Technical Report: EPLAN Rehost 2026 – Process, Requirements, and Strategic Implications

Date: April 12, 2026
Subject: Evaluation of the EPLAN License Rehosting Mechanism for Version 2026
Prepared for: Engineering IT Management / Licensing Compliance Team

Part 3: Step-by-Step Guide to Performing EPLAN Rehost 2026

Whether you use EPLAN License Manager (ELM) or the newer EPLAN Cloud Licensing, the process follows a similar high-level workflow.

Costs & Licensing Fine Print (2026 Update)

EPLAN ReHost 2026 is not free in all cases:

• Subscription licenses (EPLAN Cloud, rental): ReHost is included at no extra cost.
• Perpetual licenses with active maintenance: One free ReHost per 12 months; each additional costs €150–€300 (depending on region).
• Perpetual licenses without maintenance: ReHost is blocked unless back‑maintenance fees are paid.
• Dongle‑to‑Softlock conversion: Requires a one‑time fee (approx. €250) plus shipping of the physical dongle back to EPLAN (within 60 days).

Important: As of 2026, EPLAN no longer supports rehosting licenses to Windows 10 systems without the 2026‑03 cumulative security update. Check system requirements before initiating.

Part 5: Cost Analysis – Is Rehosting Cheaper in 2026?

Finance directors are paying close attention to this. EPLAN has restructured its pricing for the Rehost era.

The Old Model (Dongle):

• High upfront CapEx ($5,000 - $15,000 per seat)
• Annual maintenance (18-22% of license cost)
• No discounts for part-time users.

The Rehost 2026 Model (Subscription/Cloud):

• OpEx Only: Monthly or annual billing.
• Flexible Tiers:
  • Heavy User: $350/month (Full P8 + Pro Panel + Management Station)
  • Viewer/Reviewer: $80/month (Read-only, markups, no edits)
  • Occasional: $150/month (20 hours of active usage, overtime billing available)

Calculation Example: For a firm with 50 engineers (but only 35 using it daily), Rehosting saves ~$120,000 annually by switching 15 users to "Occasional" licenses.

Hidden Cost: The Rehosting service itself is free for customers with an active maintenance contract as of Jan 1, 2026. However, if your maintenance lapsed, you must pay a 15% "Reinstatement Fee" of the original license value.

8. Security & Compliance Notes

• EPLAN 2026 introduces mandatory two-factor authentication (2FA) for any rehost initiated from a new geographic location (IP address change >500 km).
• Rehost events are recorded in the EPLAN Audit Trail for GxP environments (FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance).
• Unauthorized rehost attempts (e.g., using stolen credentials) trigger automatic license freeze and notify the contract owner via email and SMS.

Part 6: Common Failures and Troubleshooting (FAQ)

Even with a perfect plan, EPLAN Rehost 2026 can hit snags. Here are the top three support tickets from early adopters.

2. Background: Licensing Architecture in EPLAN 2026

As of version 2026, EPLAN supports three primary license container types:

| License Type | Rehost Method | Typical Limit | |--------------|----------------|----------------| | Hardware Dongle (CM Container) | Manual transfer via CodeMeter Control Center | Unlimited (physical) | | Software Container (Soft-eLicensing) | Online rehost via EPLAN License Manager | 3–5 times per 12 months | | Cloud License (Named User) | Not applicable (server-bound) | N/A |

Rehost 2026 primarily addresses Software Container licenses, which are increasingly standard for new subscriptions.

Best Practices & Risks

1. The Death of the Physical Dongle

Logistics is a nightmare. Dongles get lost in the mail, broken by field service engineers, or stuck in laptops that are out of the office. EPLAN Rehost 2026 introduces Named User Licensing (NUL) and Concurrent Cloud Pools. Your engineers can now log into any workstation (office, home, or cleanroom) and access their full EPLAN suite instantly.