Machine ID changed on the same hardware!?!

[iq200]

Hi,
I upgraded to a new version of a software from a third party vendor (www.precisiontradingsystems.com) for NT8 last year. I am running the *same* computer but the Ninjatrader sw is spewing out a message saying my machine ID has changed? The vendor is claiming that to need to pay to get the machine id changed. However as I said I am on the same computer. This makes no sense to me. Is this a fault with Ninjatrader generating machine IDs incorrectly?
Can I ask why would I be getting a different machine ID when my core hardware is the same?
Thanks,
iq

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello iq,

The Machine ID is generated using information about your hardware and BIOS. This Machine ID is meant to remain constant unless there has been a change with the system.

Items that can cause the Machine ID to change:

• Changes to hardware (network cards, MAC address, RAM, motherboard, monitors, graphic card, etc)

• Changes / updates to BIOS

• Changes to the Windows Product ID

• Updates / upgrades / changes to the Windows operating system
• Updates / upgrades / changes to Virtualization software

For security purposes, changes to the MachineID will result in vendor licensed scripts not validating in both NinjaTrader 7 and 8.

The MachineID changing in NinjaTrader 8 will also result in any passwords for account connections being removed along with the NinjaTrader License key being removed. All account connections will need to have the username and password re-entered.

This also means that the new MachineID will need to be sent to each 3rd party vendor that has licensed your machine for an addon using the NinjaTrader Vendor Licensing system.


That said, the vendor does have control over the licensing. It would be regrettable if the vendor is charging to change the machine id (and expire the old machine id) as this may happen from time to time. If you would like to work with a member of our business development to persuade the vendor to forgo this charge, please send an email to 'info [at] ninjatraderecosystem [dot] com' (remove the spaces and change [at] to @ an [dot] to a period). In the email let the technician know the name of the vendor and a short description that you would like assistance working with a vendor to change a machine id and forgo the charges to do so.

[iq200]

Hi Chelsea,
Thanks for your help. The developer demanded $35 to reactivate the license using the new machine ID and I ended up paying it on Saturday.
Regards,
iq

[eDanny]

Highway robbery.

[iq200]

Personally I feel it's due the Ninjatrader licensing mechanism. I used to be on Tradestation where all products were either linked to the Customer Number or to their AppStore. Effectively, once you bought a third party product from a vendor, your connection with the vendor was finished.

Ninjatrader licensing is based off so many criteria that can potentially change day to day. If Ninjatrader traders want to buy Ninjatrader third party products, which most users do, then the users end up falling into the trap where they become dependent on vendors demands.

[koganam]

Hi Chelsea,
Thanks for your help. The developer demanded $35 to reactivate the license using the new machine ID and I ended up paying it on Saturday.
Regards,
iq

Extortion. No other word to describe it. Shameful.

[chrinist]

I am having this same exact issue, is Ninja going to get this fixed? This is really annoying=/ I paid $1,100 for NT 8 software that if I change the boot sequence of a different SSD on my computer, my entire machine id changes ..... not cool at all....

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello chrinist,

This is an intentional security aspect of NinjaTrader. If someone steals the files from your computer they will not be able to use the configuration file to connection to your brokerage account or use the 3rd party addons licensed for your computer.

To confirm, you would like to submit a feature request to remove these security precautions and allow files that are stolen to be used on other computers?

[JoeF1953]

I'm having the exact same issue but with one oddity. The first time it happened, a few weeks ago, I got a new machine ID. That is what is registered with a 3d party vendor, and they also want $30 to change it again. Then, it happened again yesterday. The ODD thing is that it reassigned the OLD machine ID, exact same one as before the first crash. So much for "security". Why not just require the user to enter their own unique machine ID? Then it won't be susceptible to change when a network card is changed out, or with Windows system updates, or BIOS updates, etc..? Then the user takes the responsibility of security and it saves them lots of money from having to pay a vendor the change the machine ID several times a year. Or send the user a unique .dll that is good for as long as the license is good? Ninja HAS to find a better way....

