What should I check before sending the HostID file to PolarCare?

Floating and Node Locked licenses:

Ensure that there is only one Ethernet address shown. Ensure that the Ethernet address is not 00000000.

Portable key licenses:

Ensure that there is a FLEX ID shown in the file. Ensure there is only one FLEX ID.

There is more than one Ethernet address in the Host ID file

Server licenses

The license file references one – and only one – of these addresses. Therefore you must nominate the network and the address of the associated adapter card to be served by this license.

Node-locked licenses

The license file references one – and only one – of these addresses when identifying your PC so, to keep your license active, it is important that this particular address is always available and never disabled. Many PCs have more than one Ethernet port. Each port has a unique address. Sometimes, depending on usage conditions, ports become enabled or disabled.

Typically, the Ethernet wired port is never disabled so its address makes a good choice for the license file reference. (It may be disconnected from the network, but it is seldom disabled.) To include that port address as the reference address in the HostID file you should do the following:

1. Temporarily disable all the Ethernet ports except the one you want to reference.
Begin at Start, then select Control Panel/Network Connections. Your Ethernet wired port connection can usually be identified by its reference to a network cable under the Status heading. As this connection is the address which you usually want to reference in your license, do not disable it. Temporarily disable the other connections by right clicking on each of them in turn and selecting Disable from the menu. You can leave this window open.

2. Run lmtools.exe as before to generate a new HostID file. (After saving this file you may view it using any text browser, such as Windows Notepad. You should see only the single Ethernet wired port address in the file now. Forward this file to polarcare@polarinstruments.com to receive your activation license file.

3. Re-enable the port connections. Go to the Network Connections window again, right click on each connection in turn and select Enable from the menu

If the above does not resolve the problem open a command prompt (see Windows Help) and type "ipconfig/all" <Return>. Look for the Ethernet address under "Local Area Network" and specify this as the address to be used by the license.

You do not have to choose the Ethernet wired port as the reference. Any port that will not be disabled will do equally well.

What if the Ethernet address in the Host ID file is 000000000000 ?

The Ethernet port is disabled (e.g. a wireless network card is disabled). Enable the port and run LM Tools again. Note that the license will only be active when this port is enabled, so it is preferable to specify a wired-Ethernet port.

The Host ID file does not contain a FLEXID serial number for the Portable Key

Ensure that you have installed the driver on the PC that enables it to detect the key (see Application Note AP620)

Ensure that the key is connected to the PC when you run LM Tools and that all other software keys are removed.

The Host ID file contains more than one FLEXID serial numbers for the Portable Key

LM Tools reports all suitable keys that are connected to the PC. Remove all keys except for the Polar key and run LM Tools again.

I have loaded a license, but the system says that no license is installed.

Your system already has other licenses for Polar software installed. Ensure that the new license is copied into the same folder as the existing licenses.

I have loaded my purchased license, but the system still says "Evaluation Version"

Possible causes:

1. Your system has an evaluation license for the product already installed that is being detected and used by the software before it finds the purchased license. Ensure you have a back-up copy of your purchased license, then run Windows Search to find the folder containing the evaluation license. Delete the evaluation license and copy the product license into the folder.

2. Your system already has other licenses for Polar software installed. Ensure that the new license is copied into the same folder as the existing licenses

I have loaded a new license, but the system says that the license has expired

Possible causes:

1. Your system has an evaluation license for the product already installed that is being detected and used by the software before it finds the purchased license. Ensure you have a back-up copy of your purchased license, then run Windows Search to find the folder containing the evaluation license. Delete the evaluation license and copy the product license into the folder.

2. Your system already has other licenses for Polar software installed. Ensure that the new license is copied into the same folder as the existing licenses.

I use Windows XP as my floating license server. The Windows XP SP2 firewall is preventing licenses being issued to client machines.

If a Microsoft Windows XP SP2 machine is to be used as the server it will be necessary to add the FlexLM License Manager program LMGRD.EXE and Polar vendor daemon POLAR.EXE to the Windows XP Firewall Exceptions list.

Start Control Panel, choose the Windows Security Center | Windows Firewall | Exceptions | Programs and Services. Click Add Program... and browse to each program file; change the scope as required.