Install the license key

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Last Updated: May 13, 2026
2 minute read

Semaphore
Documentation

Before the Classification Server (CS) and Semantic Enhancement Server (SES) can be used, you will need to download the environment-specific licence from the Progress Semaphore Customer Portal and install them in your environment. The licence files use the following naming convention: <environment_name>-Env-Licence-<expiry_date>.txt. Be aware that you might have multiple environments for which licences are required, so be sure to install the correct licence on the correct systems.

Note: You only need to install a licence key if you are using Classification Server or Semantic Enhancement Server. No other Semaphore components require the licence file to be installed using this method.

To install the licence key:

Copy the relevant environment licence file onto the server hosting the Classification Server or Semantic Enhancement Server.
Move and the environment licence file into the /opt/semaphore/ directory and rename the file licence. For example, use the following command:
```
mv '<environment_name>-Env-Licence-<expiry_date>.txt' /opt/semaphore/licence
```
Verify that the licence file is readable to each Semaphore components in the server by executing the command:
```
chmod a+r /opt/semaphore/licence
```
Restart the Classification Server and/or Semantic Enhancement Server services to reflect the changes:
- To restart the Classification Server service execute the command:
```
systemctl restart semaphore-cs
```
- To restart the Semantic Enhancement Server service execute the command:
```
systemctl restart semaphore-ses
```

Installing the licence into a different directory

If you wish to install the licence file into a different directory than the default (/opt/semaphore/) then do the following:

Update the configuration setting SEMAPHORE_LICENCE_DIR in the Semaphore configuration file /etc/sysconfig/semaphore to add/update the following lines:
```
SEMAPHORE_LICENCE_DIR=<license_install_dir>
```
If you are using SELinux then be sure to update the security context for the licence file as follows:
```
chcon -v --type=httpd_sys_content_t <path_to_licence>
```
If using SES, restart the application to reflect the change:
```
systemctl restart semaphore-ses
```
If using CS, restart the application to reflect the change:
```
systemctl restart semaphore-cs
```

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