November 20, 2018 - Wibu-Systems, a vendor in secure software license management, has expanded its “B” family of USB dongles with the introduction of the CmStick/BMI, a hardware secure element with pSLC (pseudo-single-level-cell) flash memory. The device will be officially launched at SPS IPC Drives in Nuremberg, Germany, November 27-29, 2018.
CmStick/BMI joins the CmStick/B and BMC variants without flash memory and with MLC (multi-level-cell flash memory). All three units share common features: a metal casing, removeable from the target device when the license has to be operated from a different endpoint, design with the USB connector fully integrated in the body of the unit using SiP technology, and completely customizable to support all branding needs. The three devices meet commercial and OEM grade technical requirements. SLC flash memory for industrial-grade dongles is still available on board the CmStick/MI and all Wibu-Systems CmCards.
When dongles come with flash memory on board, the memory itself can also be partitioned in up to four areas to enable additional uses: CmPublic with full read and write rights; CmSecure where data can only be accessed in blocks via a CodeMeter API; CmPrivate, a password protected and encrypted partition; and CmCdRom, which the host system recognizes as a write-once CD drive.
At SPS IPC Drives, Wibu-Systems will also show several automation-specific applications typically realized with dongles. In the secure password management solution for the Siemens TIA Portal, CmDongles are used as secure elements for password storage in combination with CodeMeter License Central, the cloud and database-derived solution for license lifecycle management, CodeMeter WebDepot, the user portal for license activation, CodeMeter Manager, the tool for password and entitlement management, and CodeMeter Password Provider, the interface module between CodeMeter technology and the TIA Portal.