NI Volume License Manager and activation describes how NI software is activated and how multi-seat licences are controlled. For single-seat licences activation is tied to an NI User Account or a serial number; for Volume License Agreements (VLA) and Enterprise Agreements (EA) activation is managed by an administrator through NI Volume License Manager (VLM) or another approved licence manager.[1]
Single-seat activation
Single-seat customers can activate software using their NI User Account without a serial number: after purchase they receive an email with instructions and log in to the account to activate the associated software.[2] NI’s policy page treats a single-seat licence as a development, debug or deployment licence that is typically a named-user non-concurrent licence.[1] NI also publishes a knowledge article on activating without an internet connection that distinguishes two scenarios, one for Volume License Agreement users and one for single-seat users.[3]
A named-user licence must be registered to the individual in writing through the NI registration process, and a replacement of the named user requires a new registration and uninstallation by the former user, no more than four times in a calendar year.[4] Software may also validate its licence with NI: the agreement says the Software may collect and send software, hardware and use information to NI to check that valid key codes or hardware keys are in use.[4]
NI Volume License Manager
NI Volume License Manager (VLM) is described as a free benefit of the Volume License Program.[5] NI states that VLM:[5]
- stores all licences in a single utility, so that a licence of someone who stops using the software is not lost;
- lets the administrator share concurrent licences between offices working different shifts;
- reports usage by licence or user, including custom fields;
- transfers licences between users and disconnects a licence for a user on business travel;
- creates a custom installer so that end users receive exactly the software they need;
- enables overdraft, allowing use above licence limits while the company returns to compliance; and
- shows the administrator which users have access to the same NI software.
How it works
NI’s description of the process is: VLM is installed and hosted on a server on the company’s internal network; it holds a licence file obtained from NI that contains the licences on the company’s VLA; NI software is installed on the client; the client is connected to the VLM server and requests permission for licences; the administrator can accept or reject each request or let the tool accept requests automatically; once accepted the client is assigned a licence or entered into a group; and when the software starts it asks VLM whether it may run.[5] See Concurrent License and Volume License Program (VLP).
Approved Volume License Manager
The agreement defines an “Approved Volume License Manager” as NI’s software for controlling end-user access that generates usage compliance information (NI VLM), FlexNet software, or other third-party software approved in writing by NI. The licensee must keep one in use with the most current NI licence file at all times during the VLP term and thereafter; the Enterprise Program terms add FLEXlm software to the list.[4] Where the manager is NI VLM, or NI publishes documentation for it, it must be installed and used in accordance with that documentation.[4]
The licensee must also designate a Software Administrator for each Site, responsible for distributing and overseeing installation and use of the software, master installation media and the licence manager, and notify NI in writing of changes.[4]
Managed and unmanaged concurrent pools
NI’s policy page distinguishes managed concurrent licences, where access to the pool is restricted by user or computer and which can be managed through a licence server, from unmanaged licences, where the pool is open to any user or computer on the licence server’s network and which include no home exception and no disconnected licences.[1]
Disconnected and home licences
Computers in labs and laptops that do not stay connected to the internal network can be issued a disconnected licence using VLM, which lets the computer use the software until the expiration date set when the licence was created.[5] NI’s knowledge articles describe a disconnected licence as one that can be used with VLM to activate NI software from a computer without network access,[6] and VLM as allowing administrators to disconnect a user or machine for offline use or to create a home licence so users can install and activate NI software on their home computer.[7]
The agreement’s rules for disconnected licences are:[4]
- they are subject to all terms of the agreement, and the number may not exceed the licences identified in the VLP documentation;
- if a disconnected licence is reconnected, the client must immediately remove the disconnected licence;
- disconnected licences from a prior, expired VLP term must be removed within thirty days of the start of the new term and replaced with licences that expire no more than thirty days beyond the end of the current term (the Enterprise Program terms have the same thirty-day rule); and
- following termination of a VLP, disconnected licences installed under a prior expired term may not be used.
The policy page says that, if a user is working remotely and the licence includes a home exception, a disconnected or home licence can be used; unmanaged concurrent licences do not allow disconnected licences.[1]
Compliance reporting
Under the VLP the licensee provides an Activity Compliance Log for each Site on request, and NI may ask for a current log at renewal, due within thirty days; if the log understates licences in use NI may revise the renewal fees to reflect the extra licences.[4] Licences accessed through the Overdraft feature are payable, as Additional VLP Fees pro-rated monthly from the month of first use.[4] Under the Enterprise Program the licensee supplies activity compliance logs and a usage log of check-outs and check-ins from the Approved Volume License Manager thirty days before the annual management review.[4]
The Software itself can report licence-related information to NI, and NI may inspect use on written notice; underpayment found must be paid with the cost of the inspection.[4]
What happens when a program ends
If the VLP is not renewed by purchase order before the term ends, the VLP terminates, all subscription licences terminate and software services end. The software and the licence manager may contain code that deactivates use after termination; NI may supply an updated licence file but the licensee must obtain and install it within sixty days. Paid perpetual VLP licences continue as Surviving VLP Licenses, used only with an Approved Volume License Manager, and may not be increased; reactivation is at NI’s discretion and may carry fees.[4]
Virtual machines
NI’s agreement treats a virtual machine or cloud computing system as a computer for named-user and computer-based licence counting.[4] The NI pages retrieved for this article do not state whether a licence server such as VLM may itself run on a virtual machine, so no statement is made about licence server virtualization.
Out of scope
This article does not reproduce the step-by-step VLM Getting Started guide or the NI License Manager automation options, which are published in scripted knowledge-base pages that could not be retrieved without scripting; only page summaries are cited for the knowledge articles. It also leaves out offline activation code procedures for single-seat licences.