Support XSI 5 Archive
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XSI 5 How To Articles
- How To: Install the Dongle Driver
Sometimes the SPM installation does not successfully install the dongle driver. This article explains how to install the dongle driver from the Device Manager. For 64-bit SPM, see How To: Install Dongle Driver on 64-bit Windows.
- How To: Install XSI on a standalone computer
Step-by-step instructions for installing XSI.
- How To: Install SPM
Step-by-step instructions for installing the SPM License Server. For 64-bit SPM, see How To: Install SPM on 64-bit Windows.
- How To: Generate a License Request
Explains how to use Lictools to generate license request, and how to fill in the License Request form.
- How To: Install Your License Key
Shows you how to install your license key so you can finally start using XSI.
XSI 5 Troubleshooting
can't open port IBU for dongle type SI0
When you get the error message
can't open port IBU for dongle type 'SIO'
the troubleshooting steps are:
- Check the Device Manager
- If the dongle is not recognized:
- reinstall the dongle driver
- If the dongle still does not show up in Device Manager, unplug the dongle and then plug it back in.
- If Windows does not recognize the device, try all other available USB ports.
- If you are running SPM 1307 (the version that comes with XSI 5.x), then try v4.0 of the dongle driver, which you can download from
http://www.maxim-ic.com/products/ibutton/software/tmex/index.cfm
- If no other USB port works, install SPM and the dongle on a different computer. If the dongle does not work on another computer, it is most likely a defective dongle and you should contact support@softimage.com.
- If the dongle is not recognized:
No Interactive License Available
Problem
When you try to start XSI, you get this License failure message:
--------------------------- License failure --------------------------- Error: there is no interactive license available to run XSI --------------------------- OK ---------------------------
Troubleshooting
There are many possible causes for a "no interactive license" error, including:
- The SPM license server is not running.
- There are no licenses installed.
- There are no licenses available.
- The SPM_HOST environment variable is not set correctly.
- Security software (such as Zone Alarm) is blocking XSI from communicating with the License Server
This article includes some basic troubleshooting steps.
Check the License Server
- Open the Softimage Licensing Tool (click Start > All Programs > Softimage Products > SOFTIMAGE Licensing > Lictools).
-
Is the license server running? You can tell by looking at the Start Server and Stop Server buttons. If you cannot click the Start Server button, then the license server is running.
License server is not running Click Verify Status.
Then click Check Local Server. Do you get this message?
License token was granted successfully ...
- Click SPMstat. What do you see? You should see a list of available license tokens. Make sure there is a free license.
Check the SPM_HOST environment variable
The SPM_HOST environment variable is set by setenv.bat.
- Open a Softimage command prompt (click Start > All Programs > Softimage Products > SOFTIMAGE XSI 5.0> Command Prompt).
Type this command and press ENTER
echo %SPM_HOST%
This prints the value of the environment variable SPM_HOST. What value is printed?
XSI uses SPM_HOST to find the license server.
Possible values of SPM_HOST are:
- The name of the license server computer (the computer where the license server and dongle are installed). You can use the hostname command to get the name of a computer.
- The IP address of the license server computer. Use the ipconfig command to get the IP address.
- Nothing. If SPM_HOST is not set, XSI assumes that the license server is the local computer. If SPM_HOST is not set, then the echo command will print "%SPM_HOST%".
Check the port used by XSI to communicate with the license server
In the Softimage command prompt, run the following command:
telnet hostname 7050
-or-
telnet ipaddress 7050
where
- hostname = the name of your computer
- ipaddress = the IP address displayed when you run the ipconfig command
You should see something like this
SPMD_ACK☺☺
- To exit the telnet session, do this: press Ctrl+], type quit, and press Enter.
License Server Problems
Cannot start LicTools
Problem
When you try to start the Softimage Licensing Tool (Lictools.exe), it just flashes quickly on the screen and exits immediately.
Possible Solutions
First, check %windir%\system32\drivers\etc\services. Is there an entry for mi-spm? You should see something like this:
mi-spm 7050/tcp #
If there is no entry for mi-spm, add one.
Second, check whether the type of this registry entry
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\TCPIP\Parameters\DatabasePath
was changed from REG_EXPAND_SZ to REG_SZ. It should be REG_EXPAND_SZ. Also, verify that the value of the DatabasePath is %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc and that the services file is located in that folder.
To change the type back to REG_EXPAND_SZ:
- Click Start > Run. In the Run dialog box, type regedit and then click OK.
- Find this registry value and rename it (for example, to DatabasePath.Old):
- HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\TCPIP\Parameters\DatabasePath
- HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\TCPIP\Parameters\DatabasePath
- Create a new Expandable String Value with the same name and value.
- Click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\TCPIP\Parameters
- In the right side of the Registry Editor, right-click DataBasePath, click Rename, and type a new name such as OldDatabasePath.
- Right-click Parameters and then click New > Expandable String Value.
- Type the name DataBasePath.
- Set the value of DataBasePath to %SystemRoot%\System32\drivers\etc.
Note The following are known to change the type of the DataBasePath registry value:
- Starting MSN Messenger 7.5 "Connection Troubleshooter" (Build 7.5.0299).
- Installing of MSN Messenger 7.0 or MSN Messenger 7.5 with the option automatic scanning and configuration of ports.
Cannot start the license server
Problem You cannot start the license server. When you click Start Server. nothing happpens.
Solution
-
Check that you have licenses installed. The server won't start if there are no licenses installed. If you check the Server Log, you'll see something like this:
Jun/22/06 14:39:11 ERROR: SPM_ERROR (C:\WINDOWS\system32\spm\spmdib.exe): Keyfile "C:\WINDOWS\system32\spm\spm-kf" doesn't exist. Jun/22/06 14:39:11 ALERT: SPM_FATAL ERROR (C:\WINDOWS\system32\spm\spmdib.exe) : No accessible file with KeyDataBase specified. Jun/22/06 14:39:11 CRITICAL: fatal error: "No accessible file with KeyDataBase specified.". Jun/22/06 14:39:12 ERROR: SPMD "C:\WINDOWS\system32\spm\spmdib.exe (Ver.1.1.11 [Build 1307])" terminated.
- Check that the SPM License Server service is installed and that the service has not been disabled. (To check, click Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services.)
Cannot get a license
Problem
When you click Check Local Server you get this error:
An error occurred trying to checkout a license Token ! ... --------------------------------- Can't connect to any SPM license server.
Solution
First, make sure the license server is running. If the server is running, then the Stop Server button is bolded and the Start Server button is grayed out.
Then check that your firewall (for example, Zone Alarm) is not blocking the port used by the SPM license server. By default, SPM uses the port 7050. To check which port SPM uses, look in %windir%\system32\drivers\etc\services.
If you still cannot get a license, then check that SPM is using a free port.
In a text editor, open %windir%\system32\drivers\etc\services.
Find the line that looks like this:
mi-spm 7050/tcp #
Now check if another program (http://www.petri.co.il/quickly_find_local_open_ports.htm) is using the same port as mi-spm.
If so, edit the services file so that mi-spm uses a free port. Then restart the SPM License Server service.
