License

Manager

2025-05-28
 License Manager

Contents
License Manager User Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
What is License Manager and Who Is It For? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
License Manager New Features and Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Installing a License File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Extending an Evaluation Period Manually . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Evaluation Periods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Activating Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Automating Software Activation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Deactivating Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Using a Volume License Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

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 License Manager User Manual

License Manager User Manual

The License Manager User Manual provides detailed descriptions of the product
functionality and the step by step processes for use.

Looking for Something Else?

For information not found in the User Manual for your product, such as specifications
and API reference, browse Related Information.

Related information:

• License Manager Compatibility

• License Manager Release Notes
• Verify Domain of License Manager
• License Manager Download
• License Manager Third-Party SDK Download

© National Instruments 3
 What is License Manager and Who Is It For?

What is License Manager and Who Is It For?

License Manager is software that license administrators use to control access to
software using license activation. Use License Manager to automate product activation
and add volume license servers.

Key Features
The features that set NI License Manager apart.

• Activating a Product
• Deactivating and Transferring a Product
• Installing a License File
• Activation Automation

Capabilities of License Manager

Table 1. Capabilities
Objective Required Software
Manage and activate individual licenses. License Manager
Manage and activate licenses in conjunction with a License Manager, Volume License Server
license server. or FlexNet Publisher

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 License Manager New Features and Changes

License Manager New Features and Changes

Learn about updates—including new features and behavior changes—introduced in
each version of NI License Manager.

License Manager 21.8.1 New Features

License Manager 21.8.1 adds new features.

This release includes the following major improvements:

• Entitlement-based and serial number-based license subscriptions are

automatically renewed upon launching NI License Manager.

Note Your licenses fail to automatically renew if you are not connected
to the network, if you are logged out of your NI user account, if your
entitlement or serial number is not linked to your NI user account, if you
have an offline activation that requires manual renewal, or if there is a
server error.

• Some software products have built-in grace periods that allow you to use software
past the end of the subscription term.

License Manager 20.7 to 21.8 Compatibility and Support

Changes
License Manager 20.7 to 21.8 makes changes to compatibility and support.

• License Manager 20.7 to 21.8 is only compatible with Volume License Manager
3.2.2 and later.
• If you are using FlexNet Publisher instead of Volume License Manager, License
Manager 20.7 to 21.8 is only compatible with FlexNet Publisher 11.16.4 and later.
• License Manager is dropping support for Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows Server
2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2, and all 32-bit Windows operating systems in
2021. Versions of this product that ship after May 1, 2021, may not install or execute

© National Instruments 5
 License Manager New Features and Changes

correctly on these operating systems. This includes both the server executable
lmgrd.exe and the vendor daemon nilm.exe. For detailed information about
NI operating system support, visit ni.com/r/win32bitsupport.

License Manager 4.4 to 4.7 Compatibility Changes

License Manager 4.4 to 4.7 makes changes to compatibility.

• License Manager 4.4 to 4.7 is only compatible with Volume License Manager 3.1.1
and later.
• If you are using FlexNet Publisher instead of Volume License Manager, License
Manager 4.4 to 4.7 is only compatible with FlexNet Publisher 11.15.0 and later.

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 Installing a License File

Installing a License File

Use License Manager to install a license file that you receive from NI or from the
administrator of a volume license server.

1. Select » Install License File.

2. Choose a license file to install.

License Manager updates to reflect the addition of the new license files.
You may need to activate new licenses.
Related tasks:

• Activating Software
• Activating Software

© National Instruments 7
 Extending an Evaluation Period Manually

Extending an Evaluation Period Manually

Use License Manager to manually extend the evaluation period for software when you
cannot automatically extend the evaluation period.

1. Click Local Licenses.

2. Right-click the unlicensed software and select Activate.

Note If prompted to log in, click LOG IN TO ACTIVATE. Enter your NI User
Account credentials and click Log in.

3. Extend the trial.

Option Description
Extending the trial online Click EXTEND TRIAL.
Extending the trial offline a. Visit ni.com/extendevaluation to
acquire an evaluation code.
b. Enter your Computer ID when prompted
on the website.

Note You can find the

Computer ID in NI License
Manager in the General
section, by clicking Computer
Information or on the Activate
Software window.

c. Enter the evaluation code in the Activate

Software window. Click ACTIVATE.

