Vector Informatik licensing is the set of terms under which Vector Informatik GmbH of Stuttgart and its subsidiaries license software tools and embedded software used to develop and test electronic control units and other networked embedded systems, mainly in the automotive industry but also in aerospace, rail, agriculture and medical technology.[4] The tool portfolio includes CANoe and CANalyzer for network simulation, test and analysis, the DaVinci and TA Tool Suite configuration tools, vTESTstudio, VectorCAST and PC-lint Plus.[1]
Three documents carry most of the licensing terms. The End User License Agreement for Standard Software Products (EULA) “applies to all standard Software Products of Vector Informatik GmbH (“Vector”) which are purchased on the basis of a License Contract”. The current text is Version 5.1 of 2026-10-01.[1] Embedded software delivered as source code for control units falls under separate Terms and Conditions for Embedded Software.[6] Free standard support has its own terms.[5] Vector’s subsidiaries publish their own versions of the EULA and of the embedded and hardware terms, while several Vector Informatik GmbH documents, including the support terms, apply to them as well.[2] Catalog proof: EULA applies to all standard Software Products bought under a License Contract; Each Vector subsidiary issues its own EULA; group support terms apply.
The EULA builds every licence from three parts: “The granted Licenses are defined by a combination of license type, license model and, if applicable, license restriction.”[1] The same three attributes appear as columns for each licence in the Vector License Client.[8] A software asset manager therefore needs all three, plus the product edition and maximum version, to read an entitlement correctly. Catalog proof: A licence is a combination of license type, license model and license restriction.
Editions
Vector sells many tools in dedicated editions for different working environments. The EULA distinguishes Desktop Edition, Test Bench Edition and Server Edition products, and each edition has its own set of license types.[1]
| Edition | Intended environment (EULA 1.1) | License types (EULA Annex 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop Edition | Exploratory and interactive work by a real user at a Desktop | Device License, Named-User License; Floating License for DaVinci, TA Tool Suite, vTESTstudio and VectorCAST |
| Test Bench Edition | A test bench or Production Station | Test Bench License |
| Server Edition | An environment run by an Automation Server (CI pipelines) | CI Team, CI Agent, CI Volume |
For CANoe, Vector introduced editions in 2023 alongside the older variants (feature scopes) and options (bus systems and protocols).[4] CANalyzer is sold in Desktop and Test Bench Editions with Expert and Professional variants. The details are in CANoe and CANalyzer editions licensing. PC-lint Plus is licensed differently, as a Team Enterprise License on an annual subscription covering a whole development team.[9] Catalog proof: CANoe editions, variants and options are licensed separately; PC-lint Plus sold as an annual Team Enterprise License.
Metrics
The EULA defines a License as “the non-exclusive right to use one (1) specified Product at the same time”, unless the license type allows several simultaneous instances.[1] The license types then set the counting unit:
| Metric | Unit counted | Key limits |
|---|---|---|
| Device License | One Device: a physical Desktop, a Vector interface such as the VN1630, or a Vector dongle | One Physical Desktop at a time; no remote use or Virtual Desktop; no build servers; no dongle server |
| Named-User License | One natural person | One Physical or Virtual Desktop at a time; remote use by that person allowed |
| Test Bench License | One test bench or Production Station | One Product at a time; not a developer workstation |
| CI Team License | Committers on the development teams that benefit | Unlimited instances; rescaled every 6 months |
| CI Agent License | Agents, each running one instance at a time | Concurrency cap |
| CI Volume License | Runtime, data processed or executions | Unused volume expires |
| Floating License | Agents, each serving one Desktop | Site, region or global scope |
| PC-lint Plus Developer | Every Developer on a Project Team | Whole team must be licensed |
| Licensed Control Unit | Control units within the licence validity (embedded software) | Set in the Individual Contract |
Each license type is described with its counting rules in Vector Informatik EULA license types and restrictions.
Counting / floors
The EULA has no minimum quantities. Several rules still shape the count:
- Assignment and re-assignment. Device, Named-User and Test Bench licences must be assigned before use. A licence may be re-assigned “no more than four times per year”, except after hardware failure, loss or replacement, the end of a user’s employment, or to cover a failed Device temporarily.[1] Catalog proof: Re-Assignment at most four times per year.
- Committer rescaling. A CI Team License is priced on the number of committers, including committers who never touch the Vector tool and supplier developers who benefit from it, and must be rescaled every six months when teams grow.[1] Catalog proof: CI Team License rescaled every six months to the committer count; CI Team committers include people without direct access and supplier developers.
- Activation is not entitlement. Activation “does not grant any rights to use the licensed Product; it is merely a prerequisite”.[1] A licence that activates in a virtual machine or on a server can still be used outside its license type. Catalog proof: Activation is a prerequisite, not a grant of rights.
