4SC License, Maintenance, Activation Expired Confusion

[buggycode]

Hi
I have an "On-Premise" "self-hosted" (Debian 10) system. Yes is was installed from a repo and not an ISO. (Please do not flame me on how bad this is etc etc - I know and I have reasons why I chose this route when is was initially installed - this system has been working almost flawlessly for some years now)

However recent changes have made this system only partially functional. The following is happening:

• We notice the 3CX Phone app is not responding at all (I have checked, it is the latest etc etc)
• When I log into my server I see:
  • The server is showing a message: Your Subscription expired on 12/31/2023. Without subscription you lose access to important features
  • Maintenance has expired: Updates not available
  • Cannot connect to activation.3cx.com

I have not received any email regarding major changes to the license, maintenance etc. Now the system ins only partial working.
From what I have read, I need to be on version 18.08.x currently I am on 18.07 and cannot update further.
I am running a 4SC type license - that is all I need.
I activation service is not accessible possibly due to the outdated version.

For now I need to continue using this service - how can I update to 18.08? What are the next possible step to get this service running correctly - a full installation is not on the possible at the moment.

King Regards
Gerhard

 

[SteveITS]

Take a look at https://www.3cx.com/blog/news/4sc-free-update/
And
https://www.3cx.com/community/threa...ection-to-activate-3cx-com.122087/post-586936

The supported method is to install 18u9 and restore from backup, but see if those help.

Given your installation method I would not be confident it will upgrade to v20…

 

[TheodorosG_3CX]

The safest way here is to re-install with the latest V18 ISO.

 

[buggycode]

Hi

I agree - and that is what I am trying now (despite what I wrote before).
However, using the download links withing the "on-prem" installation guide, I am directed to a Debian version 10 iso. I thought this should new be Debian 12? Secondly upon install - which appeared to be with out issue, a reboot did not end up in the 3CX install, but a standard Linux prompt! Now installer found, and it used the standard Debian repositories. It is using Debian 10.13
I do not think that is supposed to happen

Regards
Gerhard

 

[TheodorosG_3CX]

V18 is in Debian 10. The new V20 is in Debian 12 and the repositories of the ISO are the 3CX repositories.

 

[buggycode]

Hi
I think I caused the problem myself - I usually install Debian in advance mode if I am not automating the install. This probably prevented the re1uired 3CX packages / changes from installing.
I re-ran the installation in standard mode - appears to to hav3e worked so-far.

Regards
Gerhard

 

[buggycode]

However it still does not as

Hi
I have an "On-Premise" "self-hosted" (Debian 10) system. Yes is was installed from a repo and not an ISO. (Please do not flame me on how bad this is etc etc - I know and I have reasons why I chose this route when is was initially installed - this system has been working almost flawlessly for some years now)

However recent changes have made this system only partially functional. The following is happening:

• We notice the 3CX Phone app is not responding at all (I have checked, it is the latest etc etc)
• When I log into my server I see:
  • The server is showing a message: Your Subscription expired on 12/31/2023. Without subscription you lose access to important features
  • Maintenance has expired: Updates not available
  • Cannot connect to activation.3cx.com

I have not received any email regarding major changes to the license, maintenance etc. Now the system ins only partial working.
From what I have read, I need to be on version 18.08.x currently I am on 18.07 and cannot update further.
I am running a 4SC type license - that is all I need.
I activation service is not accessible possibly due to the outdated version.

For now I need to continue using this service - how can I update to 18.08? What are the next possible step to get this service running correctly - a full installation is not on the possible at the moment.

King Regards
Gerhard

Take a look at https://www.3cx.com/blog/news/4sc-free-update/
And
https://www.3cx.com/community/threads/3cx

Take a look at https://www.3cx.com/blog/news/4sc-free-update/
And
https://www.3cx.com/community/threa...ection-to-activate-3cx-com.122087/post-586936

The supported method is to install 18u9 and restore from backup, but see if those help.

Given your installation method I would not be confident it will upgrade to v20…

-v18u5-failed-to-establish-a-tcp-connection-to-activate-3cx-com.122087/post-586936

The supported method is to install 18u9 and restore from backup, but see if those help.

Given your installation method I would not be confident it will upgrade to v20…

Thanks for your reply.
I am hoping that I can continue to run this "on-prem" myself. This is for a small business - < 5 users and have not intention of hosting this anywhere. I am very confused by the "free-forever" statement - it really isn't, especially if I run the server myself.
I downloaded the ISO.
After a bit of fiddling the installation appears to have started correctly. I now have version 18.0.9 on Debian 10. Restored from a backup and now need to configure the firewall rules as it is a different IP address.
It appears, in order to continue use the license old free 4SC license, I need to upgrade to version 20 before March or I will end up in this situation again. I am going through requirements, and again not sure about some email/owner requirements. I run this on behalf of a business which has a different domain. However I am the 3CX system owner and admin so it should be OK. I run my own DNS so the split horizon DNS should be OK too. I just hope this license keeps going for a while. I would like to continue using 3CX in its current state. The paid version provides services and function I just do not need.


Regards
Gerhard

 

[TheodorosG_3CX]

Since this is a small business as you mentioned, i would also suggest to consider the SMB solution. Check this blog post for more information.