Install Guide Multi-User Licenses

Versions: 15.1.1 and forward

License Type: Multi-user
Platform: Windows®
Last Updated: 6/1/2007

This guide provides instructions for installing Minitab 15 in multi-user environments

covered by a multi-user license. These instructions do not apply to single-user copies.
Instructions for installing single-user copies are printed on the CD.
The installation procedures have changed since the last release. Please refer to What’s New on
page 3 for more information.

Minitab 15 Install Guide 1

 Contents

Contents
• What’s New, page 3
• Changes Between Minitab 15.1.1 and 15.1.0, page 3
• Changes Between Minitab 15 and Minitab 14, page 3
• Quick Start, page 4
• Minitab License Manager Installation, page 4
• Minitab 15 Installation, page 6
• Minitab License Manager Advanced Topics, page 8
• License Manager Overview, page 8
• License Manager Command Line Installation, page 8
• License Manager Uninstall, page 9
• License Manager Administration, page 9
• License Update or Renewal, page 11
• License File Configured for Redundancy, page 12
• Troubleshooting, page 13
• Minitab 15 Advanced Topics, page 17
• Minitab 15 Command Line Installation, page 17
• Minitab 15 Administrative Installation, page 17
• Minitab 15 Uninstall, page 19
• Update Service, page 19
• Identical Settings on Multiple Machines, page 20
• Installation Tips, page 22
• Use the Command Line, page 22
• Generate an Installation Log, page 22
• Enable or Disable Updates After Installing, page 23
• Find Online Installation Resources, page 23

MINITAB® and all other trademarks and logos for the Company's products and services are the
exclusive property of Minitab Inc. All other marks referenced remain the property of their
respective owners. See minitab.com for more information.
© 2007 Minitab Inc. All rights reserved.

Minitab 15 Install Guide 2

 What’s New

What’s New
Changes Minitab 15.1.1 contains two new installation features:
Between • When you insert the installation CD, the installation splash screen auto-runs. This splash
Minitab screen contains choices for installing the Minitab License Manager or Minitab.
15.1.1 and
15.1.0 • The directory structure on the installation CD has changed. The Minitab installation files
are located in the Minitab folder rather than the root directory of the installation CD.

Changes In response to customer requests, Minitab 15 contains three new features that impact
Between installation:
Minitab 15 • Minitab License Manager
and Minitab
14 • Administrative installation
• Update service
The Minitab License Manager powered by FLEXnet™, the software industry’s leading
license management application, allows you to control the number of concurrent users
allowed to access Minitab 15 at your site. Typically, the Minitab License Manager resides on
a machine in the network in order to serve software licenses to client machines. Minitab
applications are installed directly on client machines with network connectivity. When you
launch the Minitab application, licenses are "checked out" over the network from the
Minitab License Manager. Stand-alone configurations, such as laptops that are frequently off
the network, may have a Minitab License Manager with a single license installed directly to
the same client machine as the application. For installation instructions, see Quick Start on
page 4. For more information on the Minitab License Manager, see Minitab License
Manager Advanced Topics on page 8.
The Minitab administrative installation saves you time when installing Minitab 15 to client
machines by using a server installation image. You only need to enter license information
once into the image, then use the deployment method of your choice to install Minitab 15
from the server installation image to client machines. To create a server installation image,
see Minitab 15 Administrative Installation on page 17.
The update service ensures you get the proper updates in a timely manner. Through the
update service, users are automatically notified of updates and can install them (provided they
have the appropriate permissions), as well as hide and restore update notifications. However,
if all users must remain on the same version of the Minitab product, you can prevent users
from downloading and installing updates using one of our advanced installation methods. For
more information on the update service, see Update Service on page 19.

Minitab 15 Install Guide 3

Minitab License Manager Installation Quick Start

Quick Start
The Minitab 15 installation is a two-step process:
1 Install the Minitab License Manager on the license manager machine and start the license
manager service.
2 Install Minitab 15 on client machines.

Minitab License Manager Installation

The Minitab License Manager manages the “check-in” and “check-out” of licenses in a
multi-user license environment. Typically, the Minitab License Manager resides on a
machine in the network in order to serve software licenses to client machines. Stand-alone
configurations, such as laptops that are frequently off the network, may have a Minitab
License Manager with a single license installed directly to the same client machine as the
application. In either case, these instructions refer to the machine to which you are installing
the Minitab License Manager as the license manager machine.
If you have not installed the Minitab License Manager or intend to run the Minitab License
Manager for this application on a different license manager machine, you must install the
Minitab License Manager prior to running the Minitab application.
If you have already installed the Minitab License Manager and you intend to use the same
license manager machine, you do not need to reinstall the Minitab License Manager.
However, you may need to update the license file (minitab.lic) to include any new or
additional licensing information. To update the license file, see License Update or Renewal
on page 11. To install the Minitab application to client machines, see Minitab 15 Installation
on page 6.
For advanced configurations, such as running multiple FLEXenabled applications from
different vendors on the same license manager machine, please refer to the FLEXnet
Licensing End User Guide distributed by Macrovision™ (www.macrovision.com).

Before You Before beginning the installation, you should:

Install the • Verify the machine or machines on which you plan to install the Minitab License
License Manager meets the appropriate system requirements, which include the Windows
Manager operating system. You can find the latest system requirements for Minitab products by
going to www.minitab.com/products and following the links for the software product and
system requirements.

