how to restrict user to install my VB software

[omersiddiqui]

I have created a software using VB6.0 and SQL 7.0.. I want this software to be installed on specific PCs, the IP address of which i have defined on my package in some way..
so that the users don't install it on every PC, which they want ... how can i do this type of IP restriction ??
[sig][/sig]

 

[swilliams]

Unless there is some kind of utility in InstallShield for example, I don't think this is possible. What I would do is check the machine when the software runs and abort if it is one of your unwanted IP's.

This has dangers as it is easy enough to change IP addresses. Also, the machines may not have static IP addresses. [sig]<p>Simon<br>[/sig]

 

[sdb510]

A project that I'm working on right now does something in the ballpark as what you need. The project I'm working on is being released in a gradual series of deployments, so we have set up an installation system that checks the versions of the user's current application files against the most recent version numbers, which are stored in a SQL database table.
If the most recent version numbers are higher than the user's current versions, then the new files are copied onto the user's machine.

When the user clicks the icon on the desktop or in the Start menu, they think they are opening the application itself, but they are actually running this installation system. If the files need to be updated, they are automatically copied down from the file server, and the application is loaded.

You could probably do something similar, where the workstation names (not IP's), which are constant, are stored in a database table. Create a program that checks the table to see if the machine trying to open the application is in the table. If it is, install the program (run the setup routine). If it's not, display an error message and exit out.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you need more details.

Steve [sig][/sig]