Permanent license keys – are these available?
No. VSNi has not offered permanent licensing since Genstat 15th edition. If you have access to an old edition of Genstat we do not guarantee compatibility with any operating systems beyond those it was originally developed for. However, you can purchase a multi-year license – contact sales@vsni.co.uk if you’d like to discuss this option.
I have a permanent license key for an old version. Can I move my software to a new device?
We do not support or issue replacement license keys for old versions so you will not be able to move Genstat to a new device as it is locked to the device it was installed on.
Removing an old License
If you have an existing license on your device you must remove it before installing any newer version of the software.
- Run a search on your device for the license file genstat.lic.
- If you cannot find genstat.lic, check the hidden folder C:\ProgramData\VSNi. (The method for viewing hidden folders will differ depending on which version of Windows you are running, so try a Google search for instructions).
- Delete the file then install and register your software as described in the instructions.
License server may already be running
(For Flexnet Floating Licenses)
The error message – ‘License Server May Already Be Running!!’ indicates that the existing license server processes (VSN.EXE and lmgrd.exe) are still running using the old license file, or that the TCP sockets they require have not yet been closed (they may be in the TIME_WAIT state). This state usually lasts for a few minutes before the sockets are terminated. Make sure these are not active before trying to launch again.
Flexnet error -96,491 reports that the lmtools application is unable to contact the license server on port 6983/6984 on host DESKTOP-T360CBI. Create an empty text file on your system to act as a destination for the license server debug log. Enter the path to this file in the LMTOOL ‘Config Services’ dialog and try to start the server again.
Please send the content of your vsn.lic file and the debug log file content if this problem persists.
Installing license server on a virtual machine
You can use VSNi software within a virtual environment only if the VSNi License Server is installed on a PHYSICAL (i.e. NOT virtual) machine. The virtual machines will need to communicate with the physical server to obtain a licence.
Follow the instructions at https://genstat.kb.vsni.co.uk/knowledge-base/vsni-licence-server/ to create a transcript to send to support. This will enable us to see your nominated server’s host id and create license files for it.
Testing your installation
After you have setup the VSNi License Server you can test the installation using a utility application included with the installation.
On Windows this can be found here: C:\VSNi_LicenseServer_Win_x64\lmutil.exe
On Linux or MacOS it would be ${HOME}/VSN_License_Server_v11.14.0.0/lmutil
Once the license server installation is complete the first tests must be on the license server itself.
Using a command or terminal session execute the following command:
C:\VSNi_LicenseServer_Win_x64\lmutil.exe stat -c \ProgramData\VSNi\asreml.lic -S VSN
This will provide a status report on all VSN features served by the Licence Server nominated in the asreml.lic file.
Example
Here is the report generated by our own license server :
lmutil - Copyright (c) 1989-2015 Flexera Software LLC. All Rights Reserved. Flexible License Manager status on Thu 5/10/2018 09:10 [Detecting lmgrd processes...] License server status: 7312@vsn_license_server.vsn.local License file(s) on vsn_license_server.vsn.local: c:\VSN License Services\v11.14\vsn.lic:licenses\VSN\vsn.lic: vsn_license_server.vsn.local: license server UP v11.14.0 Vendor daemon status (on VSNDC3): VSN: UP v11.14.0 Feature usage info: Users of ASReml: (Total of 8 licenses issued; Total of 1 license in use) "ASReml" v1809, vendor: VSN, expiry: 30-sep-2018 floating license Jim xxx-pc xxx-pc (v1804) (VSNXXX/7312 15309), start Wed 5/9 9:49 (linger: 0 / 1800) Users of BreedingView: (Total of 8 licenses issued; Total of 0 licenses in use) Users of CycDesign: (Total of 8 licenses issued; Total of 0 licenses in use) Users of GenStat: (Total of 8 licenses issued; Total of 2 licenses in use) "GenStat" v1809, vendor: VSN, expiry: 30-sep-2018 floating license duncan xxx xxx (v1407) (VSNXXX/7312 15251), start Thu 5/3 9:31 Jim xxx xxx (v1801) (VSNXXX/7312 16306), start Thu 5/10 9:09 Users of LicMaker: (Total of 8 licenses issued; Total of 1 license in use) "LicMaker" v1809, vendor: VSN, expiry: 30-sep-2018 floating license Amanda xxx xxx (v0601) (VSNXXX/7312 7683), start Mon 4/30 13:58 Users of msanova: (Total of 8 licenses issued; Total of 0 licenses in use) Users of ASReml_alpha: (Total of 8 licenses issued; Total of 0 licenses in use) Users of GenStat_beta: (Total of 8 licenses issued; Total of 0 licenses in use)
Invalid Host: The hostid of this system does not match the host id specified in the license file
This error may occur when you copy and paste the license key text into Genstat instead of using the “Install from file” method.
There are several causes for this error:
You requested the license using one device but are trying to install Genstat on another device, therefore the host ID is different.
- Delete the license from your device.
- Run Genstat again and click Register for License Key.
- Click Register Online and complete the registration process using only the device that you will be running Genstat on.
Your device has crashed or been updated, which will change the addresses on the device.
- Delete the license and register again as described above.
The license is fixed to DISK SERIAL NUMBER or HOSTID and your device automatically keeps changing addresses. This will stop the license from working.
- If none of the above has happened, but in the license key it has been fixed to HOSTID, please contact us and we will try to fix it to the DISK SERIAL NUMBER.
Future license file format or misspelling in license file
This error may occur when you copy and paste the license key text into Genstat instead of using the “Install from file” method. The most likely cause is that you have entered some extra characters in the license key, such as leading or trailing spaces.
- Copy and paste the license key again, being careful to copy the whole key and not add extra spaces at the beginning or end.
- If this doesn’t work try the “Install from file” method described in the installation instructions i.e. instead of cutting and pasting the file, click Install from file then browse to the location of the license file.
License server system does not support this version of this feature
To fix this error, download the latest version of the license server.
License file does not support this version
This means that you are using an old license key which does not support this version of Genstat. This will most likely occur if you did not remove any old license keys before downloading and installing an updated version of Genstat – Genstat will have found the old key instead of the new one. You will need to remove the old license key and re-register.
- Follow the instructions for Removing an old License
- Restart Genstat and click Register for License Key, then follow the installation instructions.
If the same error occurs it means Genstat is still finding an old license key somewhere on your device. Check again for old genstat.lic files, ensuring that you check all hidden folders, then delete any genstat.lic files you find.
Feature has expired
This means that you are using an old license key which does not support this version of Genstat. This will most likely occur if you did not remove any old license keys before downloading and installing an updated version of Genstat – Genstat will have found the old key instead of the new one. You will need to remove the old license key and re-register.
- Follow the instructions for Removing an old License
- Restart Genstat and click Register for License Key, then follow the installation instructions.
If the same error occurs it means Genstat is still finding an old license key somewhere on your device. Check again for old genstat.lic files, ensuring that you check all hidden folders, then delete any genstat.lic files you find.