VLM Named-User Disconnected License(s)

[PacMan]

I have a VLM Named-User who wants to have LabVIEW 8.2 installed on 3 laptops that are seldom attached to the network.  Since the Named-User license is set up for a user to be able to have LV installed on up to 3 computers (+ 1 home computer), is the VLM software smart enough to know that he is only consuming 1 actual license, when I set him up with a Disconnected license on each computer?

Thanks.

Ken

[Matt M.]

Hi Ken,

The simple answer to your question is no; however, this is actually the way that VLM is meant to run. The LabVIEW license allows you to license LabVIEW on 3 different computers but these computers are not meant to be used at the same time.

When you create a disconnected license, it removes one license from the pool of licenses. Because the disconnected license is run off of the network, VLM does this because there is no way to verify that multiple computers are using the same license file. So even if only one laptop will be using LabVIEW at a time, only one disconnected license can be made per license.

I am assuming you have a Volume License Agreement with National Instruments. Part of this agreement provides you the ability to have immediate support over the phone if you should choose. In the future, if you would like an immediate reply, you can call 866-ASK-MYNI (866-275-6964) to talk to a support engineer on the phone.

Thanks,

Matt M.

National Instruments

[PacMan]

Hi Matt,

That's what I was afraid of.  I am now using a spreadsheet to track the licenses and am moving to VLM.  For the Named-User licenses, I lock down the directory that the LabVIEW.exe file is in so only that user has access.  This doesn't prevent them from running multiple systems, but it does prevent anyone else from using it.

How does VLM handle a Named-User with 3 connected systems?  Will it identify him/her as using the license on one of the connected computers and lock him/her out of the other 2?  Or, will I have to manually swap them from one computer to the next in VLM?

I like this method of discussion for questions/answers that may benefit other users and when I am not in a hurry.  For the other questions, I will call the number you gave me (thanks for the number.)

Thanks for the great help!!

Ken

[Matt M.]

Hi Ken,

If you have 3 systems connected to VLM, and one of them opens LabVIEW, any other computers that try to use LabVIEW with the same user-based license will recieve a message that the user-based license is already in use and will prevent them from using the software. Once the software is closed, another computer could use the software.

I'm glad you enjoy our discussion forums, and you're exatcly right, we love it when the forums can provide help to other people.

That said, I'd like to talk to you about your specific implementation, and rather than have a long discussion here on the forum, if you could email me at support@ni.com or call 866-275-6964, we can about the details.

Thanks,

Matt M.

NI