4. Click FINISH.

Related reference:

• Automating Software Activation

• Automating Product Activation

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 Extending an Evaluation Period Manually

Related information:

• Understanding NI Software Policies

• MyNI Dashboard
• Extending Your Evaluation

© National Instruments 9
 Evaluation Periods

Evaluation Periods
During an evaluation period, you are allowed to use the product with certain
limitations, such as reduced functionality and limited execution time, for a
predetermined amount of time.

Once the evaluation period ends, you must purchase the product to continue using it.
You can evaluate most NI products, in accordance with the NI license agreement.

You can automatically or manually extend the evaluation period for most products by
using License Manager.

Note Extended evaluation is not available for all products.

Related information:

• Understanding NI Software Policies

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 Activating Software

Activating Software
Activate software products using NI License Manager.

Before you begin, purchase a license for NI software and create a user account on
ni.com.
If you are transferring software to another endpoint, review the NI Software License
Agreement for information regarding transfer and seat limitations.

Note If you use NI Volume License Manager to manage NI software under a

volume license agreement (VLA), notify your volume license administrator
before activating your software on another computer.

1. Click Activate Software.

2. Activate NI software.

Option Activation Type Description

Log in to your NI user account to check for

licenses associated with your account to
activate software.
Check my account for
Online
licenses If your account lacks the appropriate
license for software, activate the product
using an activation code or a serial
number.

Log in to your NI user account and enter a

serial number to activate software. Find
serial numbers in the following locations:
◦ On the Certificate of Ownership
included in your software kit.
Enter a serial number Online
◦ On the product's packing slip or
shipping label.
◦ On a previously installed version of
your application software, by selecting
Help » About.

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 Activating Software

Option Activation Type Description

Note Visit the NI Info Codes

web page and enter the Info
Code SerialNumbers_en for
the latest information regarding
locating a serial number

Enter an activation code to activate

software. To receive an activation code, log
in to your NI user account and click
Generate an activation code or visit
ni.com/activate.

Enter activation codes Online/Offline Note

Your code is sent to your email

inbox after you submit the
Activation Code Generation
form.

Provide the volume license server address

where NI software should check for
licenses.

Connect to a volume license

server
Online/Offline Note For home use through a
volume license agreement,
request a license file from your
volume license administrator.

Note If you were using a trial version of NI software before you began the
activation process, you may need to restart the software.

License Manager attempts to automatically renew licenses when their subscription

term ends.
Use the software immediately after activation.

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 Activating Software

Related concepts:

• Using a Volume License Server

Related tasks:

• Setting up Volume License Server Access

• Installing a License File
• Extending an Evaluation Period Manually

Related information:

• NI Info Codes
• MyNI Dashboard
• Understanding NI Software Policies
• Finding the Serial Number or System Tag of My NI Product
• Activation Code Generation Form

© National Instruments 13
 Automating Software Activation

Automating Software Activation

If you are a license administrator, or are responsible for transferring NI softwares to
end users, you can automate software activation and add volume license servers.

To do so, run License Manager from the command line or from a batch file using
NILicensingCmd.exe.

The path for NILicensingCmd.exe is as follows:

• For 64-bit computers: Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\

Shared\License Manager\NILicensingCmd.exe

Note If you have numerous licenses to activate, consider simplifying license

activation using Volume License Manager with a Volume License Agreement.
For more information, visit the Volume License Program for Software web
page.

Software Activation Command-Line Flags

Below is a table containing common command-line flags associated with software
activation. You can see descriptions of the License Manager command-line flags by
entering the command NILicensingCmd.exe /help.

Flag Description Syntax

Launches the Activate

Software window.

This command is NILicensingCmd.exe /silent /activateall /serial

/activateall
equivalent to clicking <serial number>
the Activate Software
button in NI License
Manager.

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 Automating Software Activation

Flag Description Syntax

/activate Launches the Activate NILicensingCmd.exe /activate /type package /nam

/type Software window with <packagename> /version <version> /serialnumber
package a preselected package <serial number>
or family.

These commands are

equivalent to right-
/activate clicking on software or NILicensingCmd.exe /activate /type family /name
/type family family in License <familyname> /serialnumber <serial number>
Manager and selecting
Activate Software.

Activates a software
silently.

