This page describes mbed license keys, what they do, and how they work.

What are mbed licence keys?¶

The mbed.org website and compiler tools are provided for users of mbed enabled boards.

As an mbed user, you get your own mbed account (just like an email account), and this lets you do things like post in the forums, add to the wiki, comment on pages, and set up a profile etc. Your account also stores your personal mbed license keys.

Your mbed license keys give you access to the compiler tools for the type or types of mbed microcontroller board you own.

How do they work?¶

When you create an account using an mbed micrcontroller, you will automatically get a license key for that type of microcontroller. If you have registered an account without using a microcontroller, you will need to add a license before you will be able to use the online compiler.

So, where do you get one of these from? Well, every new mbed board ships with an key that enables you to add a license.

Whilst we could have put the license key on a card in the box or a label on the side and make you enter it by hand, we wanted to eliminate all the pain we could. So we've actually put the license key on the mbed itself!

To add a license, you simply click on the MBED.HTM file that appears on the mbed disk when you plug in your board. If you already have an account you can add the license to it, if you do not have an account, you can create one and get a license at the same time.

Note that this does *not* mean is that your account or license is in any way 'locked' to that particular board. Once you've signed up, you can then use any board of the same type with that account, and conversely the board can be used by anyone else who already has a license for that board type.

Summary:

• A licence is required to use the mbed tools
• Once you have an account, you can use any board of the same type
• You can share your board with another mbed user