.com/content/dam/altera-www/global/en_us/pdfs/literature/ug/ug_avgx_starter_dev_kit.pdf)

--- Quote Start ---

Activating Your License

Purchasing this kit entitles you to a oneyear license for the Development Kit Edition (DKE) of the Quartus II software.

After the year, your DKE license will no longer be valid and you will not be permitted to use this version of the Quartus II software. To continue using the Quartus II software, you should download the free Quartus II Web Edition or purchase a subscription to Quartus II software.
--- Quote End ---

My concern is, since the free version of Quartus II (web edition) does not work with an Arria V device, does this mean that after one year I can no longer use the kit? You say no, but the activation manual says yes.

In addition, I have just downloaded the license file with the serial number from the kit. And it looks like it expires in 6 months !!!

--- Quote Start ---
# Altera Corporation Software and/or Intellectual Property License File# Issued 02 September 2015# Upgrade to these products will no longer be available after the Maintenance Expiration# date unless licenses are renewed.# Fixed Node License# Primary Machine Name-windev# Primary Machine ID-NIC ID XXXXXXXXXXXX# Companion ID-N/A# Companion ID 2-N/A# Product License Summary:# Quartus II Development Kit Edition, 1 Seat(s)# - Maintenance Expiration of 2016.09# - License Expires 31-Mar-2016# ################################################################################ FEATURE START# The following is a license file for the Altera Design Security feature for the Quartus# II Software.# Number of seat licenses is 1# License Expires 31-Mar-2016
FEATURE quartus_nonvolatile_encryption alterad 2016.09 31-mar-2016
uncounted XXXXXXXXXXXX HOSTID=XXXXXXXXXXXX TS_OK SIGN="XXXX
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX"# FEATURE END# ################################################################################ FEATURE START# The following is a license file for the Altera Quartus II Development Kit Edition# Number of seat licenses is 1# License Expires 31-Mar-2016
FEATURE maxplus2 alterad 2016.09 31-mar-2016 uncounted XXXXXXXXXXXX
HOSTID=XXXXXXXXXXXX SIGN="XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX"
FEATURE quartus alterad 2016.09 31-mar-2016 uncounted XXXXXXXXXXXX
HOSTID=XXXXXXXXXXXX TS_OK SIGN="XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX"# FEATURE END# ################################################################################ End of Altera Corporation Software and/or Intellectual Property License File. Issued 09/02/2015
--- Quote End ---
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
10 years ago
Buy enough devices - and you'll get cheap/free quartus licences!
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
10 years ago
License Expires 31-Mar-2016
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
10 years ago
No, it does not work after 6 months. I checked by advancing the clock of the computer to a April 2016, and the software starts requesting a license, and without compilation support.
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
10 years ago
Okay I thought it as a subscription edition with the kit, but it looks like it's a specific kit edition of Quartus. Talk to your FAE. They can be helpful and maybe give you an extension on your license.
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
10 years ago
The other think to remember is that the license that comes with the kit is a development kit license - it includes the basic Quartus license. If you get the subscription edition license it includes full licenses for many IP cores as well (e.g. memory PHY's).
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
10 years ago
Hello

Just one more Question about the Quartus II subscription Edition. If I buy the subscription Edition, does it allow me to use the licence with different Quartus II versions, or am I limited to the version I installed?

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Licensing question

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