Note You can configure the Minitab License Manager for a three-computer redundant
setup. All three license manager machines must have network access to one another,
and all three machines should exist on the same subnet. You will need to install the
Minitab License Manager on all three machines.

• Have the license file you received from Minitab. If you do not have a license file, please
refer to the entitlement correspondence that your licensing coordinator received. This
correspondence contains instructions for initiating the entitlement fulfillment process.

Minitab 15 Install Guide 4

Minitab License Manager Installation Quick Start

You can find additional documentation on the entitlement process at www.minitab.com/

support/docs by following the link for the Minitab License Manager.

Note To renew the license file or to configure it for multiple Minitab applications, see
License Update or Renewal on page 11. To configure the license file for redundancy,
please refer to License File Configured for Redundancy on page 12.

• Make sure client machines have network connectivity to the license manager machine.
• Have administrator privileges on the license manager machine.
• Disable virus-checking software and network-security applications on the license manager
machine during the entire installation process. Remember to enable these applications
after the installation is complete.

Basic To install using the installation interface, perform the following steps:
Installation 1 If installing from the installation CD, insert the disk into the CD-ROM drive of the license
for the manager machine.
License
Manager 2 From the installation splash screen, choose the option to install the Minitab License
Manager.

Note If the installation splash screen does not appear, you can launch the Minitab License
Manager installation manually. From the Windows Taskbar of the license manager
machine, choose Start ➤ Run. Type the path to the installation files followed by
\License Manager\Setup.exe (for example, D:\License Manager\Setup.exe).

3 Follow the prompts on the screen. During the installation, you will:
• Accept the default installation location or choose a different folder.
• Accept the default license file location (recommended) or choose a different folder. (If
you change the installation location above and you want to install the license file to the
same location, you must change the license file location to match.)
4 After installing, copy the license file (minitab.lic) to the license file location you specified
during installation.

Note For a three-computer redundant setup, you must copy the license file to each license
manager machine.

After You The Minitab License Manager is installed as a service. This assures that the license manager
Install the gets started automatically during system-boot. However, you must start the service manually
License the first time after you install. To start the service, perform the following steps:
Manager 1 Using the license manager machine, choose Start ➤ Settings ➤ Control Panel ➤
(Start the Administrative Tools ➤ Services.
Service)
Note On older operating systems, this may be Start ➤ Settings ➤ Control Panel ➤
Services. For a three-computer redundant setup, you must start the service on each
license manager machine.

2 In the Services control panel, scroll through the list of services and right-click Minitab
License Manager. From the menu, choose Start.

Note To stop the service, follow the same steps, but choose Stop from the menu.

Minitab 15 Install Guide 5

Minitab 15 Installation Quick Start

Minitab 15 Installation
The Minitab application is installed directly on client machines.

Before You Before beginning the installation, you should:

Install the • Be aware that users cannot run the application until you have installed the Minitab
Application License Manager on a machine accessible by the client machines running the application.
• Verify client machines meet the appropriate system requirements. You can find the latest
system requirements for Minitab products by going to www.minitab.com/products and
following the links for the software product and system requirements.
• Assign appropriate user permissions. For administrative installations, users need elevated
privileges to the server installation image. For other installations, users need elevated or
local administrative privileges to client machines to install or update the software.
• Disable virus-checking software on client machines during the entire installation process.
Remember to enable these applications after the installation is complete.
• Have the port number and the name of the license manager machine (not the client
machine) available. You need to enter this information during the installation process.

Note The Minitab License Manager uses port number 27000 unless you have specified
another port number in the SERVER line of the license file or have multiple license
managers installed.

• If you use a custom profile, include it with the installation files. See Identical Settings on
Multiple Machines, on page 20.

Basic To install using the installation interface, perform the following steps:
Installation 1 If installing from the installation CD, insert the disk into the CD-ROM drive of the client
for the machine.
Application
2 From the installation splash screen, choose the option to install Minitab.

Note If the installation splash screen does not appear, you can launch the Minitab
installation manually. From the Windows Taskbar of the license manager machine,
choose Start ➤ Run. Type the path to the installation files followed by
\Minitab\Setup.exe (for example, D:\Minitab\Setup.exe).

3 Follow the prompts on the screen. During the installation, you will:
• Accept the terms of the license agreement.
• Accept the default installation folder (C:\Program Files\Minitab 15) or choose a
different folder.
• Enter the port number and name of the license manager machine (not the client
machine) with the following syntax: port@machine.

Note For a three-computer redundant setup, you must specify each port@machine
separated by a semicolon with no trailing spaces.
Example: 27000@hostname1;27000@hostname2;27000@hostname3
Be sure to specify the port@machine information in the same order the machine
information is listed in the license file (minitab.lic).

• Determine if you want a shortcut to Minitab 15 on the desktop.

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Minitab 15 Installation Quick Start

After You If you have a firewall between the client machines and the license manager machine, you
Install the might need to manually open access to the port for the license manager (lmgrd.exe). Use the
Application interface of your firewall to open the port number you specified during installation.

