Kerio Control Offline License File
The vendor server generates a license file specifically cryptographically signed for that Hardware ID. This file contains:
A Kerio Control offline license file is a locally stored license token (typically a .lic or XML file) used to activate or renew Kerio Control when the appliance cannot reach the license server online. It contains licensing data such as product edition, expiry date, and licensed features. Kerio Control Offline License File
Understanding the specific use cases for the offline method will save you hours of troubleshooting failed activations. The vendor server generates a license file specifically
Offline licensing eliminates network timeouts, but introduces new failure vectors. Understanding the specific use cases for the offline
| Failure Symptom | Root Cause | Fix |
|----------------|------------|-----|
| “Invalid Hardware ID” | You changed a disk, NIC, or motherboard. Offline licenses are hardware-locked. | Re-run the .req export and generate a new .lic file. You may need to request a license re-host from support. |
| “License File Corrupted” | The .lic was opened/modified in a text editor (even viewing can break line endings). | Regenerate the file. Never edit a .lic manually. |
| “Time Mismatch” | The firewall’s system clock differs from GFI’s signing server by >5 minutes (common in NTP-less air gaps). | Manually set the correct date/time via CLI or local console before applying license. |
| “License Revoked” | GFI voided the license (e.g., chargeback). Since no online check occurs, the firewall continues working until reboot or manual check. | You must manually re-apply a new .lic. Offline systems do not auto-revoke. |
The cornerstone of the offline license is the Hardware ID. Kerio Control generates a unique fingerprint based on the appliance's hardware components (MAC address, UUID, disk identifier).
The process is simple, but things go wrong. Here is how to fix the top 3 errors.