Offline subscriptions activation

Normally SeekTable installation subscriptions are activated automatically on the application start, when docker containers are started or re-started. This requires an internet connection to access an activation server (seektable.com).

In some cases online activation might be not possible (or undesired); for example, when SeekTable is used to access company's sensitive data and there should be a 100% guarantee that data doesn't leave company's VPN, and for this purpose an internet access may be restricted for SeekTable docker containers. No worries: it is still possible to activate subscriptions offline.

Enable activation keys caching

Activation remains simple if an internet access can be enabled temporarily (for a short time) to upgrade docker images and/or activate subscriptions for the deployment in a usual way. Activation keys returned by the activation server may be cached in the special docker volume, and after that an internet access may be switched off and SeekTable installation will use these cached keys on next restarts.

How to enable activation keys caching:

1. Edit docker-compose.yml file
2. Add a volume with the name "activation-volume" for "seektable/seektable" image:

     seektable:
       image: seektable/seektable:latest
       restart: always  
       expose:
        - 5000
       ports:
        - 80:5000
       volumes:
         - csv-files-volume:/app-data/csv-files
         - db-volume:/app-data/db
         - activation-volume:/app/activation
       env_file:
         - docker-compose.seektable.env
   volumes:
     csv-files-volume:     
     db-volume:  
     activation-volume:
   

3. Then re-start SeekTable docker containers and disable an internet access.

Offline activation steps

How to activate subscriptions without an internet connection at all:

1. Add "activation-volume" to docker-compose.yml file as described above
2. Edit docker-compose.seektable.env file and add this line:

   SeekTable_ST__InstallationOfflineActivation=true

3. Re-start SeekTable docker containers
4. Find the location of "activation-volume" files in the host's server filesystem. Usually this is /var/lib/docker/volumes/activation-volume/_data
5. Two files should be there: deployment.json and pivotdataservice_deployment.json
6. Send these files to support@seektable.com
7. In the reply you'll receive another 2 files (key.json and pivotdataservice_key.json). They should be copied to the "activation-volume".
8. Re-start SeekTable docker containers once more. In the containers' log you should see messages that confirm successful activation of subscriptions.