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License Manager Overview Minitab License Manager Advanced Topics

Minitab License Manager

Advanced Topics
License Manager Overview
The Minitab License Manager allows software licenses to be available (or float) anywhere on
a network, instead of being tied to specific machines. Floating licenses benefit both users and
license administrators. Users make more efficient use of fewer licenses by sharing them on the
network. License administrators can control the number of users who use a Minitab
FLEXenabled application and make sure their organization complies with the license
agreement.
The Minitab License Manager must be installed on a machine prior to running the
application, and the application must be installed on client machines that can access the
license manager. When a user starts the application, it communicates with the license
manager to determine if a license is available from the pool of network licenses. If a license is
available, permission to use the application is granted. Here are more details about the
licensing system components:
Component File Name Role
Minitab application example: The Minitab application on the client looks for
executable mtb.exe or the license file on the network.
qc.exe
Minitab license file minitab.lic The license file contains Minitab licensing
information for Minitab applications.
license manager lmgrd.exe Using the information in the license file, the
application communicates with the license
manager specifying which daemon is
associated with the application.
Minitab daemon minitab.exe The application then communicates with the
Minitab daemon. The Minitab daemon keeps
track of the number of licenses available and
grants or denies access to the application.

License Manager Command Line Installation

For general installation instructions, please refer to Quick Start on page 4.
You can use the command line to install the Minitab License Manager on the license
manager machine. To do so, you must specify the installation location and the path to the
license file using the appropriate command line syntax.
From the license manager machine, execute the following commands as one continuous line
of text, substituting your information for italicized text:
• msiexec.exe /i
• "path to installation files\License Manager\Minitab License Manager.msi" /qn

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License Manager Uninstall Minitab License Manager Advanced Topics

• INSTALLDIR="path to where you want to install the license manager" (If you do not
specify a location, the Minitab License Manager uses C:\Program Files\Minitab\License
Manager.)
• LICENSEDIR="path to location of the license file" (If you do not specify a location, the
Minitab License Manager uses C:\Program Files\Minitab\License Manager. We
recommend you use the default location. If you change the value for INSTALLDIR above
and you want to install the license file to the same location, you must change the
LICENSEDIR value to match.)
Your command line might appear similar to this example without line breaks:
msiexec.exe /i "D:\License Manager\Minitab License Manager.msi" /qn
INSTALLDIR="C:\Program Files\Minitab\License Manager"
LICENSEDIR="C:\Program Files\Minitab\License Manager"

License Manager Uninstall

Before you uninstall the Minitab License Manager, you must stop the service. See After You
Install the License Manager (Start the Service) on page 5. To uninstall the Minitab License
Manager from the license manager machine, choose Start ➤ Settings ➤ Control Panel ➤
Add or Remove Programs, and then uninstall the Minitab License Manager.

License Manager Administration

You can run a Minitab FLEXenabled application with minimal interaction with the Minitab
License Manager. However, to manage the license system, you may want to know how to do
the following actions:
• Use License Management Utilities, page 9
• Reload License File, page 10
• Check Status, page 10
• Check Debug File, page 10
• Use Options File, page 10

Use License Macrovision provides utilities for performing license management tasks. We distribute these
Management utilities to you in the license manager folder:
Utilities • lmtools.exe
• lminstall.exe
• lmremove.exe
• lmstat.exe
• lmreread.exe
The lmtools.exe utility provides a graphical user interface to access all the license
management tasks. To use LMTOOLS, navigate to the license manager folder and
double-click lmtools.exe to display the interface.

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License Manager Administration Minitab License Manager Advanced Topics

If you prefer to use command language, the other utilities provide access to the different
license management tasks provided with LMTOOLS. To use these utilities, you must open a
DOS Command Prompt window, go to the license manager folder, and execute the
appropriate utility command.
For more information on using these utilities, please refer to FLEXnet Licensing End User
Guide distributed by Macrovision (www.macrovision.com).

Reload If you change the license file, you need to reload it so the license manager can recognize the
License File changes.
To reload the license file using LMTOOLS, perform the following steps:
1 Navigate to the license manager folder and double-click lmtools.exe.
2 Click the Start/Stop/Reread tab.
3 In FLEXnet license services installed on this computer, ensure the license service is
highlighted.
4 Click ReRead License File.
To reload the license file using LMREREAD, open a DOS Command Prompt window, go to
the license manager folder, and execute the following command:
lmreread -vendor minitab

Check Status You can check the status of the license manager to help you monitor network licensing
activities, such as the number of licenses in use and who is using them.
To check the status using LMTOOLS, perform the following steps:
1 Navigate to the license manager folder and double-click lmtools.exe.
2 Click the Server Status tab.
3 Click Perform Status Enquiry.
To check status using LMSTAT, open a DOS Command Prompt window, go to the license
manager folder, and execute the following command:
lmstat -a

Check Debug The Minitab License Manager produces a debug file. The debug log file contains status and
File error messages useful for debugging, such as to whom and when licenses were checked out,
checked in, or denied. The Minitab License Manager’s debug file, minitab.dl, is located in
the license manager folder. To read this file, open it in a text editor, such as Notepad.
For more information on the debug log file, please refer to the FLEXnet Licensing End User
Guide distributed by Macrovision (www.macrovision.com).

Use Options You do not need an options file. However, you might want to use some options to control
File various license system options, such as allowing features, denying features, reserving licenses,
restricting the number of licenses, or controlling the amount of information logged about
license usage.

Note This procedure involves modifying the license file after you have created the options
file. Before beginning, we recommend you make a backup version of the license file.

