Unique Macintosh Identification

[Roger.E.Eller at sealedair.com]

> This is slightly off-topic, but does anyone know how to uniquely identify
a  Mac?
>  We're trying to set up a specific install that works on a set number of
machines
> by getting a unique ID for the machine and using it to verify that the
machine is
> "licensed". This doesn't have to specifically be through MetaCard (it
could be
> AppleScript, XCMD, gestalt selector, etc.).

The following information is not from me. This was a previous topic of
discussion here, and I saved it for my own future reference. It appears to
address what you want to do.

~Roger Eller  <roger.e.eller at sealedair.com>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>I'd appreciate hearing any thoughts on ways to build in serial number
>>>protection...at least into one main opening stack.
>>
>> Hi Richard,
>>
>> Before I describe my approach, let me point out its limitations:
>>
>> 1.  It is Mac-specific.
>>
>> 2.  It only works on hardware/OS combos where the Apple System Profiler
>> returns the computer serial number.
>>
>> 3.  It works for me because my product is designed and priced for a
limited
>> marketplace.
>>
>> That being said, the AppleScript script:
>>
>> on getSerial()
>>   tell application "Apple System Profiler"
>>        launch
>>        copy SerialNumber to myNumber
>>        quit application "Apple System Profiler"
>>   end tell
>>   return myNumber
>> end getSerial
>>
>> will return the Mac's serial #.  (BTW, Apple System Profiler does NOT
quit;
>> but that's another issue.)
>>
>> When a winemaker orders, or subscribes to, OenoLog, the license is
specific
>> to the her/his Mac by serial number...which he/she retrieves using the
>> System Profiler and includes on the order form.  I burn a CD for that
>> specific installation with the serial # encrypted in the stack.
>>
>> As I look to the future, I must determine which of the Mac-specific
>> features in OenoLog can be reprogramed to be platform independent, and
>> which must be given up if I am to achieve cross-platform compatability.
It
>> would be nice if Revolution had a built-in method of uniquely
identifying
>> the computer it's running on.  Some people have suggested the Ethernet
>> address as a possibility; but for my purposes the serial # is more
easily
>> retrieved by the user.
>>
>> I'd be happy to participate in any effort address the issue by RunRev or
>> MetaCard staff and/or users.  I'd also be interested in hearing from
anyone
>> who knows what toolbox call ASP uses to retrieve the serial # (some
>> argument to gestalt(??)).  If I knew that, I could ditch AppleScript;
but
>> I'm too cheap to pay Apple $200 so I can ask them directly.
>>
>> Rob Cozens
>> CCW, Serendipity Software Company