Academic Company Events NI Developer Zone Support Solutions Products & Services Contact NI MyNI
1 ratings:
 5 out of 5     Rate this Document

How Can I Configure my Client Computer to Point to a Volume License Server Using Environment Variables?

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 know I can configure my client computer to point to a volume license server from NI License Manager by going to Options»Preferences and entering the server name in the Use Network License Servers field. Is there another way to configure my client to point to a volume license server?

Solution:
When License Manager or any NI application software is launched, it checks the following locations that identify volume license servers in the order listed:
  • NILM_LICENSE_FILE Windows environment variable
  • LM_LICENSE_FILE Windows environment variable
  • Servers configured in NI License Manager in the Options»Preferences»Use Network License Servers field
These locations contain the names and port numbers of FLEXnet license servers which FLEXnet licensed application software checks for permission to launch.
The NILM_LICENSE_FILE Windows environment variable is only used by National Instruments software. The LM_LICENSE_FILE environment variable is not specific to National Instruments; thus, FLEXnet license servers used by other non-NI software programs may appear in this variable as well. Neither of these environment variables are required for NI licensing to work. They are available as an advanced option for those license administrators accustomed to managing licenses with FLEXnet software using environment variables.

Servers configured in NI License Manager in the Options»Preferences»Use Network License Servers field are only used by NI software and are not used by non-NI software that uses FLEXnet.

To view or edit these environment variables in Windows, go to Start»Settings»Control Panel»System»Advanced. Click on the Environment Variables button. The format of the environment variables is:
[PORT_NUMBER]@SERVER_NAME
where the [PORT_NUMBER] is optional. If the port number is not present, it is assumed to be 27000. If you add an additional server/port number, separate each server/port with a semicolon.

Note that if you have many servers configured, it may take longer than normal for your client software to launch. The client software will check each of the servers referenced in the order that the environment variables and NILM server configuration is listed above. If you want to reduce your software launch times, consider doing the following:
  • Removing unnecessary servers from NILM_LICENSE_FILE or LM_LICENSE_FILE.
  • Use the above environment variables to point to the most common license servers first.
If you have any NI software that uses local activation, they would still try to retrieve the licenses from the servers specified. If you need to use LM_LICENSE_FILE for other software that require licenses, you could experience long launching time of your NI software. The workaround is to use vendor specific vendor variables, such as VENDOR_LICENSE_FILE, instead of LM_LICENSE_FILE.

Related Links:
FLEXlm End User's Guide
KnowledgeBase 3U8DDUS9: Why Do I See Non-NI License Servers in NI License Manager (NILM)?

Attachments:





Report Date: 04/25/2006
Last Updated: 03/29/2008
Document ID: 3WOFUR6E

Your Feedback! poor Poor  |  Excellent excellent   Yes No
 Document Quality? 
 Answered Your Question? 
  1 2 3 4 5
Please Contact NI for all product and support inquiries.submit