Version label on SSP USB keys

[Mads]

Now that the SSP package is delivered on USB instead of DVDs (good stuff!), I have a minor request: Could you have the USB label include a release/version name on its label?

It might add too much of a cost depending on how you get them customized, but if that is not an issue it would be very practical to be able to see what the USB contains by its label (as we could with the DVDs).

On a side note: Many companies have strict regulations on the use of USBs, and the need for such has increased with weaknesses like BadUSB. Perhaps NI could state something about how the USB sticks they send out are protected, either in the delivery package, or just as a statement on ni.com? That way people who need to convince their IT departments to allow them to use the NI USB sticks will have something to show (I'm sure you will have to add some legal disclaimers there as well , but that's OK).

[Mads]

I see the most recent USB key has an extra plastic label on the back of it with the name: "LabVIEW 2017", so I guess the custom label is not a problem So what remains of the idea is to make sure the label includes a release date and the revision number (SP1, f1, f2 etc) too, if that was not already in the works for the next release.

[MichaelBalzer]

I'd add that denoting release by season (Spring, Fall) isn't really applicable for those of us in the Southern hemisphere. Definitely more useful to have a date and version numbers.

[AristosQueue (NI)]

I have no idea how to route this idea. The usual folks who monitor the Idea Exchange don't have contacts in manufacturing. It's pretty far out of the usual request band. I'll see what I can do to route it to someone who might be able to act on it... but I encourage you to raise this with your local NI sales reps... they may have better contacts on this issue than SW R&D has.

@MichaelBalzer Compromise: The labels could use the north hemisphere seasons half the year and the southern hemisphere seasons the other half of the year! 😉

More seriously: I don't think you have to worry about NI using seasons. We have enough internal people around the world, that would raise objections pretty quick.

[AristosQueue (NI)]

I found someone in Mfg who says they'll look into it.

[AristosQueue (NI)]

I spoke to manufacturing. They are open to making changes, but they'd like to know exactly what you're looking for. They sent me this picture of the USB keys and asked what you wanted added. The main version number is already on there. I'm guessing you're asking for more specific version number? Or something like that?

[MichaelBalzer]

Like Mads mentioned, a version/revision and date would be good. Something like LabVIEW 2017 SP1 (Nov 2017). For reference the USB drives we have just say SW Platform Spring 2017. I'm guessing this is because the release encompasses more than just LabVIEW, but LabVIEW is the primary piece of software so would be handy to know its version.

The year is part way there, but for those releases which cross over into the next year (ie. a LV 2015 SP1 release in 2016) the version plus date is necessary. I know this was an issue for us with the CD and DVD releases, so we just wrote in the sleeve of the disc binder the actual LabVIEW version, plus the year and month.

Now that NI Week has shifted, will the releases and service packs be in the same calendar year? It might make some of the above moot, but would still be useful information to have.

[Mads]

Michael covers the missing details on the label quite well, so let me just reiterate the second part of the idea (I know, bad to combine multiple ideas in one post...): The information about USB security measures in place at NI/the supply chain. 

[AristosQueue (NI)]

Feedback passed along to manufacturing.