To create an options file, perform the following steps:

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License Update or Renewal Minitab License Manager Advanced Topics

1 Open a new file in any text editor, such as Notepad.

2 Use the appropriate options and the syntax documented in the FLEXnet Licensing End
User Guide distributed by Macrovision (www.macrovision.com) to construct your options.

Example of Options File:

# You can include comments in your options file by starting the line with the pound sign.
# Option files are restricted to 2048 characters.
# Each line of the file controls one option.

# Excludes user tjones from using Minitab

EXCLUDE Minitab USER tjones
# Excludes user tjones from using Companion
EXCLUDE qualitycompanion USER tjones

3 Save the options file to the same folder as the license file and give it the name
“minitab.opt”.

Note Make sure you change the Save as type to All files and the Encoding to ANSI.

4 In the text editor, navigate to and open minitab.lic.

5 To the end of the VENDOR line, add a space and options="minitab.opt". Options must
be in lowercase characters because the license file is case-sensitive.

Example of License File Referencing Options File:

SERVER this_host host_id
VENDOR minitab options="minitab.opt"
USE_SERVER
INCREMENT….
6 Save the file.

Note Make sure you change the Save as type to All files and the Encoding to ANSI.

7 Reload the license file. See Reload License File, on page 10.

License Update or Renewal

If you are renewing or adding users to your license, you will receive text from Minitab
(starting with the keyword INCREMENT) to append to the end of the existing license file.

Note Before beginning, we recommend you make a backup version of the license file.

To append the text, perform the following steps:

1 From your Minitab correspondence, copy everything from the start of the word
INCREMENT to the end of the text.
2 Open a text editor, such as Notepad.
3 In the text editor, navigate to and open minitab.lic.
4 Go to the end of the file and start a new line.
5 On the new line, paste the new text.

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License File Configured for Redundancy Minitab License Manager Advanced Topics

6 Save the file.

Note Make sure you change the Save as type to All files and the Encoding to ANSI.

7 Reload the license file. See Reload License File on page 10.

Example of License File With Multiple INCREMENT Statements:

SERVER this_host host_id

VENDOR minitab
USE_SERVER
10 original INCREMENT qualitycompanion minitab 2.2 30-feb-2008 10
Quality XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Companion XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
users XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
5 additional INCREMENTqualitycompanion minitab 2.2 30-feb-2008 5
Quality XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Companion XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
users XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
INCREMENT Minitab minitab 15.1 30-nov-2007 20 XXX
20 original
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Minitab
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
users
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
15 INCREMENT Minitab minitab 15.1 30-nov-2007 15 XXX
additional XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Minitab XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
users XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

License File Configured for Redundancy

If you created your license file in the Minitab Customer Center by choosing the 3
Redundant Hosts option, you must replace the term “this_host” in the first three lines of the
licensing information that you received from Minitab with the names of the license manager
machines and specify the port number after each host ID.
1 From your Minitab correspondence, copy the license file text (everything from the start of
the first instance of SERVER to the end of the text).
2 Open a text editor, such as Notepad.
3 Paste the license information into it.
4 Replace the term “this_host” in each line with the name of a license manager machine.
Also, specify the port number (typically, 27000) after each host ID.

Example of Licensing Information Before Editing:

SERVER this_host 0003ff9856e5
SERVER this_host 0065b1c9f5c
SERVER this_host 000a5e4f9476
VENDOR minitab
USE_SERVER
INCREMENT….

Example of Licensing Information After Editing:

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Troubleshooting Minitab License Manager Advanced Topics

SERVER hostname1 0003ff9856e5 27000

SERVER hostname2 0065b1c9f5c 27000
SERVER hostname3 000a5e4f9476 27000
VENDOR minitab
USE_SERVER
INCREMENT….
5 Save the file with the name “minitab.lic”.

Note Make sure you change the Save as type to All files and the Encoding to ANSI.

Troubleshooting
This section covers troubleshooting tips for Minitab License Manager errors encountered
with the following:
• Minitab License Manager Service, page 13
• License Checkout, page 14
• Lost Connections, page 15
• Cannot Find License Data, page 15

Minitab You might encounter any of the following Minitab License Manager issues:
License • Cannot start service
Manager
Service • CPU usage 100% after starting service
• Debug file resets after restarting service

Problem: Cannot start service

If you cannot start the Minitab License Manager’s service, most likely you will get the
following error message:
The Minitab License Manager service on Local Computer started and then stopped. Some
services stop automatically if they have no work to do, for example, the Performance Logs and
Alerts Services.
Use the following table to troubleshoot the problem:

Question Tip
Did you copy the license file (minitab.lic) Create the folder, if necessary, and copy the
to the folder designated during the license file to that location.
Minitab License Manager installation?
Is the license file named correctly? The license file must have the name minitab.lic. A
common error is to save the file with a hidden file
extension, such a minitab.lic.txt. When saving
the license file, make sure you change the Save
as type to All files and the Encoding to ANSI.

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Troubleshooting Minitab License Manager Advanced Topics

Can the Minitab License Manager create The license manager creates a debug file
the debug file (minitab.dl)? containing status and error messages. By default,
the file is in the license manager folder. Ensure
the account running the service has write access
to this folder.
Does the license manager machine have For best results, install the Minitab License
non-ANSI characters in its machine name? Manager to a machine with only ANSI characters
in its name.

