: Professionals are warned that lacking a valid license certificate (either physical or PDF) can lead to being removed from job sites during audits. Official Alternatives
| Method | Pros | Cons | |--------|------|------| | | Legal, safe, official | Limited duration (30 days), requires internet | | Siemens Rental Licenses | Monthly payment, full legal rights | Expensive over long term | | Second-hand USB dongles (eBay) | Cheap, offline | May be cloned/stolen, no Siemens support | | EKB Install 2015/2018 | Newer software support | More false positives, less tested for WinCC classic | | PLC simulator only (PLCSIM) | No license required | Cannot test HMI or communication | simatic ekb install 2012 download install
: Licenses generated through this method are not "valid" in an official capacity. If a system fails or requires official support, Siemens will not provide assistance for software activated this way. : Professionals are warned that lacking a valid
If you need to install or manage licenses for SIMATIC software (e.g., STEP 7, WinCC, TIA Portal), follow these legal steps: If you need to install or manage licenses