Using a Volume License File on a FLEXlm Server
Primary Software: Other NI Software>>NI Volume License Manager
Primary Software Version: 2.1
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: N/A
Problem: I am using FLEXlm to manage my licenses. I realize that National Instruments offers NI Volume License Manager (NI VLM) which is based on FLEXlm to help manage licenses. However, I prefer to use my existing FLEXlm system. How can I use a National Instruments license file with my existing FLEXlm configuration?
Solution: If you use FLEXlm instead of using NI VLM, there are certain features of NI VLM that will not be available to you, including overdraft, disconnected and home license files.
Overdrafting enables you to allow more computer-based permissions than the agreement allows. Disconnected license files allow you to create a license file for a computer which cannot access the license server at all times. Without using VLM, license administrators must use the BORROW keyword in their FLEXlm options file if a computer is going to be disconnected from the license server at any time. Refer to the KnowledgeBase
Can I use BORROW in my Volume License Agreement? for more information. Home license files allow you to create a license file for a home computer without using a license. One home use license per license seat is included in the license agreement.
If you do decide to use FLEXlm and not use NI VLM, complete the following steps:
- Send your Volume License Agreement ID, FLEXlm server name, server operating system (either Windows or Solaris), and host ID (MAC address for Windows and host ID for Solaris) to agreements@ni.com. State that you prefer not to use NI VLM to manage your licenses.
- Install the National Instruments vendor license daemon
nilm.exe on the license server.
- After receiving your license file, install the license file on your FLEXlm server.
- If your license file requires computer-based permissions for the software to be used, you will have to create an options file denoting which computers have permission to use each product. Create your options file, which is a text file named
nilm.opt, using the following standard FLEXlm formatting:
INCLUDE
HOST
Note that computer names are case-sensitive and are based off of the Windows computer name.
If your license file requires named-user permissions for the software to be used, you will have to create an options file denoting which users have permission to use each product. Create your options file, which is a text file named nilm.opt, using the following standard FLEXlm formatting:
INCLUDE
USER
Note: The user names are case-sensitive and based off of the Windows login name.
The options file should be saved in the same directory as the vendor daemon nilm.exe. If you have both named-user and computer-based licenses, you can put both types of "INCLUDE" lines in the same options file. You can find more information in the FLEXlm End User's Guide, linked below.
- Configure your client software. Client software is not configured to look to the FLEXlm server by default. You can configure a client computer to get a license from the server as part of the software installation process or after the software is installed. Both methods are described below:
- Preparing your software for volume license installation adds installer steps to automatically point client computers to the NI Volume License Manager server. End users don't have any additional steps after installing the software. To prepare your software for volume license installation, you can use the NI VLM feature "Create Volume LIcense Installer". Complete the following steps:
- Install the latest NI VLM on a Windows machine. See the Related Links below for where to download NI VLM. NOTE: NI VLM can be installed on a machine that is NOT the server machine.
- Create a volume license installer for your licensed software by going to Options » Create Volume License Installer... within NI VLM. Enter the server name of the FLEXlm server. Be sure to enter the administrator information. This information is displayed to the end user when they need a license or if the license server is inaccessible.
- Have your end users install the software from the voume license installer.
You don't have to keep track of how many people have installed the software since the licenses are managed by FLEXlm.
- If the software is already installed on the end user's machine, users can leave the software installed and simply run the program vlmclient.exe found in the same location as the Volume License Installer. In the created Volume License Installer folder, copy the Client folder onto the client machine, and run the vlmclient.exe in that folder.
Related Links: FLEXlm End User's Guide FLEXnet lmgrd and lmtools KnowledgeBase 3LGEJE6E: Can I use BORROW in my Volume License Agreement? Drivers and Updates: Volume License Manager Version 2.1.1 for Windows - SWUTILITY KnowledgeBase 34ICSJ9O: Can NI Volume License Manager Run on a Configurable Port? KnowledgeBase 3GTEJR6E: How do I Use a National Instruments License File on an OS Other Than Windows?
Attachments: 
- nilm.zip
Report Date: 03/03/2004
Last Updated: 10/03/2008
Document ID: 372D8K6E
