IronWrap Host Settings

SoftwareShield System Feature Guide > IronWrapping > IronWrap Host Application Settings

## IronWrap Host Application Settings

The Host application is the root program (usually an EXE) that you wish to protect.

### Host Root Directory

When you define your IronWrap License project, you must select a "Host Root Directory". This Host Root Directory is used by the IronWrap system to find and virtualize correctly all protected files (including the host and all embedded files). Here are some important notes about the Host Root Directory:

- The Host Root directory must contain all files that will be protected. This of course includes the Host itself. These protected files may however be located in either the root or any sub-directory of the Host Root Directory.

- The entire Host Root Directory (source) is copied to the "Release" directory that is created when you compile your License Project with the IronWrapper. After IronWrapping, the Release directory will contain only those files that should be deployed with your protected program. If you chose to embed data or binary files they will not be present in the Release directory because they will have been embedded right inside the host itself. This is to facilitate simple and easy understanding for the user of what files to deploy.

- You may not save your license project file (LPJ) inside the Host Root Directory. The Release directory will be created as a sub-directory of the folder in which you have saved your LPJ file.

### Host File

This is of course the host program (usually an EXE) itself. As noted above the host must be located in the Host Root Directory (either directly or inside a sub-directory).

You may choose to encrypt and compress the host (recommended). As with most encryption and compression in the IronWrap system you may select which algorithm to use and the key.

### More Information

For more information on actually selecting the Host Root Directory or the Host itself, see: Host Tab