This article explains how to set up a disconnected or home license with NI Volume License Manager (VLM). You will find this useful if you have some client machines that are not always connected to your network, like a laptop or a machine used at home. You will learn how to provide individual user based access to the software included on our Volume License Agreement (VLA).

This article is part of the Getting Started with VLM  series.

Introduction

Machines that are not connected to the network can still gain access to software in the VLA through a disconnected license. To create a disconnected license, launch Volume License Manager (VLM) and ensure that the user or computer is added to NI VLM and that all software permissions have been assigned. Use the following methods to create a disconnected license depending on what version of VLM you have.
 

For VLM 3.0 or newer

• Follow the NI Volume License Manager Help steps for Managing Disconnected License Files.

If it's user-based:

• As part of improved license compliance, the system ensures that disconnected license files do not exceed the expiration of their associated volume license. Starting in VLM 2024 Q4, this limitation is enforced, requiring that the selected expiration date for a disconnected license must be the same as or earlier than the volume license expiration date. The "Never expire" option for disconnected licenses is now only available for users and computers that exclusively use perpetual licenses.

• NI's license agreement states that you are allowed to install one seat of the software on one work computer as well as one home computer. Since many home computers will not have network access to the license server, create a home use license for these computers. To create a Home License, follow the directions in NI Volume License Manager Help to create the file and then install the license file on their home machine.

If it's user-based:

For VLM 2.1.1

• In VLM, right-click on the computer or user and select Disconnect.
• Choose whether or not the disconnected license file should expire, and then save the file.
• To use the disconnected license file, transfer the license file to the client's computer and simply drag and drop it into the client’s NI License Manager.

Note: If you would like to disconnect more than one license file, use the shift and control keys to select multiple computers/users for disconnection, right-click and choose Disconnect.

NI's license agreement states that you are allowed to install one seat of the software on one work computer as well as one home computer. Since many home computers will not have network access to the license server, create a home use license for these computers. After you obtain the computer ID of the home computer, right-click on the client computer whose user requires a home license and choose Create License for Home User. Then install the home license file on the home computer using NI License Manager.

Next Step: Generating an Activity Compliance or VLA Log   

Previous Step: Adding Client Permissions