Introduction
This article is intended for Software Administrators to assist end users in troubleshooting licensing issues. After confirming that NI License Manager (NILM) and Volume License Manager (VLM) can communicate successfully, have the client machine attempt to obtain a license from the license server. If this attempt is unsuccessful, review the LMGRD log to determine whether the license server received the request and, if the request was denied, identify the reason for the denial.
Attempt to License and Troubleshoot
Have the client machine request a license from the license server by launching the NI software that requires licensing:
- For this test, it is recommended to rule out any locally activated licenses. To do this, move any license files from the <ProgramData>\National Instruments\License Manager\Licenses directory to a different location so that NI License Manager cannot detect them.
- One way to accomplish this is to create a folder within the Licenses directory (for example, Hidden Local Licenses) and move all .lic files from the Licenses directory into this newly created folder.
- After moving or editing any license files, be sure to click the Refresh button in NI License Manager. The moved license files should no longer appear under the Local Licenses tab.
- Once all local licenses have been removed, attempt to request a license again by launching NI software on the client machine, such as LabVIEW, TestStand, DIAdem, etc.
If you are not prompted to activate or evaluate software, licensing has been successfully obtained. Open NI License Manager and navigate to the Network Licenses tab. Verify the license status, which is indicated by a green box or circle next to the license name.
If the software does not open as licensed, review the LMGRD log file located on the license server to help determine the source of the issue:
- Open the LMGRD log found at <ProgramData>\National Instruments\License Manager\Data\lmgrd.log in a text editor.
- Search for the client’s machine name or username in the log file. Specifically, look for lines that begin with one of the keywords listed below. Definitions for each keyword are provided for clarification:
- OUT: the listed license was successfully checked out by the client.
- IN: the listed license was checked back into the server by the client.
- DENIED: the listed license was requested by the client but denied by the server. The log should include the reason for the denial. Denial reasons may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- The maximum number of license users has been reached.
- All available licenses are reserved for other users.
- The user or host is not included in the INCLUDE list for the requested feature.
- UNSUPPORTED: This message can occur for various reasons. It is typically harmless and does not affect the ability to check out licenses; however, in some cases, it may indicate communication issues, such as a compatibility mismatch between the server and the client.
The following is a sample of the lmgrd.log file:
Interpreting the Results
The Machine Name or Username Does Not Appear in the LMGRD Log
The licensing server is not receiving a request from the client. If the user/machine is getting denied a license, the log should provide reasoning as to why.
The Reason for Denial Does Not Match the Volume License Manager Configuration
If the machine name or user name does not appear in the LMGRD log or the reason for denial does not match the Volume License Manager configuration, and if the other Troubleshooting Volume License Manager connectivity tutorials have been followed , it is recommended to contact NI support.