FAQs

IBM SPSS
Support FAQs

IBM SPSS Frequently Asked Questions

Answering common queries and questions about installing and licensing IBM SPSS Software in clear, easy-to-follow language.

General Questions

General non-software specific questions and how to resolve common error codes

  • Before you install any SPSS software you should check if your OS meets the software requirements. To find out if your OS meets the recommended software requirements please click on the following link IBM Compatibility Reports.

  • Authorised License: No you are unable to install SPSS Software with a site license in a virtual environment.

    Network/Concurrent License: Yes you are able to license SPSS software in a virtual environment

  • Please follow the steps below to locate your lock code.

    Windows

    1. Go to the folder where the SPSS software is installed. The default locations for SPSS Statistics 29 and SPSS Modeler 18.5 are shown below.

    IBM SPSS Statistics: C:\Program Files\IBM\SPSS Statistics

    IBM SPSS Modeler: C:\Program Files\IBM\SPSS\Modeler.5\bin

    1. Locate the application ‘law.exe’ and double-click on the application
    2. On the opened license Authorization Wizard window select ‘Next’
    3. It should display your lock code for your machine on the next window.

    An example of a lock code is 4-224EF1.

    Mac

    This will vary depending on the SPSS software you have installed. The below example is for SPSS Statistics version 29.

    1. Search in Spotlight for the ‘SPSS Statistics 29 License Authorization Wizard’
    2. On the opened Licensed Authorization Wizard select ‘Next’
    3. It should display your lock code for your machine on the next window

    An example of a lock code is 4-224EF1.

  • Make sure you have the latest fix pack installed for your SPSS software version. 

    If the issue persists, please uninstall and reinstall the software onto your machine.

    If you still receive the error, please open a ticket with our support team.

  • This error occurs when the client machine is having difficulty connecting to the specified network license manager. Please follow the below steps to resolve the issue

    Windows

    Go to the folder where the SPSS software is installed

    The default locations for SPSS Statistics 29 and SPSS Modeler 18.5 are shown below

    SPSS Statistics 29: C:\Program Files\IBM\SPSS Statistics

    SPSS Modeler 18.5: C:\Program Files\IBM\SPSS\Modeler.3\bin

    Locate a file named “spssprod” and open in a text editor

    Verify the “DaemonHost” value matches the Hostname or IP Address of the machine where the License Manager is installed and if not please change

    Mac

    Open up FINDER

    Open up the APPLICATIONS folder

    Open up the IBM folder

    Open up the SPSS folder

  • The issue occurs when your machine is missing the C++ Runtime component. To resolve this issue please follow the steps below:

    Go to the installation directory of SPSS

    An example of this for SPSS Statistics 29 is “C:\Program Files\IBM\SPSS Statistics”

    Once there locate and open the folder named “VC14”

    There should be an application named either “vcredist_x64” or “vcredist_x86”

    Double click on the application and the C++ Runtime component should start to install

    Start your SPSS software once the software is installed

  • SPSS software by default comes with a license file to store the software’s license. As you are retrieving your license through your network, there may be issues. The software can look for the license in the license file, rather than through the network. To resolve this issue please follow the steps below depending on your OS.

    Windows

    1. Go to the folder where the SPSS software is installed
    2. The default location for SPSS Statistics 29 and SPSS Modeler 18.5 are shown below
    3. SPSS Statistics 29: C:\Program Files\IBM\SPSS Statistics
    4. SPSS Modeler 18.5 C:\Program Files\IBM\SPSS\Modeler.5\bin
    5. Locate and delete the file named “lservrc”.

    Mac

    1. Open up FINDER
    2. Open up the APPLICATIONS folder
    3. Open up the IBM folder
    4. Open up the SPSS folder
    5. Locate and delete the file named “lservrc”.
  • If you are a customer of Version 1, yes you can transfer license from one machine to another. We will first need proof that the software has been removed from the original machine. This will be in the form of before during and after screenshots of the uninstalling process.

  • SPSS Statistics FAQs

    Questions specific to IBM SPSS Statistics and IBM SPSS Amos

  • Please follow the guide below on how to install SPSS Statistics

    Installation and Licensing Guide for IBM SPSS Statistics

  • Please follow the guide below on how to install SPSS Statistics 29 Network

    Installation Guide for SPSS Statistics 29 Network

  • Please follow the guide below on how to install SPSS Statistics 29 Site

    Installation Guide for SPSS Statistics 29 Site

  • To remove SPSS Statistics from your machine please follow the steps below:

    Windows

    Open Windows Search and type Control Panel.

    Once open click Program -> Uninstall a program.

    Once you have located SPSS Statistics from the list right click on it and select Uninstall.

    Mac

    Drag the installation folder to the Trash. By default, this is /Applications/IBM/SPSS/Statistics/<Version Number>.

    Empty the Trash.

  • The commuter license feature enables you to continue using a network license without being connected to the network.

    (Note: To check out a commuter license you must be connected to the network.)

    Check Out a License

    1. Choose Commuter License in the Windows Start menu program group for IBM SPSS Statistics.
    2. Select the license that you want to check out.
    3. In the Duration box, enter the number of days for which you want to check out the license. There is a limit that your administrator configures.
    4. Click Check Out

    Check In a License

    1. Choose Commuter License in the Windows Start menu program group for IBM SPSS Statistics.
    2. Select the license that you want to check in. License(s) that you checked out are indicated by a check mark.
    3. Click Check In.
  • Please follow this Installation guide to install SPSS AMOS 29 Site.