Problem: Minitab daemon (minitab.exe) consumes 100% CPU usage after

starting service
The paths used during the installation may be too long (in excess of 256 characters). Uninstall
the Minitab License Manager (see License Manager Uninstall on page 9) and reinstall it
using shorter path names.

Problem: Debug file resets after restarting service

This debug file reset is expected behavior when running the Minitab License Manager as a
service. To change this behavior, run the Minitab License Manager as an application with the
following command line:
lmgrd -c "path and name of license file" -L "+path and name of debug log" -z
Your command line might look similar to this example without line breaks:
lmgrd -c "C:\Program Files\Minitab\License Manager\minitab.lic" -L "+C:\Program
Files\Minitab\License Manager\minitab.dl" -z

License If a user cannot check out a license from the Minitab FLEXenabled application, the user will
Checkout most likely get the following error message:
FLEXnet License Error error_code: Check out failed.
Use the following table to troubleshoot the problem:

Question Tip
Have you installed the Minitab License Your license file is issued for the machine you
Manager on the machine for which the registered as part of the fulfillment of your license
license file (minitab.lic) was issued? entitlement. Its host ID is part of the license file in
encrypted and unencrypted text and cannot be
changed. To check the host ID in the license file,
open the license file in a text editor such as
Notepad, and check the SERVER line:
SERVER this_host host_id
If you have installed the Minitab License
Manager to another machine, you can either
reinstall the license manager to the originally
registered machine, move the registered network
card to the new machine, or request that a new
license be issued that reflects the new machine. If
you have installed the Minitab License Manager
on the initially registered machine but the license
file is incorrect, please contact Minitab for a new
license file.

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Troubleshooting Minitab License Manager Advanced Topics

Do you have a firewall between the Firewalls can block communication between the
license manager machine and the client application and the Minitab License Manager.
machine running the Minitab Ensure the license manager port is open between
FLEXenabled application? both machines. If it is not open, use the interface
of your firewall to open the port number you
specified during installation.
Does the date differ in excess of 24 hours Reset the clock on the client machine. If the date
between the client machine and the difference is greater than 24 hours, the Minitab
license manager machine? License Manager will refuse to grant the license.
Is the license manager machine If the application cannot validate the machine
information that you provided during the information, it prompts you for valid information.
installation of the Minitab FLEXenabled
application on the client machine valid?
Can the client machine access the Minitab Verify the client can reach the Minitab License
License Manager? Manager (for example, use the telnet command
to query the license manager machine). If the
client cannot access the Minitab License
Manager, correct any routing or machine name
resolution issues.
Do you have an error code from the You can refer to the FLEXnet Licensing End User
FLEXnet License Error message? Guide distributed by Macrovision
(www.macrovision.com) for a description of
error codes that may help you debug the
problem.
Have you checked the debug file? The Minitab License Manager produces a debug
file (minitab.dl) containing status and error
messages that may help you debug the problem.
To view the debug file, see Check Debug File on
page 10.
Have you checked the Event Viewer? The Minitab License Manager writes information
and error messages to the Windows Event-Log.
You can access it by choosing Start ➤ Settings
➤ Control Panel ➤ Administrative Tools ➤
Event Viewer. These messages can help you
troubleshoot Minitab License Manager issues.

Lost When the connection between the Minitab FLEXenabled application and the Minitab
Connections License Manager is lost, the application displays the following error message:
FLEXnet License Error error_code: Connection to the license server has been lost. [Product
name] will close after you are given the opportunity to save your work.
Save your work immediately and close the application.
If a user’s machine crashes or disconnects from the network while the user is running Minitab
FLEXenabled application, the Minitab License Manager automatically checks in the license
in two to three hours.

Cannot Find If the Minitab FLEXenabled application cannot find the license data, the application
License Data prompts you to specify the license server system or the license file. This condition can occur
for one of the following reasons:
• The Minitab License Manager and the Minitab FLEXenabled application are installed to
the same machine, as in a stand-alone configuration. You should choose Specify the
License File and browse to the license file on the machine.

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Troubleshooting Minitab License Manager Advanced Topics

• If this is not a stand-alone configuration, possible causes are the license data was entered
incorrectly during installation or corrupted by a prior version. You should choose Specify
the License Server System and enter the port number and name of the license manager
machine with the following syntax: port@machine.
In either case, once the information is correctly entered, you will not see this message again.

Minitab 15 Install Guide 16

Minitab 15 Command Line Installation Minitab 15 Advanced Topics

Minitab 15 Advanced Topics

Minitab 15 Command Line Installation
For general installation instructions, please refer to Quick Start on page 4.
You can use the command line to install Minitab 15 on the client machine. To do so, you
must specify the license information for each install using the appropriate command line
syntax.
From the client machine, execute the following commands as one continuous line of text,
substituting your information for italicized text:
• msiexec.exe /i
• "path to installation files\Minitab\Minitab 15 language.msi" /qn
• MINITAB_LICENSE_FILE="port@machine" (for example, 27000@hostname where
hostname is the name of the license manager machine)
• INSTALLDIR="path to where you want to install application" (If you do not specify a
location, Minitab 15 uses C:\Program Files\Minitab 15.)
• DEFFILELOC="path to Minitab’s working directory" (If you do not specify a location,
Minitab 15 uses the My Documents folder in the current user’s profile. You can include
"UserProfile" at the beginning of the value, and Minitab 15 will translate it to be the
current user’s profile, C:\Documents and Settings\username.)
• SHORTCUT="1" to install the desktop shortcut or SHORTCUT="" to not install.
(Minitab 15 installs the desktop shortcut by default.)
• UPDATE="1" to allow users to download and install updates or UPDATE="" to prevent
users from downloading and installing updates. (Minitab 15 allows users to download and
install updates by default.)
Your command line might look similar to this example without line breaks:
msiexec.exe /i "D:\Minitab\Minitab 15 English.msi" /qn
MINITAB_LICENSE_FILE="27000@hostname" INSTALLDIR="C:\Program
Files\Minitab 15" DEFFILELOC="UserProfile\My Documents" SHORTCUT="1"
UPDATE="1"

