AraTheme 1.3 · For WHMCS administrators
Everything about the AraTheme licence: how it is checked, what each status means, how renewal works, and how to update AraTheme with one click — or by hand.
Where to find it
Addons → AraTheme → Licence & updates (in the sidebar under System). The top bar of the theme manager also shows the licence status, the days left during the last 30 days, and when an update is available.
How the licence check works
- Your WHMCS asks
me.arahoster.comonce a day whether the key is active for this installation. The check runs with the WHMCS cron, or after a page has been sent to a visitor — client pages never wait for it. - Every answer is digitally signed, so nobody can fake an "active" answer.
- If our server cannot be reached (for example a network problem at your host), AraTheme keeps working for a 7-day grace period from the last good answer.
- Click Check now to check at once, for example right after you paid a renewal.
Licence statuses
| Status | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Active | Everything works, updates are available. | Nothing. |
| Trial | A time-limited trial key. | Buy a licence before it ends. |
| Grace period | Our server could not be reached; AraTheme keeps running for up to 7 days. | Make sure your server can reach https://me.arahoster.com, then click Check now. |
| Not activated | No key has been entered yet. | Enter your key and click Activate. |
| Server unreachable | The check failed and the grace period is over. | Ask your host to allow outbound HTTPS, then Check now. |
| Expired | The yearly licence was not renewed. | Pay the renewal invoice, then Check now. |
| Suspended | The licence was suspended (for example an unpaid invoice). | Pay the open invoice or open a ticket. |
| Invalid | The key is wrong or belongs to another installation. | Copy the key again from your client area, or open a ticket. |
What happens when the licence is not active
- AraTheme switches WHMCS back to its own theme (
twenty-one) and order form (standard_cart), including product groups that used the AraTheme order form. Your customers can still sign in, pay and open tickets. - The theme manager shows only the activation screen.
- All your settings, pages, texts and uploads are kept. When the licence is active again, AraTheme switches WHMCS back to AraTheme by itself — no need to set it up again.
Renewal
- The licence renews every year at $149. WHMCS creates the renewal invoice before the due date in your AraHoster client area.
- From 30 days before the end, the theme manager shows how many days are left.
- After you pay, click Check now (or wait for the daily check).
Changing the key, moving to a new domain
- To use a different key, enter it and click Change key.
- A key is bound to one WHMCS installation. If you move WHMCS to a new domain or server, open a ticket before or after the move and we move the licence for you.
- A staging or development copy needs its own key. Ask us about a staging key.
One-click updates
The Updates panel shows the installed version and the latest version. When an update is available and the licence is active, click Update to x.y.z. AraTheme then:
- downloads the release from our server with a short-lived signed link;
- checks the size and the SHA-256 checksum against the signed licence answer;
- unpacks it to a private folder and checks every file;
- makes a backup of the current theme, order form and addon files;
- replaces the files, and removes only files that an older version shipped and the new one no longer has.
If any step fails, nothing is changed — or the backup is put back automatically. Your settings, pages, texts and uploaded images are never touched by an update. The log of the last update is shown under the button.
Before the first update: the checks
The panel checks your server before it offers the button. All must be green:
- PHP zip, curl and sodium extensions are installed.
- PHP can write to
templates/arahosterone,templates/orderforms/arahoster_cartandmodules/addons/arahoster_theme. - The backup folder (
modules/addons/.arahoster_updates/, not reachable from the web) is writable. - At least 50 MB of free disk space.
If a check fails, ask your host to fix it, or update by hand (below).
Restore an older version
The last three backups are listed under Backups. Click Restore next to a version to put it back. Use this if an update causes a problem on your site — and please tell us about it in a ticket.
Updating by hand
- Download the latest zip from your client area (Services → AraTheme for WHMCS → Download).
- Back up the three AraTheme folders.
- Upload the contents of
upload/to your WHMCS root and overwrite the files. - Open Addons → AraTheme once (this runs any database upgrade) and check Licence & updates shows the new version.
- If the old look stays, empty the template cache (Utilities → System → System Cleanup) and reload with Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + R.