    Please follow this installation guide to install SPSS AMOS 29 Network 

  • You will need to ask our SPSS Support team to raise a license file. This can be done via the ‘Log a Support Ticket’ button at the bottom of the FAQ Page.

  • You will need the latest version of SPSS Statistics (v29.0.2.0) to run SPSS on machines with Sonoma 14.0 or higher. This can be found on our downloads page. If you are a student please contact your academic IT team.

  • SPSS Modeler FAQs

    Questions specific to IBM SPSS Modeler

  • Please follow the guide below on how to install SPSS Modeler:

    Installation and Licensing Guide – Windows IBM SPSS Modeler 18.5

    Installation and Licensing Guide – Mac IBM SPSS Modeler 18.5

    Installation and Licensing Guide IBM SPSS Modeler 18.4

    Installation and Licensing Guide IBM SPSS Modeler 18.3

  • To remove SPSS Modeler from your machine please follow the steps below:

    Windows

    Open Windows Search and type Control Panel.

    Once open click Program -> Uninstall a program.

    Once you have located Modeler from the list right click on it and select Uninstall.

    Mac

    Drag the installation folder to the Trash. By default, this is /Applications/IBM/SPSS/Modeler/<Version Number>.

    Empty the Trash.

  • The commuter license feature enables you to continue using a network license without being connected to the network.

    (Note: To check out a commuter license you must be connected to the network.)

    Check Out a License

    1. Choose Commuter License in the Windows Start menu program group for IBM SPSS Modeler.
    2. Select the license that you want to check out.
    3. in the Duration box, enter the number of days for which you want to check out the license. There is a limit that your administrator configures.
    4. Click Check Out.

    Check In a License

    1. Choose Commuter License in the Windows Start menu program group for IBM SPSS Modeler.
    2. Select the license that you want to check in. License(s) that you checked out are indicated by a check mark.
    3. Click Check In.
  • SPSS License Manager

    Questions specific to IBM SPSS License Manager

  • Once the license manager has been successfully installed you will then be able to add licenses which your users can use for their intended software.

    To add licenses to your license manager please follow the step below:

    Open command prompt on your server as administrator.

    Change directory to the installation directory of your license manager. An example of this would be:

    cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\SafeNet Sentinel\Sentinel RMS License Manager\WinNT\

    Type licenseactivator followed by your authorisation code you have been provided with.

    You should receive a message stating whether the activation has been successful or not.

    If you receive any errors or are unable to add your license please contact our technical support.

  • Once your license has been successfully added you can now enable commuter licenses which can allow users to temporarily use their license outside of your network. You can also create a usage log file which allows you to track information relative to your license manager. To create both please follow the steps below:

    Go to the environment variables window on your server.

    An example location of said variables would be:

    Control Panel -> System and Security -> System -> Advanced System Settings -> Environment Variables.

    Create an environment variable named  LSERVOPTS on your server where you can define how many of your network licenses could be checked out as commuter license. A value of -com 50 means that 50% of your available network tokens are available as commuter license.
    The value -l “C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\SafeNet Sentinel\Sentinel RMS License Manager\slm_log.txt” means that a usage log file is created on the installation directory.

    LSERVOPTS
    -com 50 -l “C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\SafeNet Sentinel\Sentinel RMS License Manager\slm_log.txt”

  • There are different ways to uninstall SPSS License Manager depending on the version you have installed.

    Please follow the steps below

    From the Windows Start menu, choose:

    Settings > Control Panel

    Double-click Add/Remove Programs.

    Version 9.5 or Lower

    Select IBM SPSS Concurrent Licensing Tools and then click Remove.

    Click Yes when prompted to remove the Concurrent Licensing Tools.

    SPSS License Manager 9.6 or higher

    Select IBM SPSS Concurrent Licensing Tools – License Manager and then click Remove.

    Click Yes when prompted to remove the license manager.

    Select Sentinel RMS License Manager and then click Remove.

    Click Yes when prompted to remove the license manager.

  • If you are installing your license manager in a virtual environment one of the prerequisites is to find a stable lock code.

    If a license manager is installed in a virtual environment without finding a stable lock code the licenses stored in said license manager will be removed upon either restart of the license manager service or restart of the server the license manager is housed on.

    To find a stable lock code please follow the steps below:

    Go to the installation directory of your license manager

    An example of this is: “C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\SafeNet Sentinel\Sentinel RMS License Manager\WinNT”

    Locate a file named “echoid.dat” and open said file in a text editor (e.g. Notepad)

    Determine whether you will using the hostname or IP address of the License Manager to identify the location of the License Manager host to the client product installations using the License Manager for licensing

    If you will be using the hostname of the license manager machine please change the value inside the file to the below

    0x008

    If you will be using the ip address of the license manager machine please change the value inside the file to the below

    0x002

    Once completed please save the file

    Your lock code will now be stable.

  • (Note: The UDP ports required by the License Manager host(s) cannot be changed.)

    License Manager 
    – Solo (non-redundant): Port 5093 UDP
    – Redundant (all hosts): Port 5093 UDP AND port 5099 UDP

    Clients Machine
    At least one TCP/IP port must be open.

  • You will need to ask our SPSS Support team to raise a license file. This can be done via the ‘Log a Support Ticket’ button at the bottom of the FAQ Page.

  • For Further Assistance

    If you don’t find your solution here, please log a support ticket with as much information as possible and a member of the team will get in touch. 

    You will receive a First Response to your enquiry within 24 hours and a resolution within 5 working days.

    Log a Support Ticket

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