Minitab 15 Administrative Installation

For general installation instructions, please refer to Quick Start on page 4.
You can create a server installation image on the network and deploy Minitab 15 to clients by
running the server installation image. You only need to specify the license information one
time when creating the server installation image.
You can create the server installation image in one of two ways:
• Use the administrative installation interface
• Use the command line
After creating the server installation image, you can deploy Minitab 15 in at least one of two
ways:
• Use the server installation image interface

Minitab 15 Install Guide 17

Minitab 15 Administrative Installation Minitab 15 Advanced Topics

• Use the command line

Create Server To create the server installation image using the server installation interface, perform the
Installation following steps:
Image Using 1 If installing from the installation CD, insert the disk into the CD-ROM drive of your
the Interface workstation.

Note If the installation splash screen appears, choose the option to exit.

2 To invoke the server installation interface, execute the following commands as one
continuous line of text, substituting your information for italicized text:
msiexec.exe /a "path to installation files\Minitab\Minitab 15 language.msi"
Your command language might look similar to this example:
msiexec.exe /a "D:\Minitab\Minitab 15 English.msi"
3 Follow the prompts provided by the dialog boxes. During the installation, you will:
• Enter the network location where you want to store the server installation image.
• Enter the port number and name of the license manager machine with the following
syntax: port@machine.
• Determine if you want a shortcut to Minitab 15 on the desktop.
• Determine if you want to allow users to download and install updates.

Create Server To create the server installation image, execute the following commands as one continuous
Installation line of text, substituting your information for italicized text:
Image Using • msiexec.exe /a
the
Command • "path to installation files\Minitab\Minitab 15 language.msi" /qn
Line • MINITAB_LICENSE_FILE="port@machine" (for example, 27000@hostname where
hostname is the name of the license manager machine)
• TARGETDIR="path to where you want to create server installation image"
• DEFFILELOC="path to Minitab’s working directory" (If you do not specify a location,
Minitab 15 uses the My Documents folder in the current user’s profile. You can include
"UserProfile" at the beginning of the value, and Minitab 15 will translate it to be the
current user’s profile, C:\Documents and Settings\username.)
• SHORTCUT="1" to install the desktop shortcut or SHORTCUT="" to not install.
(Minitab 15 installs the desktop shortcut by default.)
• UPDATE="1" to allow users to download and install updates or UPDATE="" to prevent
users from downloading and installing updates. (Minitab 15 allows users to download and
install updates by default.)
Your command line might look similar to this example without line breaks:
msiexec.exe /a "D:\Minitab\Minitab 15 English.msi" /qn
MINITAB_LICENSE_FILE="27000@hostname" TARGETDIR="\\Server1\Shared
Image\Minitab 15" DEFFILELOC="UserProfile\My Documents" SHORTCUT="1"
UPDATE="1"

Minitab 15 Install Guide 18

Minitab 15 Uninstall Minitab 15 Advanced Topics

Deploy from To deploy from the server installation image using the interface, perform the following steps:
Image Using 1 From the client machine, navigate to the server installation image you created on the
the Interface network.
2 Double-click the .MSI file.
3 Follow the prompts on the screen. During the course of the installation, you will:
• Accept the terms of the license agreement.
• Accept the default installation folder (C:\Program Files\Minitab 15) or choose a
different folder.

Deploy from From the client machine, execute the following commands as one continuous line of text,
Image Using substituting your information for italicized text:
the • msiexec.exe /i
Command
Line • "path to server installation image\Minitab 15 language.msi" /qn
• optional property INSTALLDIR
Your command line might look similar to this example without line breaks:
msiexec.exe /i "\\Server1\Shared Image\Minitab 15\Minitab 15 English.msi" /qn
INSTALLDIR="C:\Program Files\Minitab 15"

Minitab 15 Uninstall
To uninstall Minitab 15 from the client machine, choose Start ➤ Settings ➤ Control Panel
➤ Add or Remove Programs, and then uninstall Minitab 15.

Update Service
If you wish to control application updates, you should disable updates during installation
using either the command line installation or administrative installation. If you disable this
function, you should have a separate installation with updates enabled to periodically check
for them. When you disable software updates, the Update Manager will be installed, but users
will not have the ability to download and install updates. If you enable software updates, users
must have the appropriate permissions to install the updates.
If you enabled software updates during the installation of the software, you will need to
educate your users on the following steps:
• Get Automatic Updates, page 19
• Hide Automatic Update Notifications, page 20
• Restore Automatic Update Notifications, page 20

Get The Update Manager is a third-party utility that manages updates to the software. To get
Automatic automatic updates, perform the following steps:
Updates 1 Choose Help ➤ Check for Updates. If updates exist, the Update Manager will open with a
list of new updates.
2 Close the software. The Update Manager will remain open.

