1.2.2.1: Network license (archived)
Guide to running Karamba3D with a network license. Network licenses are only available for companies or institutions.
This guide is for network licenses generated before 18/05/2020.
If you are updating an existing network license, simply skip to the Upgrade section.
A network license can only be installed with the McNeel Zoo 6 License network server (only for Rhino7, Rhino6 or Rhino5 64bit). Network licenses generated before 14.02.2018 run with Rhino5 64 bit only. Please email us should you wish to run your existing network licenses with Rhino6.
All network licenses generated before 19.08.2015 run with Zoo 5.0 only. Licenses generated after 19.08.2015 run with Zoo 6.0 only.
Installation
1. Unblock License Package
Make sure you have Karamba3D installed and Zoo6 License Administrator installed.
You will have received a license package upon purchasing the license. Make sure to unblock the license package before unpacking it. Right click on the file in Windows Explorer and go to Properties. If the file is blocked, there will be an option to ‘Unblock’ the file at the bottom of the Properties Window. You may need to adjust your Administrator or Security settings to be able to unblock the file.
2. Unzip License Package
Unzip the contents of the network license package. It should contain the following files:
ActivationKey.txt
Karamba_1_x_x_ZooPlugin.dll
Karamba_1_x_x_Rhino5Plugin.rhp
Karamba_1_x_x_Rhino6Plugin.rhp
README.txt
3. Zoo Administrator
Open the Zoo Administrator. The Zoo Administrator needs to be first stopped before installing the license. Click on the Stop Icon.
4. Move License Files
Copy the "Karamba_1_x_x_ZooPlugin.dll" into C:\Program Files (x86)\Zoo 6.0\Plugins folder.
5. Start Zoo Service
Start the Zoo Service in the Zoo Administrator. Click on the Start Icon.
6. Install License
Click on the Add Product Icon or select Add from the Edit Menu. A window will pop up where you can select "Karamba_ZooLicense" from the Product type. Enter your personal details for Registered owner and organisation. Both entries need to be filled in. The Product license code or CD key can be found in the ActivationKey.txt located in the ZIP package. This should be a 12 digit code. Click OK and the license should now be loaded.
If the "Karamba_ZooLicense" is not listed in the dropdown menu, close and reopen the Zoo Administrator and check if the file is located in the correct folder. Make sure the Zoo License Server is updated.
7. Copy Rhino Plugin Files
Copy the "Karamba_1_x_x_RhinoPlugin.rhp" into the Plugins folder of the Rhino installation on each of the computers which will use the licenses.
This is typically C:\Program Files\Rhino 6\Plug-ins. or C:\Program Files\Rhinoceros 5 (64-bit)\Plug-ins or alternatively C:\Program Files\Rhinoceros 5.0 (64-bit)\Plug-ins.
8. Install Rhino Plugin
Open Rhino and open the Plug-ins Manager in Rhino Options (Tools/Options/Rhino Options/Plug-ins).
Click on Install and select the "Karamba_1_x_x_RhinoPlugin.rhp" file in the Plug-ins Folder.
9. Select Network Server
A window will pop up to initiate the plugin. Select the Network Node and either select Detect Zoo Server automatically or enter you Zoo server name in the Use the following Zoo Server:. Select Test Connectivity and another window will pop up to confirm a successful license installation.
11. Load License
Close Rhino Options and in the Command Prompt type karamba.
The license will initialize and output the License information.
11. Automate License Load
The Karamba3D license can simply be loaded by typing karamba each time Rhino loads, but this process can be automated in the Tools/Options/Rhino Options/General.
Type karamba into the Command Lists textbox. The license will then be automatically loaded upon opening Rhino.
12. Check License Status
Place the "License"-component onto the grasshopper canvas and connect a panel to it. The panel displays the status and expiration of the license.
Check License
Restart Rhino and your PRO or EDU license should run.
Upon successful installation of the license you should be able to open example files which have more than 20 beam elements or 50 shell elements. Double check if the license and correct Karamba3D version are installed by opening this check definition.
Perform a remote installation of the Zoo network license
On a test machine, install Karamba3D.
Run Rhino and Karamba3D.
When prompted for a Karamba3D license, enter the name of your Zoo server.
Close Rhino.
Open this folder in Explorer: %allusersprofile%\McNeel\Rhinoceros\6.0\License Manager\Licenses
In this folder you should see at least two .lic files. The 55500d41-3a41-4474-99b3-684032a4f4df.lic file is for Rhino 6. The other should be for Karamba3D. Note, the file name will make the Id of the Karamba3D plug-in (Tools > Options > Plug-ins)
When using the Zoo, the license file is plain text and can be viewed from Notepad. It can also be copied from machine to machine.
So in addition to pushing out the required registry key, required by the Rhino licensing system to find the Zoo, copy the Karamba3D license file to each machine.
Rhino 7 licenses are stored also in the Rhino 6 folder.
Update an existing license
1. Unblock License Package
You will have received a new license package. Make sure to unblock the license package before unpacking it. Right click on the file in Windows Explorer and go to Properties. If the file is blocked, there will be an option to ‘Unblock’ the file at the bottom of the Properties Window. You may need to adjust your Administrator or Security settings to be able to unblock the file.
2. Unzip License Package
Unzip the contents of the network license package. It should contain the following files:
ActivationKey.txt
Karamba_1_x_x_ZooPlugin.dll
Karamba_1_x_x_Rhino5Plugin.rhp
Karamba_1_x_x_Rhino6Plugin.rhp
README.txt
3. Zoo Administrator
Open the Zoo Administrator. Select the "Karamba 1.x.x License" from the list of network licenses. Click the Delete License Icon.
4. Stop Zoo Server
The Zoo Administrator needs to be first stopped before installing the license. Click on the Stop Icon.
5. Replace License Files
Copy the "Karamba_1_x_x_ZooPlugin.dll" into C:\Program Files (x86)\Zoo 6.0\Plugins folder. Make sure to replace the existing file.
6. Start Zoo Service
Start the Zoo Service in the Zoo Administrator. Click on the Start Icon.
7. Install License
Click on the Add Product Icon or select Add from the Edit Menu. A window will pop up where you can select "Karamba_ZooLicense" from the Product type. Enter your personal details for Registered owner and organisation. Both entries need to be filled in. The Product license code or CD key can be found in the ActivationKey.txt located in the ZIP package. This should be a 12 digit code. Click OK and the license should now be loaded.
If the "Karamba_ZooLicense" is not listed in the dropdown menu, close and reopen the Zoo Administrator and check if the file is located in the correct folder.
8. Load License
The old Rhino plugin files will work with the new Zoo license. To reinstall the Rhino plugin see Step 8 above.
Open Rhino and in the Command Prompt type karamba.
The license will initialize and output the License information.
9. Automate License Load
The Karamba3D license can simply be loaded by typing karamba each time Rhino loads, but this process can be automated in the Tools/Options/Rhino Options/General.
Type karamba into the Command Lists textbox. The license will then be automatically loaded upon opening Rhino.
10. Check License Status
Place the "License"-component onto the grasshopper canvas and connect a panel to it. The panel displays the status and expiration of the license. Additional checks can be performed with the test script.
Last updated
