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Truly unique number for a computer.

UJ
Is there any number I can get that is truly unique for a computer that can't
be changed? I want to have a system whereby I have a computer that accesses
a web service based on some unique value that can't be changed. Or at least
if it is changed, it's not changed frequently. (IP address won't work
because that can change frequently).

Here's my thought - the program boots up, finds some unique piece of
information, sends that off to the web service who checks that against a
master list. If the ID is there, everything is OK, if not - it stops dead
(there of course would be a way to add the ID to the master list but that
would involve human interaction.)

This is for a system whereby when a user buys our product, we only allow x
number of machines to connect to the web service and need to limit that.

I've thought about MAC address but have been told that that can be spoofed.

If there either a serial number or GUID available for the machine itself?

TIA - Jeffrey.
Sep 19 '05 #1
5 4390
Have you tried the microprocessor serial number?

"UJ" <fr**@nowhere.c om> escribió en el mensaje
news:ON******** *******@tk2msft ngp13.phx.gbl.. .
Is there any number I can get that is truly unique for a computer that
can't be changed? I want to have a system whereby I have a computer that
accesses a web service based on some unique value that can't be changed.
Or at least if it is changed, it's not changed frequently. (IP address
won't work because that can change frequently).

Here's my thought - the program boots up, finds some unique piece of
information, sends that off to the web service who checks that against a
master list. If the ID is there, everything is OK, if not - it stops dead
(there of course would be a way to add the ID to the master list but that
would involve human interaction.)

This is for a system whereby when a user buys our product, we only allow x
number of machines to connect to the web service and need to limit that.

I've thought about MAC address but have been told that that can be
spoofed.

If there either a serial number or GUID available for the machine itself?

TIA - Jeffrey.

Sep 19 '05 #2
UJ
How do I get the microprocessor serial number? That was actually something I
was thinking about but don't know how to get at it.....

J.

"Francisco Garcia" <no****@nowhere .com> wrote in message
news:uF******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP14.phx.gbl...
Have you tried the microprocessor serial number?

"UJ" <fr**@nowhere.c om> escribió en el mensaje
news:ON******** *******@tk2msft ngp13.phx.gbl.. .
Is there any number I can get that is truly unique for a computer that
can't be changed? I want to have a system whereby I have a computer that
accesses a web service based on some unique value that can't be changed.
Or at least if it is changed, it's not changed frequently. (IP address
won't work because that can change frequently).

Here's my thought - the program boots up, finds some unique piece of
information, sends that off to the web service who checks that against a
master list. If the ID is there, everything is OK, if not - it stops dead
(there of course would be a way to add the ID to the master list but that
would involve human interaction.)

This is for a system whereby when a user buys our product, we only allow
x number of machines to connect to the web service and need to limit
that.

I've thought about MAC address but have been told that that can be
spoofed.

If there either a serial number or GUID available for the machine itself?

TIA - Jeffrey.


Sep 19 '05 #3
Public Class Processador

Private moReturn As System.manageme nt.ManagementOb jectCollection

Private moSearch As Management.Mana gementObjectSea rcher

Private mo As Management.Mana gementObject

Private sFabricante, sNome, sSerial, sVelocidade, sTipo, sDispositivo,
sClockMaximo As String

Private sL2CacheSize, sL2CacheSpeed, sLevel, sStepping As String

Sub New()

moSearch = New Management.Mana gementObjectSea rcher("Select * from
Win32_Processor ")

moReturn = moSearch.Get

For Each mo In moReturn

Me.sFabricante = mo("Manufacture r").ToString.Tr im

Me.sNome = mo("Name").ToSt ring.Trim

Me.sSerial = mo("ProcessorID ").ToString.Tri m

Me.sVelocidade = mo("CurrentCloc kSpeed").ToStri ng.Trim

Me.sTipo = mo("Description ").ToString.Tri m

Me.sDispositivo = mo("DeviceID"). ToString.Trim

Me.sClockMaximo = mo("MaxClockSpe ed").ToString.T rim

Me.sL2CacheSize = mo("L2CacheSize ").ToString.Tri m

Me.sL2CacheSpee d = mo("L2CacheSpee d").ToString.Tr im

Me.sLevel = mo("Level").ToS tring.Trim

Me.sStepping = mo("Stepping"). ToString.Trim

Next

End Sub

end Class

"UJ" <fr**@nowhere.c om> wrote in message
news:uq******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP10.phx.gbl...
How do I get the microprocessor serial number? That was actually something I was thinking about but don't know how to get at it.....

J.

"Francisco Garcia" <no****@nowhere .com> wrote in message
news:uF******** ******@TK2MSFTN GP14.phx.gbl...
Have you tried the microprocessor serial number?

"UJ" <fr**@nowhere.c om> escribió en el mensaje
news:ON******** *******@tk2msft ngp13.phx.gbl.. .
Is there any number I can get that is truly unique for a computer that
can't be changed? I want to have a system whereby I have a computer that accesses a web service based on some unique value that can't be changed. Or at least if it is changed, it's not changed frequently. (IP address
won't work because that can change frequently).

Here's my thought - the program boots up, finds some unique piece of
information, sends that off to the web service who checks that against a master list. If the ID is there, everything is OK, if not - it stops dead (there of course would be a way to add the ID to the master list but that would involve human interaction.)

This is for a system whereby when a user buys our product, we only allow x number of machines to connect to the web service and need to limit
that.

I've thought about MAC address but have been told that that can be
spoofed.

If there either a serial number or GUID available for the machine itself?
TIA - Jeffrey.



Sep 20 '05 #4
Francisco Garcia wrote:
Have you tried the microprocessor serial number?


Not all procs have those anymore. And if they do, the nr can be disabled
in the BIOS.
Sep 20 '05 #5
Have you looked at using "Client Certificates" for this? If you use client
certs, you can configure IIS to reject connection attempts from systems that
either don't have a certificate or whose certificate has expired (or been
revoked, by you, of course). I don't know if you can then configure the
maximum number of connections but I suspect that you may also be able to do
that using IIS.

Client certificates will solve your problem.

--
--- Nick Malik [Microsoft]
MCSD, CFPS, Certified Scrummaster
http://blogs.msdn.com/nickmalik

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this forum are my own, and not
representative of my employer.
I do not answer questions on behalf of my employer. I'm just a
programmer helping programmers.
--
"UJ" <fr**@nowhere.c om> wrote in message
news:ON******** *******@tk2msft ngp13.phx.gbl.. .
Is there any number I can get that is truly unique for a computer that
can't be changed? I want to have a system whereby I have a computer that
accesses a web service based on some unique value that can't be changed.
Or at least if it is changed, it's not changed frequently. (IP address
won't work because that can change frequently).

Here's my thought - the program boots up, finds some unique piece of
information, sends that off to the web service who checks that against a
master list. If the ID is there, everything is OK, if not - it stops dead
(there of course would be a way to add the ID to the master list but that
would involve human interaction.)

This is for a system whereby when a user buys our product, we only allow x
number of machines to connect to the web service and need to limit that.

I've thought about MAC address but have been told that that can be
spoofed.

If there either a serial number or GUID available for the machine itself?

TIA - Jeffrey.

Sep 21 '05 #6

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