TI-Nspire™ computer software requires that a 'one-licence to one-computer' licensing model be maintained.
Licence management
To support a one-licence to one-computer type of installation, a new type of "lookup" licence file (License.sc) has been created that allows a target computer to "lookup" or parse the licence file for the licence pair (serial number, licence number) that is assigned to that computer. The simplest method of licence management is to update and maintain the confirmation email attachment with the computer names that the licence pair is assigned to. Microsoft® Notepad, Excel or any spreadsheet software should suffice for this purpose.
Creating the Licence files (CSV, licence.sc, deployment.cf)
The process of creating the Licence.sc file starts with saving and editing the licence attachment sent with the purchase confirmation email.
To prepare the file for upload to the Network Administrator Support website, you must add the computer names to the last column. You may wish to create a spreadsheet containing the computer names for licence management purposes. If you use a spreadsheet program to maintain your licences, make sure that you create the appropriate upload file type (csv format) to allow the Network Administrator Support site to create the License.sc file needed for network deployments.
The following document provides detailed instructions for modifying and uploading the licence file. You will need Adobe® Acrobat to view the PDf file.
Creating a CSV upload file with Excel
Deployment.cf File
The Deployment.cf file gives the installation process some network awareness and provides the install process with configuration variables that match your network. To modify this file you should open Deployment.cf with a text editor of your choice. The following lines are used in the deployment.cf file to point to the licence file and the log directory.
# where to look for the licence file
LICENSE_FILE_DIR =YourLicenseShareFolder (this entry follows standard UNC formatting for a network or local resource.)
# where to write status logs
REMOTE_STATUS_LOG_DIR=YourLogShareFolder (this entry follows standard UNC formatting for a network or local resource. If you do not wish to create a network share you may still wish to write the installation logs on a local drive you may choose something like the following format “C:Logs” instead.
Sample Deployment.cf file
Creating a Package using Microsoft® SMS 2003
The following document provides detailed instructions for creating a package with Microsoft® SMS 2003. Please refer to your SMS product documentation for more complete information and examples.
Creating a Package with Microsoft® SMS 2003
Creating a Package using Novell ZENworks®
The following document provides detailed instructions for creating a package with Novell® Zenworks. Please refer to your Zenworks product documentation for more complete information and examples.
Creating a Package with Novell® Zenworks
Issues with Internet Security Products
Some Internet security products such as Norton Internet Security 2008 need to be temporarily disabled during the software installation process.
Security, Installation Permissions and Firewalls
In order to install and activate TI-Nspire™ successfully, the installation must take place under an account that is within the local administrators group on the target workstation. Deploying software under the Domain Administrator account ensures that this takes place. However, this is generally not considered to be a best practice for Network Managers. Generally, a special account with specific security rights to install software locally, is created and associated with network packaging and deployment.
In special security instances such as the unusual instance when deploying software between workgroups in order to successfully copy the installation logs across workgroups, you must make sure that the Firewalls in XP and Vista are properly configured to allow this behaviour.
Example log files
Example log files – Logging describes events as they occur during the installation process. At a high level there are A, C and Installer logs created during an installation. An additional log has been generated and is designed to provide the greatest utility for a Network Manager. The naming convention for this log is a combination of the computer name that the installation takes place on, the product name and a Success or Fail caption. In the examples below the log that is generated is: ComputerName_TI-Nspire_Success.
A Successful Installation Log for a computer that is already licensed (upgrade):
Successful Installation Log
An example of an Unsuccessful Log:
Example of Unsuccessful Log
Error Codes
Following are a list of Common Error Codes found within the installation logs and a short description of a potential cause and potential fix for each event.
HOST_NOT_FOUND_ERROR -20
Explanation: The Installation did not find a computer name match in the license.sc file.
PARSE_ERROR -21
Explanation: The information contained in the licence.sc was not formatted correctly. Re-upload your licence file and obtain a new copy of license.sc.
INVALID_LICENSE_NUMBER_ERROR -22
Explanation: The licence number returned for this computer from the license.sc is not a valid licence number. Please contact TI Support for assistance.
INVALID_SERIAL_NUMBER_ERROR -23
Explanation: The Serial number returned for this computer from the license.sc is not a valid licence number. Please contact TI Support for assistance.
CANNOT_READ_LICENSE_FILE_ERROR -24
Explanation: The information contained in the licence.sc was not formatted correctly. Re-upload your licence file and obtain a new copy of license.sc.
INCORRECT_LICENSE_FILE_FORMAT_ERROR -25
Explanation: The information contained in the license.sc was not formatted correctly. Re-upload your licence file and obtain a new copy of license.sc.
INCORRECT_LICENSE_FILE_VERSION_ERROR -26
Explanation: The licence number returned from information contained in the license.sc did not match the installation software version.
CANNOT_VALIDATE_LICENSE_FILE_ERROR -27
Explanation: The information contained in the license.sc was not formatted correctly. Re-upload your licence file and obtain a new copy of license.sc.
Adobe Reader is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated. Norton Internet Security is a trademark of Symantec Corporation. ZENworks is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc.
| 
