Can I use BORROW in my Volume License Agreement?
Primary Software: Other NI Software>>NI Volume License Manager
Primary Software Version: 2.0
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: N/A
Problem: I have a Volume License Agreement and I'd like to use the BORROW keyword to allow some of my client computers to disconnect from the network and still be able to use their software. Is the BORROW keyword supported?
Solution: FLEXnet's BORROW requires that the client computer connect to the network at the intiation and termination of the borrowing period. Through Volume License Manager, National Instruments implemented disconnected licenses. This is an improvement to the borrow feature, since it allows a client to use licenses without ever being connected to a network. For more information, please see What is a Disconnected License File?
If you are using FLEXnet for license management, you can use the BORROW utility to use software without being connected to the network. Using BORROW has the following constraints and issues:
- BORROW forces us to "unsuite" any products in your license files. This will result in NI License Manager (the client side licensing utility) to show Information Unavailable in the Licenses In Use field.
- We do not implement BORROW for concurrent licenses. It is more cost effective for you to trade in one concurrent license for three non-concurrent licenses when users need to keep a license for an extended period of time. To switch licenses from concurrent to non-concurrent, contact agreements@ni.com.
- The client software checking out using the BORROW keyword must have released with NI License Manager 3.0 or higher. This includes LabVIEW 8.0+, CVI 7.1+, TestStand 3.1+, and DIAdem 9.1+. LabVIEW 7.1 does not support this feature. If you are unsure if a particular software package supports this BORROW, please contact Technical Support (see Related Links below).
- You must use your own FLEXnet system and not use NI Volume License Manager (NI VLM). NI VLM does not support the BORROW keyword.
- The client end user must run lmborrow.exe to set up the borrow period on their computer for any license that comes from an NI server, nilm.exe.
- The end user must successfully checkout from the remote server after running lmborrow. By checking out from the license server, some encrypted values will be stored in the registry that have information about permissions they have for the product. The clients can disconnect from the server and still use that software. The server will assign a license for the BORROWed computer so the license cannot be checked out.
- If you use lmborrow.exe to BORROW a license, you can also use lmborrow.exe to return a license early. Packages cannot be returned, so you must individually return each borrowed feature.
- After using a BORROW license, if checking out a license (locally or from a server) you may need to remove the expired BORROW license from the registry. To do this, delete the data in the
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\FLEXlm License Manager\Borrow registry key that corresponds with your application.
Given that you understand the above issues and constraints, you can contact NI at agreements@ni.com and inform us that you would like a license file that supports the BORROW keyword.
Refer to the FLEXnet End Users Guide for more information on BORROW and lmborrow.exe. See Related Links below.
Related Links: KnowledgeBase 3PPDROEQ: What is a Disconnected License File?
NI Technical SupportFLEXnet End Users Guide
Attachments: 
lmborrow.exe
Report Date: 05/17/2005
Last Updated: 12/11/2007
Document ID: 3LGEJE6E
