Adobe InDesign Server Licensing Updates

This article is for Adobe Exchange developers and partners creating solutions using InDesign Server. We’ll explain recent changes on how InDesign Server licenses are installed and managed going forward and how to get a Development version.

If you are new to InDesign Server, please review the product pages for further information as this post is only relevant to developers actively using InDesign Server.

— Mike Zahorik, Senior Business Development Manager for InDesign

Overview

Adobe added InDesign Server to the Value Incentive Plan (VIP) licensing program for Creative Cloud Enterprise (CCE) on March 16, 2020.

Previously, Adobe used serial numbers to activate licenses. Serial number activation is being phased out this year as we saw happen with Creative Cloud desktop products several years ago.

Licenses purchased through the VIP program will have a license term applied to the installation package at the time of purchase based on the length of the agreement. The license will be managed by the designated Administrator for the customer’s CCE Admin Console.

Since Adobe’s developer partners often resell and handle support for customers using InDesign Server, this post will outline the changes.

Notable Changes

• The new license activation method requires installing the new SKUs. The product is functionally the same as the old serial number based SKUs after successful installation, but Adobe will not be issuing any more updates to the serial number or watermark-based versions of the SKUs.
• There will be a dot release created in July 2020, version 15.1. This will require access to the new license model. This dot release will include support for running InDesign Server on macOS 10.15 (Catalina).
• Adobe recommends partners switch to the new SKUs soon to receive updates and become familiar with the new installation experience

Developer Survey

Adobe is exploring the the development of InDesign Services. Adobe has created a survey to better understand how you use InDesign Server today so that we can support and enhance your current workflows on a Cloud Services platform and improve the current product. Click here to access the InDesign Partner Survey.

Adobe has also created a customer survey you can access here. While we will be reaching out to customers directly, feel free to forward this survey link to your customers. They may complete the survey anonymously if they prefer.

Partner Access to InDesign Server

Partners can request a Development version to be added to their Creative Cloud accounts by emailing the CC Exchange Help Desk at ccxchng@adobe.com. The Development version will not apply a watermark.

In order to be granted access to the Development version. We ask that you first complete the survey about the solutions you have developed and other related information.

Installing InDesign Server from the CCE Program

Customers purchasing InDesign Server through VIP or Enterprise Term License Agreement (ETLA) will deploy the product from the Admin Console. The console can create a package to be installed on supported operating systems.

Adobe Exchange Partners that have been granted CC applications for development purposes should already have access to the Admin Console.

1. Instructions for creating InDesign Server Installation Packages can be found here.
2. The installation process must use the Feature Restricted License (FRL) option. A Named User option will be available on screen but will not work. InDesign Server is a shared resource and is associated with the licensing company rather than an individual.
3. The CCE Admin Console will receive warning messages starting 30 days prior to the date of license renewal. There is a grace period if the license expires before renewal but will stop working after 7 days.
4. If you are managing an InDesign Server solution on behalf of your customer, work with their CCE Admin and ask them to send you the installation package.

Running InDesign Server in Virtualized Environments

Adobe has permitted InDesign Server to be installed on virtualized environments like AWS, Azure, etc. A license is required for each virtual server or machine instance and has the same rights and restrictions as if it were run on-premise. The license model required is based on the audience interacting with the solution (internal vs external, described later in this blog), not where it is installed

Running InDesign Server on virtualized platforms should work but Adobe performs minimal testing for these platforms. The software installs and runs correctly but Adobe hasn’t tested scenarios like frequently restarting a virtual instance or scaling across multiple virtual servers. If you run your solution in these environments, please test them and provide feedback by emailing sharewithids@adobe.com.

If problems occur with installing and running InDesign Server packages in virtualized environments, please ask your customer to contact Adobe to request a serial number and revert back to those corresponding builds. Alternatively, they can email sharewithids@adobe.com

Reselling InDesign Server

For partners that have been reselling InDesign Server, you will now need to sell your customers a CCE license, available in the VIP program. InDesign Server will be removed from FLP price list on Aug 31, 2020. Customers renewing a license will need to purchase the equivalent VIP SKU and quantities.

You must enroll in the Adobe Partner Connection Reseller Program and Retail Program to resell InDesign Server. There is no cost to join and the enrollment process does not take long. Enroll at the Certified level here. Note: Adobe has several partner programs and they all require a unique Adobe ID. The same ID cannot be used for multiple programs.

VIP/CCE SKUs are functionally the same as FLP SKUs, only the activation method has changed. Scripts, plugins etc. should work just as they did with the serialized version.

Renewals and License Management

At time of renewal, a customer must purchase the new VIP SKU but can remain on an older version if they are not ready to upgrade. By purchasing the VIP SKU, they will have access to updates issued during their license term.

FLP licenses and all older versions are not managed through the Admin Console and will require serial numbers.

Customers that are transitioning from an existing version to a new version may continue to run the old version for up to 90 days while they install and test the new version.

• Customers are only permitted to run production on one of the servers unless they have purchased licenses for multiple servers.
• Customers must remove the serialized version once they have successfully upgraded to the new VIP/CCE version

A customer may have multiple CCE accounts. Most customers will prefer to add to their existing CCE account but that purchase must be conducted through the reseller who originally sold them their VIP/CCE agreement. It is possible for solutions partner to sell them a second CCE account if they want that partner to manage or support their solution.

Licensing Model Recap

InDesign Server continues to be sold on a per server basis, not per user. There are no limits to the number of users that can access the product but there are different license models based on whether the users are internal or external to the licensing company.

There are no changes to the license models and pricing. There are three primary versions:

• Limited. For use with automated solutions that are made accessible within a company’s internal network only, limited to employees of Licensee. Limited can be installed on virtualized cloud platforms as long as the audience is internal.
• Premium. For use with automated publishing solutions made accessible to customers or users other than the Licensee’s employees via the Internet in addition to rights to use corporate wide within an intranet. There is no limit on the number of users for this license.
• Development. For development, testing or staging InDesign Server solutions, not for Production use. Produces same output as a Production license with no watermark.

Further information regarding license models and pricing can be found on the product page.

Adobe is not offering a watermark version to developers any longer. Exchange partners can request a Development license through the program.

Adobe has discontinued the 90 day trial version going forward. Customers can request a trial by contacting their Adobe account manager or can write to sharewithids@adobe.com.

Developer Support Plan information

Adobe strongly recommends partners working with InDesign Server purchase one of the Developer Support plans.

Developer support was previously part of the Technology Partner Program. It is now an optional component but recommended for InDesign Server developers who have questions about license installation, APIs and bugs. To learn more about the support plans visit this link.

If you would like to purchase any of the support plans visit the links below:

• Three cases for US$ 750
• Seven cases for US$ 1,600

Customers are entitled to installation support only. If they are developing their own solution and need developer support, the options described above are available.

Summary

Developers using InDesign Server should do the following:

• Let your customers know about these changes. If they are interested, forward them this InDesign Server customer survey.
• Complete the InDesign Server Partner Survey
• Developers resell InDesign Server or that create commercial solutions that require end clients to purchase their own license can request a complimentary Development copy of InDesign Server so you can test and install the new version of yourself. Please email CC Exchange Help Desk at ccxchng@adobe.com to do so.

Further questions can be sent to me, mzahorik@adobe.com or more generally, sharewithids@adobe.com

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