Note This
command
requires an
Internet
connection
that allows
access to
the NI
website
over an
NILicensingCmd.exe /silent /activate /type pack
encrypted
/silent /name <packagename> /version <version> /serialn
web
<serial number>
connection
(https).

Serial numbers are

optional for silent
activation. If you log
into your NI User
Account before
running command-
line arguments,
License Manager
checks your account

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 Automating Software Activation

Flag Description Syntax

for any necessary

software licenses.

Silent activation fails if

you:

• You enter
incorrect or
incomplete
information, such
as an invalid serial
number
• You are not
already logged in
to your account
• You have
conflicting
licenses
associated with
your account
• You do not have
the necessary
licenses
associated with
your account and
did not pass any
serial numbers as
parameters

Note If
silent
activation
fails, no
error
message
appears so
that your
remaining
automation

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 Automating Software Activation

Flag Description Syntax

scripts are
not
interrupted.
You must
manually
activate the
failed
activations
before you
can use
your
software.

Silently points a
computer to a volume
license server to check
out licenses.

This command is NILicensingCmd.exe /addservers

/addservers
equivalent to selecting servername[:portnumber][,servername[:portnumber
» Manage
Volume License
Servers to add a
volume license server.

Related tasks:

• Activating Software
• Setting up Volume License Server Access

Related information:

• NI Volume License Program for Software

© National Instruments 17
 Deactivating Software

Deactivating Software
Use License Manager to deactivate a software license on a computer or virtual
machine.

If you intend to transfer software to another endpoint, review the NI Software License
Agreement for information regarding transfer and seat limitations.

Note If you use NI Volume License Manager to manage NI software under a

volume license agreement (VLA), notify your volume license administrator
before transferring your software to another computer.

1. Click Local Licenses.

2. Select a licensed software.
3. In the Actions section, click Deactivate.
4. In the Deactivate dialog box, click Yes.

Note Once software is deactivated, reuse the activation code to activate

the software on another endpoint.

Related tasks:

• Activating Software

Related information:

• NI Downloads
• Understanding NI Software Policies
• General Purpose Software License Agreement

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 Using a Volume License Server

Using a Volume License Server

Use NI License Manager to check out licenses from a volume license server.

Setting up Volume License Server Access

Use License Manager to enable the use of a volume license server.

Note You must have a Volume License Agreement with NI to access a volume
license server to check out NI products.

A volume license server is a computer used to manage volume licenses for NI

products on a given network. For information on your company's volume license
server, contact your volume license administrator. For more information about the NI
Volume License Program, visit the NI Volume License Program for Software web page.

Note If you are running Volume License Manager on the same computer as
License Manager, set your volume license server to localhost or
127.0.0.1 to check out a license from your Volume License Manager.

1. Select » Manage Volume License Servers.

2. Enter the names of the volume license servers, separated by commas, on which
your NI products should check for licenses.

Note You can configure your products to look at a specific port on a

volume license server by entering the volume license server name
followed by a colon and the port number. When no port is specified,
27000 is implied. Ports range from 1-64000, inclusive. For example, if you
enter server1, server2:28001, server3 and launch a product
that requires a license, your product first checks port 27000 of server1 for
a valid license, then moves to port 28001 of server2, port 27000 of
server3, and finally your local system. If your product does not find a
license on any of the volume license servers or your local system, your

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 Using a Volume License Server

product will not start.

Table 2. Examples of valid server entries.

Server Entry Syntax Example
Server name server server1
Server's network name server.domain.com server1.ni.com
Server's IP address IP Address 127.0.0.2
Server name with specified
server[:port] server2:27000
port
Server's network name with
server.domain.com[:port] server3.ni.com:28432
specified port
server1, server2,
"Triple redundant" server server, server, server
server3

3. Click OK.

Related tasks:

• Requesting Group Membership from a Volume License Server

• Updating Information on the Volume License Server
• Switching between Licenses on a Volume License Server

Related information:

• NI Volume License Program for Software

Removing Volume License Server Access

Use License Manager to remove a volume license server.

1. Select » Manage Volume License Servers.

2. Delete the server entry that you no longer wish to access.
3. Click OK.

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 Using a Volume License Server

Requesting Group Membership from a Volume License

Server
Use NI License Manager to request group membership from volume license servers
running NI Volume License Manager 3.0 or later.

