Manage Activation Code

Note:Tenable Nessus allows you to generate an activation code during the installation process. For more information, see Install Tenable Nessus Essentials, Professional, Expert, or Manager.

Tenable Nessus requires a plugin feed activation code to operate in subscription mode. This code identifies which version of Tenable Nessus that Tenable licensed you to install and use, and if applicable, how many IP addresses you can scan, how many remote scanners you can link to Tenable Nessus, and how many Tenable Agents you can link to Tenable Nessus Manager.

Your activation code:

  • is a one-time code, unless your license or subscription changes, at which point Tenable issues you a new activation code. Alternatively, you can transfer an existing activation code to a different system.
  • must be used with the Tenable Nessus installation within 24 hours.
  • cannot be shared between scanners.
  • is not case-sensitive.

  • is required to manage Tenable Nessus offline.

Note: See the Obtain an activation code page for instructions on how to obtain and use an activation code.

View Activation Code

View on Tenable Connect

View your activation code on the Tenable Connect.

View in Tenable Nessus

  1. Log in to Tenable Nessus.
  2. In the top navigation bar, click Settings.

    The About page appears.

  3. In the Overview tab, view your Activation Code.

Note:If you are using Tenable Nessus scanner, the License Expiration and Activation Code values on the About page show as N/A.

View from Command Line

Use the nessuscli fetch --code-in-use command specific to your operating system.

Platform

Command

Linux

# /opt/nessus/sbin/nessuscli fetch --code-in-use

macOS

# /Library/Nessus/run/sbin/nessuscli fetch --code-in-use

Windows

"C:\Program Files\Tenable\Nessus\nessuscli.exe" fetch --code-in-use

Update Activation Code

Required user role when using Tenable Nessus Manager: Administrator or System Administrator

When you receive a new license with a corresponding activation code, you must register the new activation code in Tenable Nessus.

Note: If you are working with Tenable Nessus offline, see Manage Tenable Nessus Offline.

Update in Tenable Nessus

  1. In Tenable Nessus, in the top navigation bar, click Settings.
  2. In the Overview tab, click the button next to the activation code.

  3. Type the activation code and click Activate.

    The license is now active on this instance of Tenable Nessus.

Note:If you are using Tenable Nessus scanner, the License Expiration and Activation Code values on the About page show as N/A.

Update from Command Line

  1. On the system running Tenable Nessus, open a command prompt.

  2. Run the nessuscli fetch --register <Activation Code> command specific to your operating system.

    Platform Command

    Linux

    # /opt/nessus/sbin/nessuscli fetch --register xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx

    macOS

    # /Library/Nessus/run/sbin/nessuscli fetch --register xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx

    Windows

    C:\Program Files\Tenable\Nessus>nessuscli.exe fetch --register xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx

    Tenable Nessus downloads and installs the Tenable Nessus engine and the latest Tenable Nessus plugins, and then restarts.

    Note: To register Tenable Nessus without automatically downloading and installing the latest updates, use the command nessuscli fetch --register-only.

Transfer Activation Code

Required user role when using Tenable Nessus Manager: Administrator or System Administrator

In Tenable Nessus Professional and Tenable Nessus Expert, you can use an activation code on multiple systems. This allows you to transfer a Tenable Nessus license from one system to another easily and without resetting your activation code each time.

When you transfer the activation code to a system, it becomes the active instance of Tenable Nessus for that license. Only the most recently activated system can receive plugin updates. All previous instances of Tenable Nessus with that activation code still function, but cannot receive plugin updates. On inactive instances, the following error message appears: Access to the feed has been denied, likely due to an invalid or transferred license code.

To transfer an activation code, use one of the following procedures on the system that you want to make the active instance of Tenable Nessus.

Transfer from Tenable Nessus

  1. Install Tenable Nessus as described in the appropriate procedure for your operating system.
  2. Access the system in a browser.
  3. In the Create an account window, type a username and password.
  4. Click Continue.

  5. In the Register your scanner window, in the Scanner Type drop-down box, select Tenable Nessus Essentials, Professional, or Manager.

  6. In the Activation Code box, type your activation code.

  7. Click Continue.

    Tenable Nessus finishes the installation process, which may take several minutes. Once installation is complete, the license is active on this instance of Tenable Nessus.

  1. Access the system on which you want to activate Tenable Nessus.
  2. In the top navigation bar, click Settings.
  3. In the Overview tab, click the edit button next to the activation code.

  4. Type the activation code and click Activate.

    The license is now active on this instance of Tenable Nessus.

Note:If you are using Tenable Nessus scanner, the License Expiration and Activation Code values on the About page show as N/A.

Transfer from Command Line

Perform the following procedure as root, or use sudo as a non-root user.

  1. On the system on which you want to activate Tenable Nessus, open a command prompt.

  2. Run the nessuscli fetch --register <Activation Code> command specific to your operating system.

    Platform Command

    Linux

    # /opt/nessus/sbin/nessuscli fetch --register xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx

    macOS

    # /Library/Nessus/run/sbin/nessuscli fetch --register xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx

    Windows

    C:\Program Files\Tenable\Nessus>nessuscli.exe fetch --register xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx

    Tenable Nessus downloads and installs the Nessus engine and the latest Nessus plugins, and then restarts.