Troubleshooting a Network Floating License Installation

Part of your Network Floating License installation package included step-by-step instructions (PhotoModeler Netfloat Installation Instructions) on how to install the Network Floating License version of PhotoModeler.  NOTE: instructions for installing netfloat when the computers are offline from the internet (e.g. air-gapped computers) are different – please contact PhotoModeler sales.

This article lists the most common sources of installation problems.

1. Make sure you set up an accessible ‘netshare’ folder on the local network. This does not need to be on a computer on which PhotoModeler is installed. The netshare folder should be on a Windows desktop or Windows server. It must not be on a NAS or other OS or device.

2. Make sure you enter the NetShare path consistently across all client installations. The NetShare path is set when you first launch PhotoModeler on the ‘Welcome To PhotoModeler’ screen. Since there can only be a single NetFloat license, each client installation must ‘point’ to the correct NetShare folder.

3. Use the “UNC Path” convention for identifying the NetShare location. A UNC path does not use a drive letter, it uses a specific path to the location and applies to all operating systems.  A UNC Path looks like this:
\\Shared_svr\SharedPMLicense

4. Make sure the NetShare folder is accessible from all client workstations. This should be done before you start the installations.  The folder will need READ and WRITE access so that PhotoModeler can read the license and then ‘check out’ a temporary license for the instance to run.  Not having appropriate access/rights is the most common source of licensing problems. An easy way to determine if you have appropriate access is to write/save a simple text file to the netshare folder from the client workstation. Windows networks have many security levels, and these links can help with setting up shared folders on a Windows network:

• Network Administration: Granting Share Permissions
• Enable or Disable File Sharing in Windows

If all else fails, please contact PhotoModeler Tech Support for assistance with the NetFloat installation. Tech Support may ask you to send the license file from your netshare folder, and the PhotoModeler.ini configuration file from one or more client workstations in order to verify the setup.