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello JoeF1953,

The point is to lock it to hardware and operating system to identify the specific computer. A user would be able to type the same generated string on multiple computers, defeating the purpose, and allowing users to license multiple computers without the permission of the vendor.

I am happy to submit this as a feature request for consideration if you would like.

[JoeF1953]

I understand the point. My point is that no hardware in my PC has changed, and the operating system hasn't changed unless Ninja considers a Windows update a change. Operating systems get updated. BIOS's get updated. Network cards get replaced. It's STILL the same machine. Just because I change the tires on my car doesn't make it a different car. Yes, please submit a request for Ninja to find a way to identify a machine where a simple software update won't cause a new machine ID to be assigned. I'm sure many others will benefit as well since I'm not the only one with this problem. AND if everything you're saying is true, why did it simply reassign my original machine ID as a new machine ID? That makes no sense if security is what Ninja worried about. I had an original machine ID, Ninja wiped out my credentials and issued a new machine ID, then it again wiped out my credentials and assigned a machine ID back to what it was to begin with. Same computer......... Thanks for submitting this Chelsea B. I really do appreciate all you support folks. Its the Ninja software programmers that need to find a fix to this. It really IS a problem, specifically when dealing with 3d party vendors who want to charge a fee every time the machine ID changes. If these vendors didn't charge to change to change machine ID's, then it wouldn't matter at all.....

[JoeF1953]

Chelsea B. For what its worth, it happened again last night. This time it changed the machine ID back to what it was changed to the first time. Thats 3 times in less than 2 months. I did nothing to the PC. Just put my auto strats on the charts and let it run over night. This morning Ninja was shut down. When I opened it up, got the message to re-enter my credentials and live license number etc....
Maybe I should put in a support request instead of letting it be a feature suggestion?? Your thoughts??

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello JoeF1953,

I will submit a feature request on your behalf to remove the security systems with a changing MachineID.

Please note, we receive many requests and cannot reasonably implement all requested features or changes. Interest is tracked internally and if enough interest is tracked, it would be weighed against how feasible it would be to make those changes to consider implementing, so we cannot offer an ETA or promise of fulfillment.

When new features are implemented, they will be listed in the Release Notes page of the Help Guide. The ID number may be different than the internal feature request tracking ID, but the description of the feature will let you know if that feature has been implemented.


For your situation, if the MachineID is changing frequently, this may indicate an issue with the computer system hardware or software. Try using a different machine. Or possibly reach out to a computer repair specialist and let them know the behavior with this specific computer.

[JoeF1953]

I've disabled WIndows automatic updates permanently. We'll see what that does. Thanks for submitting the request, but I doubt it will result in anything. I've never had any problems with this PC, so I doubt that's it. Its probably Windows doing something to change things, combined with what Ninja is trying to read.

If you could just add one thing to the request: The motherboard serial number can be "got" with a simple command. C:\WINDOWS\system32>wmic baseboard get serialnumber
This number will always stay the same and is actually the identifier for the PC. If the motherboard is changed, you have a different machine. If Ninja could just use the mother board serial number as the machine ID then it would solve it all. Thanks....

[someusername]

Dear NinjaTrader team,

I have recently purchased NinjaTrader 8 - a week later after a windows 10 update I got a message my machine ID changed despite no hardware changes to my system. My multi-broker connection setups have all been erased and I had to do this dance...

Just over a week later, today I have had the same exact problem with no hardware changes other than 3 days prior I installed a KVM switch - which is a single connection USB device.


I have never seen or heard a program, secure or not, do this. It seems less "secure" and more a "bug".


Windows10 licensing ties to the MAC address and IMO that, with a license key for NT8 should suffice.



I propose either toning down this "security feature" & or using secure backup of the config.




This needs to be addressed.