Licensing
Hawkra self-hosted requires a license file to operate. Licenses are generated through your account on the Hawkra SaaS platform at hawkra.io and uploaded to your local instance through the admin dashboard.
Obtaining a License
Log in to hawkra.io, navigate to Self-Hosted from the account menu, choose a 7-day free trial (3 users, 2 workspaces, no credit card required) or annual license (unlimited users and workspaces, 30-day grace period), and download the .lic file.
Activating Your License
Log in to your self-hosted instance with the admin credentials from installation, navigate to the License page (shown automatically on first login), upload the .lic file (.key, .pem, .txt also accepted), and click Complete Setup to unlock the full platform.
License Status
The License page in the admin dashboard (/admin/license) displays your current license status at all times. The status badge indicates one of six states:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Active | License is valid with more than 7 days remaining |
| Expiring Soon | License expires within the next 7 days |
| Grace Period | License has expired but is within the 30-day grace period (commercial licenses only) |
| Expired | License has fully expired past the grace period |
| Not Installed | No license file has been uploaded |
| Invalid | The installed file could not be verified (corrupted, or signed by a key this version does not trust). Data changes are blocked until a valid license is uploaded |
License Renewal
- Return to hawkra.io → Self-Hosted.
- Click Renew Licence (available any time; the new licence runs for one year after your current expiry, so renewing early never loses time).
- Download the new file.
- Upload it under Admin > License.
A full refund or chargeback revokes the licence on hawkra.io; the file you already downloaded keeps working until its own expiry, or until the key that signed it is retired after a signing-key rotation (you are warned in the app well ahead of that, and renewing issues a current-key licence).
When your license expires, the platform enters read-only mode. You can still view existing data, but creating or modifying data (new assets, vulnerabilities, notes, etc.) is blocked. Your data is fully preserved — upload a new license to restore full functionality. Commercial (annual) licenses include a 30-day grace period after expiry during which the platform continues to function normally, giving you time to renew. Trial licenses do not have a grace period.
Troubleshooting
"License signature verification failed"
The license file may have been corrupted during download or transfer. Re-download the license file from hawkra.io and try again. Ensure you are downloading the file as-is without any text encoding changes. If you renewed recently, update Hawkra to the latest release first, then upload the file again.
"This license was signed by a newer key that this Hawkra version does not know"
Your license was issued after a signing-key rotation and your instance has not been updated yet. Update Hawkra to the latest release, then upload the license again.
"The key that signed this license has been retired"
Hawkra rotates its signing key periodically. Your current license keeps working until the retirement date shown (plus the normal grace period). Renew on hawkra.io at any time — renewing early extends from your current expiry — and upload the new file.
"Active license required" errors
This message appears when attempting to create or modify data with an expired license. Navigate to Admin > License to check your license status and upload a renewed license.
License file not accepted
Ensure the file you are uploading is the license file downloaded from hawkra.io (not a receipt or confirmation email). Accepted file extensions are .lic, .key, .pem, and .txt.