| Application | PLAXIS 2D PLAXIS 3D |
| Version | PLAXIS 2D PLAXIS 3D |
| Date created | 23 February 2015 |
| Date modified | 05 October 2021 |
All dongle/hardware lock (HWL) based versions of PLAXIS 2D/3D are treated as "V8i SELECTseries 10" according to Bentley's Support Policy. This means that Bentley will discontinue support for hardware lock based versions of PLAXIS after December 31, 2021. This includes PLAXIS 2D 2019 and older, and PLAXIS 3D 2018 and older.
To see the benefits of the latest versions and how to get the latest version, please see PLAXIS CONNECT Edition: upgrade from Hardware lock to Flexible licensing
When you insert the Codemeter dongle (CmStick), it will look like a USB-Stick: it has a drive letter and it is visible in the Windows explorer.
In the attached document you can find instructions for Switching from MSD to HID
The biggest advantage of the HID interface vs. the MSD interface is that CmSticks no longer appear as memory sticks or thumb drives. In some network environments detachable memory devices are forbidden. Now that a Codemeter Dongle can appear as a simple HID device, this concern has been eliminated.