Running Orcad Capture on a Mac, Using VMware Fusion and Windows Vista

 I am running Orcad Capture 16.2 on my MacBook Pro 17" computer. Here are instructions on how to set everything up.

I am using the FlexID (USB key) licensing method. This uses an Aladdin FLEXnet USB key, provided with the Orcad software package.

The setup is straightforward:

1. Install VMWare Fusion Version 1.1.1 (72241) or later.
2. Install Windows Vista Home Basic.
3. Start VMware.
4. Start up Vista. Perform all the following steps in the Vista OS.
5. Buy / download / install Symantec Antivirus 10.2

http://www.symantec-norton.com/Symantec_Antivirus_10.2_p33.aspx?par=goo_us_corp_symantec_antivirus_10.2&gclid=CJXHgr23jZsCFShRagodcFo6pQ

6. Install the Orcad FLEXnet key (dongle) in a USB port. Ignore any questions Vista asks about New Hardware Found.
7. Download and install the Aladdin FLEXnet HASP SRM USB Driver "HASP_SRM_Run- time_setup.zip" from the Aladdin website

http://www.aladdin.com/support/hasp-srm/enduser.aspx

During the driver install, the FLEXnet key will be recognized, and Vista will indicate that the New Hardware is working and ready to be used (in the System Tray, lower right of the screen).

8. Locate the Orcad license file and control file from your software vendor. The files I got from EMA Design Automation had filenames that were so long that Visa would not recognize them. Change the filenames to license.dat and controlfile.txt. Put these on your Vista desktop or somewhere smarter so it will be easy to browse for them later.

9. Find out the Vista host name of your machine:

Start / All Programs / Accessories / Command Prompt
type "hostname" <return> without the quotes.
Write down the hostname for later.

10. Insert the Orcad Install disk. Install the Cadence License Manager. During the License Manager install, you will be prompted for the license file, and asked to enter the hostname of your machine.

11. From the Orcad Install disk, install Capture. You will be prompted for the controlfile.txt file. This tells Orcad what components to install.

12. At the end of the Orcad install, close the installer and eject the Orcad disk.

13. Make sure the License Manager has the correct hostname.

Start / All Programs / Cadence / License Manager / License Client Configuration Utility

Make sure the License Path window lists the correct hostname: Mine says:

5280@(myhostname)

Click next, click finish

14. Make sure the License Manager can access the FLEXnet key, start the License Manager

Remove and reinsert the FLEXnet key. If the Aladdin driver was installed successfully, the red LED in the key will come on.

Start / All Programs / Cadence / License Manager / LmTools

Click the Configuration using License File radio button

Browse to the license file

Click the System Settings tab. The Computer/Hostname field in the upper left should have the correct hostname. In FLEXID field on the lower left, you should see a string that starts with '9". If this field is blank, you are hosed.

Click the Server Status tab

Click the Perform Status Enquiry button

At the bottom of the dialog box, it should indicate

Users of Capture: (Total of 1 license issued, Total of 0 licenses in use)

If you get to here, you are golden. Capture will run with no problem.

15. Start Orcad Capture

Start / All Programs / Orcad 16.2 / Orcad Capture

Orcad should start. If it asks you a question about starting in demo mode, you are hosed.

16 Put Capture and LmTools on your Quickstart menu.

17. Everytime you restart VMware and Vista, you will need to remove and reinsert the FLEXnet key, and restart the License Server before Orcad will run.

Start VMware / Vista

Remove and reinsert the FLEXnet key

Launch LmTools

Click the Start/Stop/Reread tab

Click the ReRead License File button. Wait for it to finish.

Click the Server Status tab

Click the Perform Status Enquiry button

At the bottom of the dialog box, it should indicate

Users of Capture: (Total of 1 license issued, Total of 0 licenses in use)

Launch Capture
 

Good luck!