RSLogix 500 Activation Moving

B
I went through the presentation and as best I can tell they want an extra $150 for the dongle, and it appears there is no way to move any license except by going through AB (either telephone or internet). i can't imagine why they would think this is an improvement for most people.

Bob Peterson
 
D

DAVCO Automation

This is was Metso's DNA dcs does, my understanding. You start all your Engineering in Autocad, I will be looking into it soon and will try to update.

Dave
 
It's funny that those who state that the software should come with the hardware miss two things.

Software has to be purchased to use any PC. It doesn't "come" with the PC. Just because it isn't broken out from the associated hardware doesn't mean you're not paying for it. Nothing is free.

Those companies that DO give their software away have to... they couldn't sell that crap in it's current state.

Rockwell Software doesn't make hardware... Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley, Reliance, & Dodge) do. Rockwell Software is a separate company and as such needs to turn a profit. They give it away, they don't stay in business. How many others in here work for a company that gives away it's chief products & services.

Finally, because the number of people using PLC software is not even close to those using say Microsoft Office products, the lack of a large volume makes it all the more crucial that Rockwell Software (ore any other similarly situated company) takes steps to insure a more thoroughly managed return on invest by employing copy protection schemes and other measures. Someone above though they were big "command freaks" for doing this. That person obviously knoew little on R&D and ROI.
 
R

Ronald Sewell

I have no problem specifying and paying for AB software, which is generally of very good quality. Having said that, I believe it makes little difference if Rockwell Software is a separate but wholly owned entity or a division or whatever in terms of the activation discussion.

OK, lets follow this logic. Rockwell Software does go bust. No problem for Allen-Bradley. Nope. They make and sell hardware, not software. The fact that there is no way to program the PLCs will not in any way diminish their popularity with end users, because the hardware is excellent.

Not likely.

Well, there may be sound reasons for splitting off a software business, but it is rather naive to believe that PLC software and hardware are independent, at least now that third party developers are largely gone.

This is more about business that ethics, and suppliers and end users are obliged to look after their respective interests. On copy protection, they diverge.
 
M

marc sinclair

Hi,
I don't think the original poster wanted 'something for nothing' he just wanted to use what he'd paid for. Having been left stranded by faulty token systems from Omron, AB and Siemens, I understand the frustration.

--
Marc Sinclair
http://www.germainesystems.co.uk
 
S
That's not really a fair statement I don't think. There is potential upside to offering the limited trial version as people may decide they like the AB programming paradigm and one day specify AB hardware on a project that would not have otherwise had it. Meanwhile the downside is almost nonexistant: minimal or no development cost for this version, no support cost, and little chance of discouraging future sales (only people building machines with only the 16 point Micrologix and who never need tech support can use this as their sole programming software). The implicit comparison isn't really apples to apples.
--
Steve Myres, PE
Automation Solutions
(480) 813-1145
 
B

Bob Peterson

It looks like it is only for one model. I would guess they are doing this as a way of getting people to try their low end products. Who would buy a $125 controller an than pay $1500 for the software.

It seems unlikely that however many extra $125 PLCs they sell, that this is an attempt to sell PLCs by giving away the software.
 
C

Curt Wuollet

Of course that brings up the point that the incremental cost of the 10,000th copy of RSL is also pretty close to nothing which favors the give away the software to sell the hardware viewpoint.

Regards

cww
 
A

Automation Linse

I have that product - it is exactly ONE model last I looked; the $89 1761-L10BXB (and don't forget your $35 cable!) It is 24vdc power, four relay out, six 24vDC in - not likely the most common combination.

This has nothing to do with "financing this on the back of PLC sales, precisely the mechanism we are told can't happen."

This is only to cover the following 5 common "complaints".
1) We've used Modicon PLC since the dawn of time - we want to "try" an AB PLC but cannot convince the boss to spend $1000 for a "try".
2) We need "N" PLC to use for a training class ...
3) I am a student & want to learn PLC programming
4) We need an AB PLC for basic protocol testing (OPC, HMI, etc).
5) We need an AB PLC for basic support of small AB PLC with non-AB products.

