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dBoggs1-Visitor
1-Visitor
November 7, 2014
Question

Licensing trouble with tablet computers

  • November 7, 2014
  • 13 replies
  • 4085 views

A few months ago my office equiped me with a "tablet computer"--in this case a Dell Venue Pro, which is functionally equivalent (more or less) to the better-known Microsoft Surface Pro. I upgraded to Prime 3, and eventually got it installed and licensed. Then the trouble started--it will not work on the road, because of "invalid license."

After a lot of effort, the problem was tracked to the fact that these computers do not have a resident Ethernet adapter. That adapter is in the docking station that I use when in the office. The license is keyed to the MAC address of the Ethernet--i.e., to the docking station hardware. So I can use Mathcad on the road as long as I carry the docking station with me! Kind of defeats the purpose, no?

I have worked out some alternatives with PTC support but none of them are practical or accomplish the flexibility I expected. That is one problem. The other problem is that PTC does not state this as a requirement of Mathcad usage.

Just another example of PTC's abhorrent licensing practices.

13 replies

Werner_E
Werner_E25-Diamond I
25-Diamond I
November 7, 2014

Yes, PTCs licensing chains are ever so often a pain.

I guess PTC support was kind enough to send you a license file which is bound to the WLAN MAC of your tablet. So you are forced to switch license files via option menu depending on whether you use the docking station or not.

Mathcad 15 is a bit user friendlier in that repsect as it will accept a license file bound to ANY NIC in the system. So you could use the license file for the WLAN card in any situation. Prime insists on what it detects as "primary" NIC and that will be the ethernet when using the docking station and the WLAN when you are on the road.

If I remember correct it was Valery who once posted that in Russia people buy Mathcad but install and use a cracked version - just out of convenience. Is that really the path PTC wants us to go?

N
nas0k1-Visitor
1-Visitor
November 7, 2014

I too had a similar issue. I use a Dell Ultrabook. After a few phone calls to PTC with our IT folks present, what was needed was a second license; as if I were operating a second home version of MC. With both licenses installed, that seems to do the trick.

I hope this helps.

Norm

Werner_E
Werner_E25-Diamond I
25-Diamond I
November 7, 2014

Do you need to switch between those licenses yourself similar to what I described in my first answer or is there a way to let Prime do it automatically? As I understood you have two different license files (usually namd license.dat) now.

N
nas0k1-Visitor
1-Visitor
November 7, 2014

No, which is surprising, but a different (MAC? ) id may have been given; one while I'm on ny network, one when I'm on wirelrss. It challenged my patients as may of the MC customers are going thru these days, but I got there eventually.

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