- Versions. A perpetual licence “relates to a specific version”. Previous versions may be used, but only one version at a time.[1] The License Client shows a Maximum Version for each licence.[8] Catalog proof: Perpetual licences are version-specific; Previous versions allowed one at a time, as a voluntary service.
Virtualization & partitioning
Vector does not count cores or processors. Virtualization rights depend on the license type. A Device-licensed product “may never be used on a Virtual Desktop”, and the Device itself may not be virtualized, for example through a dongle server.[1] Named-User and Floating licences allow use on a Virtual Desktop and through remote connections by the licensed person. A Test Bench licence may run in one virtual machine at the bench. Desktop licences of all kinds exclude compile servers and build servers, which need Server Edition licences.[1] On Windows Server, CANoe and CANalyzer are supported only in the Test Bench Edition and only as a single-user computer.[11] Catalog proof: Device License: no remote connection and no Virtual Desktop; Device License: no virtualization of the Device or dongle server; Desktop licences may not be used on compile or build servers; Windows Server only for the Test Bench Edition, as a single-user computer.
Cloud / BYOL
Vector’s standard tools are installed software, not hosted services. A License Server may be “on-premise or in the cloud”.[1] Server Edition licences may be used “on different servers, on different computing resources, in the cloud and on Desktops”, so cloud CI runners are covered by CI Team, CI Agent or CI Volume licences rather than by Desktop licences.[1] Separate hosting terms exist for PREEvision and vCharM hosting services; they were not reviewed for this article.[2]
Programs
- Perpetual License with maintenance contract. Maintenance means the licensing and delivery of new versions during the Maintenance Period; “maintenance services do not include support services”. It can be concluded only for the current version, is mandatory for some products, runs one year by default and is paid in advance.[1] Catalog proof: Maintenance only for the current version, one year, paid in advance.
- Subscription License. A temporary right to use the current or a previous version, one year by default. It extends by a year only if the contract has a rolling-renewal clause and neither party gives six weeks’ notice.[1] Catalog proof: Subscription renews only under a rolling-renewal clause, six weeks notice.
- Enterprise License Agreement. Under an ELA (company licence) the customer’s administrator creates activation keys in the Vector Portal. Under a EULA (user) licence, Vector provides the key.[3]
- License restrictions. Evaluation, Academic, Training, Development Reference, Complimentary Replacement and Archive Perpetual licences narrow the permitted use.[1]
- Vector Standard Support. Free, covering versions released in the last five years. Updates, patches and bug fixes are excluded and follow the licence contracts.[5]
Licence management
Vector enforces licences technically. The EULA allows Vector to “use technical measures” and to require regular re-activation, which is free of charge.[1] The Vector License Client manages local licences (Device and Named User, bound to a computer, a Keyman dongle, a Vector network interface or, for Named User, a virtual machine) and network licences on a License Server (Named User, CI Agent Count and CI Team), which users may borrow.[3] The Keyman is “a small USB-Dongle that manages licenses and activation of the Vector software tools”.[10] See Vector License Client: activation and network licences. Catalog proof: Local licences (Device, Named User) versus network licences (Named User, CI Agent Count, CI Team); The Keyman dongle is a license carrier for Vector tools.
Audits and compliance
The customer must ensure the licence terms are observed and that licence protection is not circumvented. Vector may audit “upon prior notice of at least thirty (30) days”, itself or through an independent auditor, on site or remotely. If deviations are found they must be corrected, “e.g. by additional licensing”, and the customer then bears the audit costs.[1] Licences are for the customer’s own purposes only. Contractors may use them only as “Agents of the Customer” bound by confidentiality, and the customer is responsible for them.[1] Vector may also check Assignment data. Catalog proof: Audit on 30 days notice; customer pays if deviations are found; No third-party use except Agents of the Customer. For the general discipline see software license audit.
Governing law
The Vector Informatik GmbH EULA is governed by German law without the CISG, and the German version prevails over translations.[1] Subsidiary versions can differ: the Vector GB Limited EULA, for example, is governed by English law.[7] Unless the License Contract says otherwise, Vector may adjust prices at its reasonable discretion in line with its costs.[1] Catalog proof: German law and Vector's seat as venue (Vector Informatik GmbH EULA); English law for licences from Vector GB Limited; Vector may adjust prices in line with cost changes.
Out of scope
- Prices and part numbers for software. Vector publishes no price list; offers are individual.
- Signed License Contracts and Enterprise License Agreements, which are not public and prevail over the EULA.
- Hardware terms (VN interfaces, Keyman), training terms and the PREEvision and vCharM hosting terms.
- Vector Support knowledge base articles, which require a customer login and were not used as sources.
- Litigation: no court case on Vector software licensing with a primary court record was found.