Minitab 15 Install Guide 19

Identical Settings on Multiple Machines Minitab 15 Advanced Topics

3 Under New updates and messages, choose the update you want to install and then click
Install. (To download the software and install it later, click Download Only.)
4 When the installation is finished, close the Update Manager and restart the application.

Hide To hide automatic update notifications, perform the following steps:

Automatic 1 With the Update Manager open, look under New updates and messages to find the
Update update.
Notifications
2 Click the update notification text (not the checkbox). You will see text appear below the
update notification.
Note: Different versions of the Update Manager may have slightly different interfaces.
3 Click Don’t show this update again. The update notification disappears from the list.

Note When you hide update notifications, you are hiding it for all users on the same
machine. Until the notification is restored, the Update Manager will behave as if no
updates are available.

Restore To restore automatic update notifications, perform the following steps:

Automatic 1 From the Control Panel, choose Program Updates to open the Update Manager.
Update
Notifications 2 Click Restore hidden updates. The update notifications are listed under Restore hidden
updates.
3 Check the box next to the update notification you wish to restore.
4 Click Restore.
5 Click Check for Updates to see the updated list under New updates and messages. You
can now install the update.

Identical Settings on Multiple Machines

Profiles in Minitab 15 store any changes to Minitab 15 factory default settings made using
Tools ➤ Options and Tools ➤ Customize, as well as custom date/time formats and
value-order settings. Each time you modify a setting, Minitab 15 stores the change in a user
profile so that it is in effect for the next Minitab session. All settings you change during a
session are stored in the uppermost profile located under Active Profiles in Tools ➤ Manage
Profiles.
To ensure that multiple machines have identical Minitab 15 settings, you can use Tools ➤
Manage Profiles to create and export a preinstall profile as a registry file named
ORGDEFS.REG and include it with the installation files:
• For administrative installations, store this file in the server installation image folder at the
same level as the .MSI file.
• For nonadministrative installations, copy the installation files to a network location and
store the preinstall file with the installation files before installing Minitab 15.

Minitab 15 Install Guide 20

Identical Settings on Multiple Machines Minitab 15 Advanced Topics

The installation places the file in the user’s Minitab 15\Language\Profiles folder.

Note If the custom profile is not included with the installation files, you must copy it to
each user’s Minitab 15\Language\Profiles folder after installing but before opening
Minitab 15 for the first time. We recommend including the profile with the
installation files and allowing the installation to install it for you. On Vista machines,
the Program Files folder is protected. If you have installed Minitab 15 to this
protected area (which is the default), the profile must be copied to the Minitab
15\Language\Profiles folder by a user with administrative level access in order for all
system users to have access to it.

When a user opens Minitab 15 for the first time, the file is imported. The imported profile is
named $$ORGANIZATIONDEFAULTS, which shows up as the second profile in Active
Profiles. For more information on profiles, type Profiles in the Minitab 15 Help index.
To create a preinstall profile, perform the following steps:
1 Install Minitab 15 on any machine.
2 Open Minitab 15. Adjust any settings you want to share on multiple machines.
3 Choose Tools ➤ Manage Profiles.
4 Click to move the profile MyProfile from Active profiles to Available profiles. (To be
exported, profiles must be under Available profiles.)
5 With the profile selected, click Export.
6 In Save In, browse to the network folder that contains the Minitab 15 installation files.
7 In File name, rename MyProfile to orgdefs.reg. Click Save.

Minitab 15 Install Guide 21

Use the Command Line Installation Tips

Installation Tips
Use the Command Line
You can execute commands via the command line in at least one of two ways:
• Use the Run dialog box
• Create a batch file
To execute commands from the Run dialog box, perform the following steps:
1 From the Windows Taskbar, choose Start ➤ Run.
2 In Open, type in the commands.
3 Click OK.

Note The Run dialog box is a simple way to execute commands; however, it has a
255-character limit and may not be suitable for all operations.

To create and execute a batch file, perform the following steps:

1 Open a new file in a text editor, such as Notepad.
2 Type the commands.
3 Save the file choosing All Files for the file type. Type the name of the file in quotation
marks with .BAT extension (for a batch file).
4 From the appropriate machine, locate the batch file and double-click the batch file. A
DOS Command Prompt window opens during execution.

Generate an Installation Log

If you are having trouble installing, you can use the command line to generate a log file. This
file can be attached to an e-mail and sent to Technical Support, so Minitab can assist you
more efficiently in resolving your problem. To generate the log file, add the following
commands after /i or /a, beginning with a space and in one continuous line of text:
/L*v "%TEMP%\SetupLog.txt"

Note There should be a space between /L*v and "%TEMP%\SetupLog.txt".

Your command line might look similar to this example without line breaks:
msiexec.exe /i "\\Server1\Shared Image\ProductFolder\Product.msi" /L*v
"%TEMP%\SetupLog.txt"
To find the log file, perform the following steps:
1 From the Windows Taskbar of your workstation, choose Start ➤ Run.
2 Type %TEMP%.

Minitab 15 Install Guide 22

Enable or Disable Updates After Installing Installation Tips

3 Click OK. Browse to SetupLog.txt.

Enable or Disable Updates After Installing

If you installed the Minitab application and want to enable or disable the user’s ability to
download and install updates, you can do so without reinstalling the software:

Note The ToggleUpdates.exe tool does not totally enable or disable the Update Service or
the pop-up notifications on the client machine. However, it does enable or disable
the user’s ability to download and install updates.

