SPSS: Licensing

Summary

SPSS should prompt for a choice of activation method when it finishes installing or the first time you launch SPSS.  Please read the following carefully to choose the correct option and the steps to take to activate SPSS.

There are two licensing options for SPSS: the network concurrent license server and the personal license code. We recommend the network concurrent license server for people who are able to be online when using SPSS, and who are able to also be on VPN if using SPSS off-campus.  If someone is not able to be online when using SPSS, or cannot be on the VPN when using SPSS off-campus, they can request a personal license code instead. This article provides detailed instructions on activating your installed SPSS software using either the network concurrent license server or the personal license code.

• To activate SPSS using the network concurrent license server - must be online to run SPSS, either on campus or connected to VPN. No limit on number of licenses of this type.
• To activate SPSS using the personal license code - recommended if you cannot be online when using SPSS or if you cannot connect to VPN when off-campus

How-To

Note: If you cannot be online when using SPSS or if you cannot connect to VPN when off-campus, we recommend requesting a personal license code.

You will setup your computer to check in with a central license server on the network to obtain a license each time the program runs. This means that whenever you use SPSS, you must be online on campus or connected to the VPN.  Once this is set up, though, you will never have to modify the configuration again for this version of SPSS. There are unlimited licenses available from the license server so you will never have to wait for a license to be available.

For computer labs or other situations where computers are on the campus network permanently, this is the only solution that is supported.

Instructions

If activating during installation:

Step 1 - Choose "Launch License Wizard." 

Step 2 - Choose "Concurrent user license".

Step 3 - Enter academic.unh.edu and click "Finish".

Step 4 - Restart the application.

Step 5 - Next Step - SPSS: Using SPSS

If activating after installation:

Step 1 - If not already licensed or did not activate during install, launch SPSS which will say that "No License exists for IBM SPSS or the license has expired."  

Step 2 - A dialogue box will appear.  Click "Launch License Wizard".  You may have to have local administrative privileges to perform this step.  

Step 3 - When prompted, select the Concurrent user license option and click Next.

Step 4 - Enter academic.unh.edu as the License Manager server name or IP address and continue through the rest of the tool, clicking "Finish" at the end.

Step 5 - You will be asked to restart SPSS to apply the license. Click "Restart" to restart the application.

Step 6 - At this point, SPSS will check in with our license server each time you launch the program.  You must be connected to the VPN before you launch SPSS.

Step 7 - Next Step - SPSS: Using SPSS

Outcome

You have successfully activated SPSS through the network concurrent license server. You must be connected to the VPN before you launch SPSS when using it in the future.

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If you are a graduate student, undergraduate student, or anyone else who cannot be online when using SPSS or cannot connect to VPN when off-campus, you may request a personal license code for SPSS.

First, submit an Academic Software Applications Request to ask for your license.  In addition to the usual fields, type SPSS in the Application field and detail why you need a personal license code in the Description field.  Your request will be reviewed and someone will follow up with further instructions.

After your request has been completed and you have received your personal license code, then you can activate SPSS with these instructions:

Instructions

Step 1 - You will need to have an active Internet connection during the activation process.  Be sure you are connected to the Internet.

Step 2 - If not already running, launch the SPSS License Authorization Wizard tool:

• If SPSS is not yet activated, run SPSS and click on the "Launch License Wizard" button on the Activate IBM SPSS Statistics pop up dialog box.
• If SPSS is activated already, open SPSS, click "File", "Manage License", and then "Launch License Wizard".

Step 3 - Proceed through it, clicking Next.

Step 4 - When prompted, select the Authorized user license option and click Next.

Step 5 - Copy/paste the activation code from the form into the Enter code: field and click Next.

Step 6 - Continue through the rest of the tool to activate SPSS.

Step 7 - Next Step - SPSS: Using SPSS

Outcome

You have successfully activated SPSS with personal license code.

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Further Readings

Academic Software Applications Request

SPSS: Installing on Windows

SPSS: Installing on MacOS

SPSS: Fixing MacOS Sonoma "Server Login" Error

SPSS: Using SPSS

Need additional help?

Visit the Technology Help Desk Support page to locate your local campus contact information or to submit an online technology support request.  For password issues you must call or visit the Help Desk in person.