NI VLM New Features and Changes

Learn about updates — including new features and behavior changes — introduced in each version of NI VLM.

NI VLM 2024 Q4

New Features

  • Additional CLI support — Added new command line interface (nivlmcmd.exe) for managing users and computers.
  • Notifications — Added new e-mail notification to admins for failed VLA log submission.
  • Custom fields — Added new required custom fields for participants in the Enterprise Agreement Program:
    • City
    • State/Province
    • Country
  • Users and Computers — Added a new tab to display currently disconnected licenses.

Changes

  • FlexNet Publisher — Upgraded FlexNet Publisher to version 11.19.6 to address security vulnerabilities
  • VLA Log — Changed default setting to automatically send VLA logs.
  • Disconnected Licenses — Never Expire option now only available for perpetual licenses.
  • Help Manuals — Improved offline help experience.
  • Troubleshooting — Improved logging of license file installation and restore operations.

NI VLM 2023 Q1

New Features

  • OS support — Added OS support for Windows 11, Windows Server 2019, and Windows Server 2022.
  • TLS support — Added TLS 1.2 encryption support for SMTP email server connections.

Changes

  • CEIP data — In the VLA policies tab, the default value for Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) data collection is set to Allow client to decide. Each client can select whether to participate in the program or not. CEIP records NI product data to improve the performance and capabilities of those products.
  • SQLite databases — NI VLM automatically migrates existing SQL CE databases into SQLite. To access and restore a SQL CE backup, use the NI VLM Database Migration Tool. This support tool is included as a recommended package when downloading the NI VLM installer from NI Package Manager.

NI VLM 3.3

New Features

  • Custom fields — Restrict custom field values to a discrete list of options.
  • Log files — Create a .zip file for all required debug log files. Select Tools » Save Debug Log Files menu item to save all debug files as a .zip file.
  • Server logs — Enable a user option to either append or overwrite the server log.

NI VLM 3.2

New Features

  • Volume license installers — Use volume license installers to deliver packages through NI Package Manager.

NI VLM 3.1

New Features

  • Reporting — Use the Reports view to determine how licenses are used.
  • Administrator Notifications — Use administrator notifications to receive important event notifications from NI VLM.
  • Email Clients Wizard — Use the Email Clients Wizard to email one or more clients.
  • Batch Update Custom Fields — Use Batch Update to modify a custom field value for multiple users or computers to a single, consistent value.
  • VLA Log Wizard — Use the VLA Log Wizard to generate and send a VLA Log to NI from within NI VLM. You can also set NI VLM to automatically send VLA Logs to NI.
  • Permission Request Client Notifications — Send emails automatically to clients when permission requests are handled.
  • Licenses View In-Use Tab — Use the Licenses view to see usage for unmanaged concurrent licenses and for clients assigned by IP address. You can also see what time an in-use license was checked out.
  • VLA Policies — Manage policies across client machines. You can control whether clients can use NI Update Service, can send error reports to NI, and can enroll in the Customer Experience Improvement Program.
  • Export Current Permissions — Run NI VLM with a command line option to export a list of current permissions to a file.