Many of Digi's tech support people also have this combo for basic RSLogix500 exposure. We are customer #4 and #5 above.

Best regards
- LynnL, www.digi.com
 
C

Curt Wuollet

Hi Bob

I'm curious. What else would it be, given that the software is pretty worthless without a PLC and vice versa? I think it has a lot to do with many competitors making it reasonably cost effective to buy a low end PLC and use it. After all solving a small problem for <$200 is attractive. Add another zero and it's pretty much out of the question.

Regards

cww
 
M

marc sinclair

Hi,

The post I was referring to stated explicitly that

> Rockwell Software is a separate company and as such needs to turn a
> profit. They give it away, they don't stay in business. <

As stated, some people download the software and use it only with the supported hardware, Where do Rockwell Software make their profit then? Don't underestimate the cost to Rockwell to provide this software release. It is of course entirely possible that this was a speculative
release by an 'independent programming company' financed by future software sales, but I suspect that the finance for this project came from the promotional budget of AB. My point is simple, programming software can be financed in many different ways, come to think of it, all the programming packages I have were either given freely, included on training courses, or 'bundled' with initial hardware purchases of PLCs or Programmers, so for me this link has always existed.

--
Marc Sinclair
http://www.germainesystems.co.uk
 
It is very easy to copy your RSLogix 500 key and make as many as you want as long as you have a system with Windows 98 to make the copies on. You cannot make the copies in XP. But once you make them, you cna use them anywhere.
 
K

KERRY WORZELL MILWAUKEE,WI

With the restructuring of domestic manufacturing many corporations are cutting their
Engineering staffs and empowering technicians. dealing with activation keys is a real problem on the shop floor and in the field.

``10 or 20 different software protection schemes, exchanging laptops , upgrading operating systems,obsolete software and their keys,lost master disks,etc. point being many technicians are now able to upgrade or spec out systems such as idec that do not require activation schemes. one wonders if the bean counters are taking lost market share into their calculations.
 
Use EVMOVECF.EXE to move the activation TO the memory stick.
Use EVMOVEW.EXE to move the activation FROM the memory stick.


The memory stick needs to be formatted as FAT32.

To check to see what the current format is:

1. DOUBLE click on My Computer
2. RIGHT click on the drive that is the memory stick
3. LEFT click on properties
4. Under the General tab you can see the existing file format
5. It will be FAT or FAT32
6. If it is FAT32 you do not need to format the memory stick
7. If it is FAT you will need to reformat the memory stick

WARNING: reformatting will erase all data on the memory stick
To reformat the memory stick:
1. Double click on My Computer
2. RIGHT click on the drive that is the memory stick
3. LEFT click on format
4. Under File system use the down arrow to select FAT32
5. If the option FAT32 is not there, go to a different computer
6. Under format options make sure Quick Format is NOT selected
7. Click on start to begin format

If a firewall is blocking the attached files EVMoveCF and EVMoveW,
then go to this website:
http://www.ab.com/industrialcomputers/faq.html
Click on this link (IT’S THE 3RD QUESTION):
How do I transfer activations to a VersaView 200R non-display computer?
Select "DOWNLOAD EVMOVECF UTILITY"
This will get you ONLY the EVMoveCF utility
You can copy the EVMoveW utility from your master disk

Another option is to log into the Rockwell Automation Knowledgebase:
http://support.rockwellautomation.com/
1. Online Tools
2. Knowledge Base
3. Search by technote ID
4. Enter this tech note ID: G112630101
EVMoveCF and EVMoveW are both available for download from this tech note.

Created 05-20-2005 John Redella Changed 03-24-06
 
G

Graham Williams (RMIT University)

As a former technician and now teacher in this field I share your concerns.

The problem is largely restricted to Rockwell products. Most of the rest do not attempt to screw their customers for software licences.

The feedback I get from my students is that their are ways around the "sharing" activation and licence problems that are not in the manual.

My solution is simple.

I have just purchased a set of Siemens products.
 
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