License Management Overview

License management is the process of controlling access to products based on an explicit license agreement. Certain National Instruments software products require an activated license in order to execute.

You must acquire and activate a license before you can use a product in full-featured, nonexpiring mode. The activation process involves using the NI Activation Wizard to send the following information to National Instruments:

• The product you are activating
• The version of the product you are activating
• The serial number of the product you are activating
• Your name
• Your organization
• A computer ID that uniquely identifies your computer

National Instruments uses this information to generate an activation code, which you then use to activate the product on your system. National Instruments does not use this information for any other purpose. Refer to the Software Licensing Information Privacy topic for information on the National Instruments privacy policy regarding your personal information.

The NI Activation Wizard offers a variety of options you can use to obtain an activation code from National Instruments, including automatically through an Internet connection or using a Web browser, email client, telephone or fax machine. Activation is available 24 hours a day.

Note  Refer to National Instruments activation Web site, ni.com/activate, for the latest information regarding activation and license management.

For information on more NI License Manager tasks, refer to What Do You Want to Do?