Hi Metusa,

The free version is restricted in various ways.  For example the free MSP430 version is code size limited.  The generic free use version is limited to use with specific emulators/developement kits.  For example the free version is for use only

Please see further information and details on this wiki and below

http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Licensing_-_CCS

Hope this helps!

Best Regards,

Lisa

License Types

There are a number of licensing options available for CCS.  

Free Licenses

We have a number of different free tools options available in CCS. 

Evaluation License: When you download CCS from the web you can choose to generate a time limited evaluation license the first time you run the product.  This will allow you to use all of the features of CCS for a set peroid of time (30 days for CCSv4, 90 days for later versions) so that you can evaluate TI devices and tools but at the end of that time period it prompt you to provide another license.

Code Size Limited (MSP430): There is a 16KB free code size limited license available for CCS.  For CCSv4 there is a separate microcontroller core image on the web.  For CCSv5 there is no separate download required.  With the code size limited license you can use all of the features of CCS, you can create production code but the object code size will be limited to a particular amount. In CCSv4 there was a 32KB limited version available for C28x, this is no longer available as you can instead use the free bundle license wiht XDS100 that has no limit.

Bundle License (Free Limited License): We include a free version of CCS with many of our community boards, DSKs and EVM (Evaluation Module) kits.  These kits come with a development board, software and CCS.  The CCS will only work with the onboard emulation on the board.  This free license can also be used with simulators or with XDS100 class emulators as well as the XDS560v2 mezzanine card available in C6000 multi-core EVM bundles.  You may use this version to create production code. This license will work with eZdsp kits. DO NOT USE THIS WITH EZ430 KITS

Node Locked Licenses

Node locked licenses are tied to a particular machine.  You can use all of the features of CCS but you can only use them on the machines noted in the license file.  The license file allows you to specify 2 MAC addresses.  A MAC address is a unique identifier in network adapter.  Most new machines have multiple of these.

Node locked licenses must be purchased from TI or one of our distributors.

Floating Licenses

A floating license is a license that is shared between multiple users.  You setup a license server on your network that allocates licenses to machines running CCS on your network.  For example you could purchase a package of 3 floating licenses, these 3 licenses could be used by many different machines and users as long as no more than 3 were in us at the same time.  When you start CCS it will connect to the license server and obtain a license.  In the case of a server that has a 3-pack floating license, when the first user runs CCS it will check out 1 license and then their will only be 2 licenses on the server.  When that user closes CCS their license is returned to the server and there are now 3 licenses available for use on the server. CCS is installed on each of the license machines.