Fixing a Renamed PC/Host Name for OpenLab ChemStation C.01.08 or Later

Answer

This information applies to: Agilent OpenLab ChemStation Edition C.01.08 or later – Standalone Workstation.

Issue

When a PC name has changed, OpenLab ChemStation will no longer launch the configured instrument due to a license error or instrument controller error. 

Background

• Error "Failed to acquire one or more mandatory licenses.”
  The license file is created for a specific configuration and is tied to a PC name and MAC address of the Network Interface Controller (NIC) card.
  If the PC Name or MAC address of the NIC card is changed, the existing license file becomes invalid. To recreate the license file with the new PC name or MAC address, see: How to Return and Update a License File.
  
  
• Error "Connection to Instrument controller has failed."
  During installation for a standalone workstation, the PC name is registered as the instrument controller. If PC name is changed, a new controller is not registered automatically and causes the old controller to be unresolved. Instruments configured with the original instrument controller will no longer work.

Steps to Follow

Ensure that authentication is turned off by going to Control Panel of OpenLab ChemStation > Administration > Local Configuration > Authentication – None. If the authentication is set up, log in as an administrator and turn off authentication.

Caution: Before setting the authentication provider to None, it is highly recommended to create a backup of the Shared Services using OpenLab Shared Services Maintenance so none of the user group settings are lost.

There are three solutions depending on the user situation: 

1. Solution if the user can change the current PC name back to the original PC name.
2. Solution if the user can temporarily change the PC name back to the original PC name.
3. Workaround when users cannot change the PC name back to the original PC name.

Solution 1: User can change the current PC name back to the original PC name.

If possible, revert the PC name to the previous name permanently to match the original instrument controller. The original PC name can be found in the Control Panel of OpenLab ChemStation > Administration > Instrument Controller > PC Name (Figure 1).

As the specific steps to change PC names can change between different versions of Windows OS, it is best to do an Internet search for a method to change your PC name that works with the specific version of Windows OS you are currently running on your Workstation PC.

Figure 1. PC Name in OpenLab Control Panel

Caution: Before changing a PC name, it is important to check with your organization's IT administrator that this PC name change will not cause any other issues on the organization's network.

Solution 2: User can temporarily change PC name back to the original PC name.

1. Back up any ChemStation content such as data, methods, sequences, etc. at C:\Users\Public\Documents\ChemStation. Also, back up the ChemStation.ini file at C:\ProgramData\Agilent Technologies\ChemStation (Figure 2).

   
   
   Figure 2. Backup ChemStation.ini file 
   1. Hidden Items, 2. ChemSation.ini file
   
   

2. Temporarily change the current PC name back to the original PC name.
3. Reboot the PC.
4. Delete the instruments configured in OpenLab Control Panel (Figure 3). This will also delete the instrument in the ChemStation.ini file and will rename the instrument folder to <instrumentname_000> (Figure 4). 
   Note: Take note which configured instrument refers to the numbered folders. Typically, the first instrument created is 1 and so on.
   

   
   
   Figure 3. Delete Instrument in OpenLab Control Panel
   
   

   
   
   Figure 4. Location of deleted instrument folder
   
   

5. Rename the PC to the new (to-be-permanent) PC name and reboot the PC again. Check that the PC name has changed as expected.
6. Launch OpenLab Control Panel and ensure that no instruments are configured.
7. Run the registerCS.bat file at C:\Program Files (x86)\Agilent Technologies\ChemStation\CORE to set the new PC name as the instrument controller (Figure 5).
8. As a result, a new PC name is shown under Instrument Controllers (Figure 6).
   

   
   
   Figure 5. Run registerCS.bat
   
   

   
   
   Figure 6. Old and New Instrument Controllers 
   1. Old Instrument Controller, 2. New Instrument Controller
   
   

9. If users did not make a copy of ChemStation.ini file as instructed in step 1 before deleting any instruments, configure the new instrument(s) and manually move all ChemStation content over to the newly created instrument folder(s).
   If users did make a copy of the chemstation.ini file, then restore the ChemStation content by following these steps:
   
   
   1. Replace the current ChemStation.ini file with the backup copy that you made in the previous steps.
   2. Run OlssFailover.bat at C:\Program Files (x86)\Agilent Technologies\ChemStation\CORE to restore instruments from the ChemStation file back to OpenLab Control Panel (Figure 7).
      

      
      
      Figure 7. Restore ChemStation Content
      
      

   3. Since the instrument folder was changed to <instrumentname_000> (see Figure 4) in step 4, change the folder back to the original instrument number.
      For example: if you delete instrument #3 in OpenLab Control Panel, the <instrumentname_000> folder must be renamed 3.
   4. If needed, restored any missing content to the new folder(s).
      
      
10. Regenerate the license file with the new PC name through Agilent SubscribeNet. See the article How to Return and Update a License File for Agilent OpenLab Software.

Solution 3: Cannot change PC name at all.

1. If the PC name cannot be changed back permanently or temporarily, the currently configured instrument(s) cannot be deleted, configured, or launched. These will remain in the OpenLab Control Panel.  
2. Delete the desktop shortcuts for the old instrument(s).
3. Run the registerCS.bat file at C:\Program Files (x86)\Agilent Technologies\ChemStation\CORE to set the new PC name as the instrument controller (Figure 8).
   

   
   
   Figure 8. Run registerCS.bat
   
   

4. Create a new instrument in OpenLab Control Panel.
5. Move ChemStation content to the new instrument folder(s).
6. Regenerate the license file with the new PC name through Agilent SubscribeNet. See the article How to Return and Update a License File for Agilent OpenLab Software

Tip: If creating a new instrument does not resolve this issue, follow the official uninstallation and reinstallation instructions to reinstall the OpenLab ChemStation software. Full installation instructions can be found in the Workstation Installation and Configuration Guide for the specific version of OpenLab CDS ChemStation you are using to control your instrument. Search on Agilent.com for further information.