1 If installing from the installation CD, insert the disk into the CD-ROM drive of the client
machine.

Note If the installation splash screen appears, choose the option to exit.

2 From the Windows Taskbar, choose Start ➤ Run.

3 Type the appropriate command:
• To enable updates, type the path to the installation files followed by
\Tools\ToggleUpdates.exe ON (for example, D:\Tools\ToggleUpdates.exe ON).
• To disable updates, type the path to the installation files followed by
\Tools\ToggleUpdates.exe OFF (for example, D:\Tools\ToggleUpdates.exe OFF).

Note The ON and OFF options are case sensitive and should be capitalized.

4 Click OK.

Find Online Installation Resources

The following online resources may be helpful to you:
• Microsoft MSIEXEC.EXE Command Line Options
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa372024.aspx
• Macrovision SETUP.EXE Command Line Options
http://support.installshield.com/kb/view.asp?articleid=Q105473
• Macrovision
http://www.macrovision.com

Note Minitab does not maintain the above sites and URLs are subject to change.

• You can find latest install guides for Minitab products at www.minitab.com/support/docs
• You can also find answers to customer support questions in the Minitab Answers
Knowledgebase at
http://www.minitab.com/support/answers/

Minitab 15 Install Guide 23

Index
A installation, Minitab
administrative installation 17
L
after you install the application 7
administration, Minitab License basic installation for the license
Manager 9 application 6 administration 9
check debug file 10 before you install the redundancy 12
check status 10 application 6 renew or update license 11
reload license file 10 command line installation 17 troubleshooting 13
use license management enable or disable updates after LICENSEDIR 9
utilities 9 installing 23 lmgrd.exe 8
use options file 10 firewall 7 lminstall.exe 9
administrative installation, Minitab 17 generate an installation log 22
lmremove.exe 9
create server installation image installation tips 22
using the interface 18 online resources 23 lmreread.exe 9, 10
create server installation using the permissions 6 lmstat.exe 9, 10
command line 18 profile (custom profile, pre-install lmtools.exe 9, 10
deploy from image using the profile) 6, 20
command line 19 profile (default profile, default file
deploy from image using the
interface 19
location) 17, 18
quick start 6
M
what’s new 3 redundancy 6
Minitab
system requirements 6
administrative installation 17
uninstall 19
advanced topics 17
D update service 19
use the command line 22
after you install the application 7
basic installation for the
virus-checking software 6
daemon 8 application 6
what’s new 3
debug file 10, 14, 15 before you install the
installation, Minitab License Manager application 6
DEFFILELOC 17, 18 after you install the license command line installation 17
manager 5 firewall 7
basic installation for the license installation tips 22
E manager 5 permissions 6
before you install the license profile (custom profile, pre-install
entitlement 5 manager 4 profile) 6, 20
command line installation 8 profile (default profile, default file
entitlement 5 location) 17, 18
F generate an installation log 22
installation tips 22
quick start 6
redundancy 6
license, renew or update 11 system requirements 6
firewall online resources 23
after you install the application 7 uninstall 19
permissions 5 update service 19
troubleshooting 15 quick start 4 virus-checking software 6
redundancy 4, 5
Minitab License Manager
system requirements 4
I troubleshooting 13
administration 9
advanced topics 8
uninstall 9
after you install the license
installation tips 22 use the command line 22
manager 5
enable or disable updates after virus-checking software 5
basic installation for the license
installing 23 what’s new 3
manager 5
find online installation INSTALLDIR 9, 17, 19 before you install the license
resources 23 manager 4
generate an installation log 22 command line installation 8
use the command line 22 entitlement 5

Minitab 15 Install Guide Index

 installation tips 22 Minitab License Manager 4, 5
license, renew or update 11 renew or update license 11
W
Minitab License Manager resources, online 23
installation 4 what’s new 3
overview 8
permissions 5
redundancy 4, 5 S
system requirements 4
troubleshooting 13 service
uninstall 9 start/stop 5
virus-checking software 5 troubleshooting 13
what’s new 3 SHORTCUT 17, 18
minitab.dl 10, 14, 15 system requirements
minitab.exe 8 Minitab 6
minitab.lic 8 Minitab License Manager 4
MINITAB_LICENSE_FILE 17, 18

T
O TARGETDIR 18
options file 10 ToggleUpdates.exe 23
troubleshooting 13
cannot find license data 15
P license checkout 14
lost connections 15
Minitab License Manager
permissions service 13
before you install the
application 6
before you install the license
manager 5 U
profile (custom profile, pre-install
profile) uninstall
before you install the license manager 9
application 6 Minitab 19
identical settings on multiple UPDATE 17, 18
machines 20 update
profile (default profile, default file license 11
location) Minitab 19
install Minitab using Update Manager 19
administrative installation 18 update service 19
install Minitab using command enable or disable updates after
line 17 installing 23
get automatic updates 19
hide automatic update
Q notifications 20
restore automatic update
quick start 4 notifications 20
Minitab installation 6 what’s new 3
Minitab License Manager
installation 4
V
R virus-checking software
before you install the
redundancy application 6
license file 12 before you install the license
Minitab 6 manager 5

Index Minitab 15 Install Guide