Steps required to switch LABVIEW 7.1 local to Volume license

[busman]

We recently converted from stand alone licenses to volume licenses. We have installed the volume license manager on a network server. I have looked at the Knowledgebase and am confused. It indicates that you need to prepare a network installation and reinstall the labview software or run a setup program. When I try to setup the network installation, I get a message that says that the software doesn't need to be set up. What do I do now?

[SarahM]

Hi Busman,

Do you already have LabVIEW 7.1 installed on the computers? If so then you don't need to reinstall you can just run the Mslsetup.exe. You'll have to first create a network installer but you won't need to run the portion that installs LabVIEW just Mslsetup.exe.

Please see the KnowledgeBase linked below for information on replacing Mslsetup.exe to fix a bug in the first release.

Why Does LabVIEW 7.1 Run For Client Users Without Permissions in the NI VLM?

If you have any questions on this procedure please let me know.

When exactly are you getting the error? Is it when you go to create the network installer or when you try and run it on t
he client computer? Are you trying to run the setup.exe or MSlsetup.exe? Is the client computer already configured to point to a network server? You can check this by opening the NI License Manager (Start >> All Programs >> National Instruments >> NI License Manager) and selecting Preferences from the Options menu. If the license manager is configured to point to a network server the first option will be checked and the name of the server will be in the field below. Once you run the network installer or Mslsetup.exe this should be configured to point to your network server. Please give me as much information as possible about when you're getting this error and what you've done previously.

I hope this helps!! Please post back with answers to these questions so I can help you further.

Regards,

Sarah Miracle
National Instruments

[busman]

Hi Sarah,

Been busy with flight test, so wasn't able to respond right away.

LabVIEW 7.1 is installed on the systems that I am trying to put on the VLM. I don't know where to find the Mslsetup.exe program and which machine to run it on. I thought I needed to run the network installer on the server where the VLM runs, inorder to get a copy of Mslsetup.

When I run the network installer on the server where the VLM is running (which is not one of the machines licensed to run LabVIEW), it prompts me for the LabVIEW CD. At this point I stopped because I wasn't sure that I wanted LabVIEW loaded on the network server.

To check the license manager configuration per the above instructions, these steps are performed on the machine that is going to run Lab
VIEW, not the License Manager Server?

[SarahM]

Hey Busman,

Here's what you need to do.

1. Replace MSlsetup on the machine where VLM runs. You can download the new MSlsetup from the following website. The website also has instructions for where to replace it. This is done on the machine with VLM.

Updated "Create Network Installer" for the NI Volume License Manager

2. Create a network installer for LabVIEW 7.1. You do this on the machine that has VLM. You DO NOT need to run the network installer on the machine with VLM, you just need to create it. You do this by going to Options >> Create Network Installer. There is also an article in the volume license manager help - Preparin
g Software for Network Installation which talks about this in more detail.

3. Once you have the network installer created then on the machine with LabVIEW run Mslsetup.exe.from the network installer folder (this is the folder created by the Create Network Installer wizard). Mslsetup.exe relies upon other files found in the folder which contains the network installer. You do not need to run setup.exe. You need to do this on the machine with LabVIEW.

To verify that this worked check the license manager configuration per instructions above. Do this on the computer with LabVIEW.

This configures the computer with LabVIEW to look at the machine with VLM for licensing information. You will still need to grant permission for the computer in VLM. Refer to the VLM help for instructions on how to grant permissions for a particular computer.

I hope this helps!!!

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Regards,

Sarah Miracle
National Instruments

[busman]

At step 2, when I click on Create Network Installer, I get the prompt to insert the LabVIEW 7.1 CD. Since the server is remote from my location, this is easier said than done. Is the LabVIEW CD required for creating the network installer?

Thanks for your help.

[SarahM]

Hi Busman,

You don't need the physical CD but you need to be able to point it to a folder or drive with the contents of the CD. For example you could copy the contents of the CD to a network drive the server computer has access to.

I hope this helps!

Regards,

Sarah Miracle
National Instruments

[busman]

Thanks for your help with this. I managed to get my development system so that it get's its license from the license server.

I have a question about the best way to load systems that are going to be disconnected from the network. Is the best way to set them up on the network, do a network install, disconnect from the network, then change the license status in VLM to disconnected? Is there another method that you would recommend?

thanks,

busman

[SarahM]

Hey Busman,

If the computer is going to be using a disconnected license you don't actually have to use a network installer or have it physically connected to the network. I would suggest the following steps to load systems that are going to be disconnected from the network.

1. Add the computer to VLM. From within VLM right-click on computers and choose Add Computer.
2. Configure the properties for the computer by right-clicking and selecting Properties. Be sure to configure both the properties and the permissions. (It is very important you use the correct computer ID)
3. Disconnect the license.
4. Install LabVIEW on the client computer.
5. Install the disconnected license on the computer with LabVIEW.

The following knowledgebase explains how to install the disconnected license:

After I Create a Disconnected License from the NI Volume License Manager, How do I Use It?

I hope this helps!

Regards,

Sarah Miracle
National Instruments

[busman]

How do I get the computer ID to put into LVM when I add the computer, if you haven't installed any software on the disconnected computer?

thanks,

busman

[busman]

After installing LABVIEW, I got the Computer ID and entered it in VLM. I created the disconnected license file, and copied it to the new computer system, and installed it. Everything seems to work, but when you start LabVIEW it prompts you to register it. What serial number do you enter in the registration dialog?

thanks,

busman