diff --git a/deployment/ci-cd-license-key.md b/deployment/ci-cd-license-key.md index 8616eb42d..10feeeb32 100644 --- a/deployment/ci-cd-license-key.md +++ b/deployment/ci-cd-license-key.md @@ -34,10 +34,18 @@ The Telerik license activation process in CI/CD test, build, staging, and produc In most cases, the recommended way to provide your license key to the `Telerik.Licensing` NuGet package in CI/CD environments is to use one of the available environment variables. -Use `TELERIK_LICENSE_PATH` or [only a license file](slug:installation-license-key#manual-installation) on Windows and Windows Server machines, which are managed directly through the operating system's user interface. Do not use the `TELERIK_LICENSE` environment variable in this case, due to the large variable value length. - > Treat the license key and the license file as secrets. Always store and retrieve them in a secure manner, according to the build platform's best practices. +## Environment Variable Length Limitations + +The Telerik license key size depends on the number of licenses it includes, including renewals. Some environments may have a limit on the environment variable size, which is smaller than your Telerik license key length. Such examples include: + +* Windows and Windows Server machines (up to 32,767 characters for all environment variables and much smaller limits for setting variables in the Registry or the system settings) +* [GitLab](https://docs.gitlab.com/ci/variables/) (up to 10,000 characters) + +In such cases, use `TELERIK_LICENSE_PATH` or [only a license file](slug:installation-license-key#manual-installation) instead of `TELERIK_LICENSE`. The `TELERIK_LICENSE_PATH` must point to the Telerik license file location, including the `telerik-license.txt` file name. The license file must be stored and provided to the deployment pipeline in a secure manner. + + ## Azure Pipelines Azure Pipelines provides built-in tools to store and use secret environment variables and secure files. The recommended option with **Classic** pipelines is to [download the Telerik license file as a secure file](#use-telerik_license_path).