Group membership allows you to access all software products available to that group.

Note If you are requesting group membership while activating a license, see
Requesting Group Membership During License Activation .

1. Click Network Licenses.

2. Select the server for which you want to request group membership.
If there is more than one server, select the tab with the server to change.
3. Click the Manage Client link.
4. Complete the form that appears.

Note Fields marked with an asterisk are required.

The amount of the form you have to complete depends on the situation.

Situation Action
Different software user and computer owner Complete both sides of the form
Same software user and computer owner Complete one side of the form and click Copy
all to computer or Copy all to user to copy the
information to the other half of the form

5. Select the groups you want to join.

6. Click Send Request.

Note You may want to record the Administrator Information in case you
need to contact the volume license administrator in the future.

After the volume license server accepts your request, you can check out licenses for

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 Using a Volume License Server

any NI software included in that group.

Related tasks:

• Setting up Volume License Server Access

• Updating Information on the Volume License Server
• Switching between Licenses on a Volume License Server
• Setting up and Removing Volume License Server Access
• Switching between Licenses on a Volume License Server

Requesting Group Membership During License Activation

Request group membership from volume license servers during the license activation
process.

Group membership allows you to access all software products available to that group.

Note If you are requesting group membership using NI License Manager, see
Requesting Group Membership from a Volume License Server.

1. Choose Connect to a volume license server from the drop down menu while
activating a license.
2. Enter the server address or host name of the server for which you want to request
group membership.
3. Click Connect.
4. Select one or more user groups to join and click Next.
5. Fill out the Admin request form as requested by your volume license
administrator.
6. Optional: If you want to enter different information for user and computer groups,
uncheck Use the same information for computer and user groups.
7. Click Submit.

You can check the status of your submitted request by clicking Check Status. After the
administrator approves your request, you can check out licenses for any NI software
included in that group.

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 Using a Volume License Server

Updating Information on the Volume License Server

Use NI License Manager to update your user or computer information on volume
license servers running NI Volume License Manager 3.0 and later.

1. Click Network Licenses.

2. Select the server to which you want to send updated information.
If there is more than one server, select the tab with the server to change.
3. Click the Manage Client link.
4. Complete the form that appears.
5. Click Send Request.

Related tasks:

• Setting up Volume License Server Access

• Requesting Group Membership from a Volume License Server
• Switching between Licenses on a Volume License Server
• Setting up and Removing Volume License Server Access
• Switching between Licenses on a Volume License Server

Switching between Licenses on a Volume License Server

Use License Manager to switch between software licenses.

This feature is available only for concurrent licenses hosted by a volume license server.

Note

• Concurrent license switching works on products shipped in August

2008 or later, such as LabVIEW 8.6, that use concurrent licenses.
• Non-concurrent license switching works on products shipped in May
2017 or later, such as LabVIEW NXG.

If you are using managed concurrent licenses, you must have permission assigned on
the volume license server. Contact the administrator of your volume license
agreement for assistance with assigning permissions.

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 Using a Volume License Server

License Manager looks for all licenses available on the volume license server.

If your NI volume license agreement includes concurrent licenses for multiple types of
the same product, you can switch between concurrent licenses to use a specific
product type. For example, if you have concurrent licenses for LabVIEW Professional
and LabVIEW Full and you need only LabVIEW Full, you can disable license checkout
for LabVIEW Professional to save the license for a colleague who needs its features.

Use License Manager to switch licenses by disabling and enabling volume licenses.

1. Disable the use of a specific volume license

a. Click Network Licenses.
b. Select the product listed under a volume license server in the tree.
c. In the Actions section, click Disable, if the node selected in the tree allows it.
The license status changes to red to indicate the volume license is disabled.
2. Enable the use of the specific volume license.
a. Click Network Licenses.
b. Select the product listed under a volume license server in the tree.
c. In the Actions section, click Enable, if the node selected in the tree allows it.
The license status changes from red (concurrent) or gray (non-concurrent) to green
to indicate the volume license is enabled.

Related tasks:

• Setting up Volume License Server Access

• Requesting Group Membership from a Volume License Server
• Updating Information on the Volume License Server
• Setting up and Removing Volume License Server Access
• Requesting Group Membership from a Volume License Server
• Updating Information on the Volume License Server

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