Restart Nessus. In some cases, the license will become valid again.
Tenable imposes restrictions on how frequently a given activation code can be moved between hosts. Typically, you are allowed only a limited number of deactivations and reactivations within a 90‑day window. Exceeding these limits may lock the license, requiring manual intervention from Tenable support to unlock.
sudo /opt/nessus/sbin/nessuscli fetch --challenge nessus offline activation license already in use full
: nessuscli.exe fetch --register-offline nessus.license 3. Update Plugins (Manual)
On your offline machine, open a command prompt and run the command nessuscli fetch --challenge . Obtain the License File: Restart Nessus
To fix this issue, you must reset the activation code so Tenable's servers recognize it as available. Because your scanner is offline, you cannot perform this reset directly from the application interface. You must use the Tenable Community Provisioning Portal. Step 1: Reset the License in the Tenable Portal
net stop nessusd followed by net start nessusd , or restart via Services.msc Typically, you are allowed only a limited number
After resetting the code, your previously registered scanner is effectively “deactivated” in Tenable’s licensing system, and your activation code becomes available for use on a new installation.
This documentation becomes invaluable when you need to relocate a license months or years after the original installation.
: Abandoning an old scanner instance without explicitly removing or unregistering the activation code.