Creating Volume License Installers

NI Volume License Manager 3.1 Help

Edition Date: June 2013

Part Number: 370967F-01

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Complete the NI VLM Getting Started Wizard to install your agreement license file and set basic server settings. Configure NI VLM preferences such as administrator information, port numbers, overdraft settings, email server settings, and custom fields. Define a set of clients (groups) that use the same set of software. Decide how you want to distribute licenses to your clients. If clients are connected to your network, you can use Volume License Installers. If clients are not connected to your network, you can create disconnected license files. Gather client information such as user and computer names, Computer ID, and email address, using the NI VLM Import Utility. Import the client information into NI VLM using the NI VLM Import Utility. Create disconnected license files to distribute to your clients. Install the disconnected license files onto client computers. Create Volume License Installers to distribute NI software to clients connected to your network. Decide whether to have NI VLM handle automatically any permission requests generated by Volume License Installers or whether to handle permission requests manually. Send your VLA Log to NI to complete NI VLM configuration and enable technical support for your clients.

Use the Volume License Installer Wizard to create a Volume License Installer for your NI products. Installing National Instruments software directly from the software media, opposed to using a volume license installer, does not configure client machines to use licenses from a volume license server.

Benefits

The Volume License Installer Wizard modifies the installer to offer the following benefits:

  • Automatically configures client machines to connect to NI Volume License Manager (NI VLM) for licensing
  • Takes media management responsibilities out of the hands of clients
  • Collects custom field information from clients that you can access through reporting
  • Allows clients to request permission to join groups
  • Installs the correct software in multiple-product suites for each client, based on the client's permissions
  • Provides administrator contact information to clients for licensing support
    Note Note  The first page of the Volume License Installer Wizard displays your current administrator information. Refer to Setting Administrator Information for information about changing this information.

When a client runs a Volume License Installer, the installer automatically contacts NI VLM to retrieve updated versions of the following information:

  • Group information
  • Administrator information
  • Serial numbers
  • Client information and permissions

Using the Volume License Installer Wizard

Complete the following general steps to create and distribute Volume License Installers:

Note Note  You should define groups before you run the Volume License Installer Wizard if you want to allow your clients to send permission requests. Refer to Managing Groups for more information. Alternatively, you can create a Volume License Installer that does not send permission requests.
  1. Select the Tools»Create Volume License Installer menu item to start the wizard.
  2. Specify software source and destination paths and give your Volume License Installer a name.
  3. Specify the distribution method for the Volume License Installer.
  4. Specify how client machines should be configured when running the Volume License Installer.
  5. Specify the permission request behavior for the Volume License Installer.
  6. Specify which products to include in the Volume License Installer.
  7. Review your selections for the Volume License Installer.
  8. Build your Volume License Installer.
  9. Review the Frequently Asked Questions and then distribute your new Volume License Installer.

Distribute the modified installer within your organization either by using a shared network drive or copying this new product installer to a CD, DVD, or USB drive. Because the use of this software is always governed by NI VLM, you can freely distribute the installer.

Best Practices

Consider using these NI VLM best practices for more efficient use of your time spent administering volume-licensed software from National Instruments.

Using Groups to Obtain Permissions

Use Groups instead of explicitly granting licenses to clients to increase proficiency. Using groups allows clients to easily request permission to access their NI software products. Additionally, groups allow you to easily and quickly assign multiple permissions to clients. Refer to Managing Groups for more information on groups.

Creating One Volume License Installer per Media

Because the software within a Volume License Installer is installed based on the client's current permissions plus any permissions they are requesting, typically you need to create only one Volume License Installer per source. This feature works with multiple-product suites released in August 2010 or later.

For example, the following screenshot shows an installation by a client with permissions to LabVIEW Professional Development System, Vision Development Module, and NI SoftMotion Module in NI VLM. The client can select other packages to install in evaluation mode.

 

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