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 microcontroller 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 features of the mbed.org site. This is primarily the compiler tools for the type or types of mbed microcontroller board you own.

How do they work?¶

To create an account on the mbed website, you need a valid mbed license key.

So, where do you get one of these from? Well, every new mbed board is shipped with a unique license key.

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 sign up and register your license, you simply click on the MBED.HTM file that appears on the mbed when you plug it in, and that takes you to the signup page with the license key already filled in :)

Once you've entered your account details, your account will be setup and ready to go.

Note that this does *not* mean is that the account you create 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 create an account and 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
• One licence is included on each board, and can be used to create one account

FAQ's¶

Q. I'm working in a group or university lab where we share boards; can I get more licences?

A. We'd like to support this where we can. Take a look at the Education page for more details.