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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.
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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)
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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.
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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 !!!
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# 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
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Honored Contributor
