Choose a SystemLink licensing option based on your goals and assign those licenses to your systems.

With SystemLink 2025 Q3 and later, the following license options are available.

License Users Nodes
SystemLink Base - Small 5 10
SystemLink Base - Medium 10 25
SystemLink Server - Volume License Manager Variable Variable

The number of user licenses and node licenses are fixed in a SystemLink Base license agreement. To complete a license activation, use ni.com or NI License Manager. The number of users licenses or nodes licenses are customizable to fit your requirements in a volume license agreement for SystemLink Server. To complete a license activation, use NI Volume License Manager.

After activating a single-seat license, a SystemLink Base license allows a specified number of users and nodes. These licenses also allow a few additional user accounts and node accounts for temporary variability. SystemLink relinquishes user licenses after a 30-day period of login inactivity. Node licenses are immediately available after removing the associated system through the Systems application.

For simple installation and simple activation, NI recommends a SystemLink Base Small or Medium license. If you need additional users or nodes, consider the following tables to determine the installation option that fits your needs.

  1. Install NI Volume License Manager.
    The computer that you install with Volume License Manager becomes a license server.
  2. Determine the installation option fits your needs.
    Number of SystemLink Servers Installation Option Description
    1 Install VLM on the same computer as SystemLink Server.
    • Reduces network complexity
    • Ensures SystemLink Server and VLM can always communicate
    1 Install VLM on a remote computer, separate from SystemLink Server
    • Allows you to use an existing license server
    • Requires connectivity between both machines
    Multiple Install VLM with each SystemLink Server installation
    • Reduces network complexity
    • Specifies node seat quantity for each server
    • Requires multiple license agreements
    Multiple Install VLM on one license server for multiple SystemLink Server installations
    • Connects multiple SystemLink Servers and nodes to a single license server
    • Enables transferring licenses among servers
  3. Determine whether you need a standard or advanced server license for SystemLink.
    Use Case Server License Type
    • One server with one workspace for all your data and systems
    • All machines are in the same location
    		 Standard
    • Users in your organization need varying levels of access to different data sets all on one server
    • Users in your organization can access SystemLink with their existing OpenID Connect credentials
    • Your machines are in various locations
    		 Advanced
  4. Purchase the server, user, and node licenses you need.

    SystemLink requires three license types.

    License type Description
    Server (Standard or Advanced) Use a server license for each SystemLink server.
    Module node Use a module node license for each SystemLink module. Examples of modules include the Software Configuration Module, Asset Module, and Test Module.
    Module user Use a module user license for each user who accesses a module.
The following table displays common setup scenarios and the corresponding licensing requirements.
Scenario Licensing requirements
  • 5 Validation benches running Windows
  • 5 PXI test systems
  • 1 central server with SystemLink
  • SystemLink Base - Small
  • 10 Windows PCs
  • 15 CompactRIO devices
  • 1 central server with SystemLink
  • SystemLink Base - Medium
  • 1 server for production
  • 1 server for development
  • 50 PC-based test systems for production
  • 10 targets for development
  • The production system and development system use different license servers
  • License server 1
    • Volume License Manager: 1 seat
    • SystemLink Server: 1 seat
    • SystemLink Module Node: 50 seats
    • SystemLink Module User: 5 seats
  • License server 2
    • Volume License Manager: 1 seat
    • SystemLink Server: 1 seat
    • SystemLink Module Node: 10 seats
    • SystemLink Module User: 1 seat
  • 3 servers to support 3 sites
  • Each site has 100 PXI test systems
  • All systems will use 1 central machine as a license server
  • Volume License Manager: 1 seat on remote machine
  • SystemLink Server: 3 seats
  • SystemLink Module Node: 300 seats
  • SystemLink Module User: 10 seats
After licensing SystemLink, continue the setup process for your server and clients.