SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTI-VENDOR AUTHENTICATION TO REMOTELY ACTIVATE A SOFTWARE-BASED OPTION

A system and method are provided to remotely activate options resident on a multi-vendor supported device. The technique includes receiving, at a centralized facility, an activation key sent from a first location and configured to activate an option of an in-field device located in a second location, and sending the activation key and a verification script, from the centralized facility, to the in-field device at the second location. The technique also includes receiving, at the centralized facility, a report generated by the verification script and, if the report is satisfactory, installing the activation key in the in-field device to activate the option and, if the report is not satisfactory, aborting activation of the option.