Installing Polar software on 64-bit systems
Application Note AP604

Installing Polar software on Windows 64-bit systems

At installation Microsoft Windows XP x64 Edition creates two program files folders, \Program Files and \Program Files(x86). Windows XP x64 Edition redirects the \Program Files folder for all programs that are 32-bit during the installation to the \Program Files(x86) folder. 64-bit programs are installed into the \Program Files folder.

When installing on a 64-bit Windows operating system, therefore, Polar software (for example Si8000m, Si9000e, Speedstack, Coupon Generator) installs in the Program Files(x86)\Polar folder. The Polar licensing system supports both floating licenses and licenses node-locked to a machine's ethernet address or to FLEXnet ID dongles.

Licenses node-locked to a FLEXnet ID dongle

Polar FLEXnet ID dongles are currently not recognized by the Polar licensing system when installed on Windows x64 systems.

Licenses node-locked to a computer

To use a license exclusively on one laptop computer, the license can be node-locked to an address associated with that computer. Polar licenses employ an ethernet (MAC) address on the computer. The license file resides on the computer associated with the licensed address. Polar licenses node-locked to a valid ethernet address on the computer are supported as normal on Windows XP x64 systems.

Locating license files on 64-bit systems

Most applications have an expected location for the license file. Polar software is set by default to look in the Program Files\Polar\Licences folder for the license file. On a 64-bit installation the software may therefore fail to locate the license file on first time use. The software should, however, request the location of the license file or license server via the FLEXlm License Finder; navigate to the license location and choose the license file, the license location should then be retained by the license manager for future reference.

The software License Finder will prompt for a License File / Server location.  Ensure that “Specify the License File” is selected and select Next to continue.

The License Finder prompts for the license file name. Enter the path/filename or click the Browse button to navigate to the file. (Using the Choose License File Dialog, for a default installation browse to C:\Program Files\Polar\Licences and select the license file; select Open. The License Finder will display the license file specified (your license file may be named differently).

Select Next to continue. The License Finder should display its completion message.

The software may display a message to indicate how many days are remaining before the license expires. Select OK to continue.

Note: under certain circumstances (e.g. 64-bit systems) you may not see the FLEXlm Licence Finder dialog box when you launch the application. The application claims it can not find a license and exits. This may indicate that an invalid license was found but not recognized. Delete any old or invalid licenses and restart the application. You should now see the License Finder dialog.

Old invalid license paths may be cleared via the Help|Reset Licence Settings command

If you see the following message (i.e. the license settings have already been reset):

it may be necessary to start the LMTOOLS utility and use the LMTOOLS "Utilities" tab to add a vendor path manually. Specify the path and click Add Vendor Path. For a default installation browse to C:\Program Files\Polar\Licences and select the license file.

It may be necessary to select the "Start/Stop/Reread" tab and ReRead the license file.