Install MATLAB on Shared Computers – Campus-Wide License

Hello. My name is Cody, from the MathWorks Installation and Licensing Support team. And in this video, we will be discussing installing MATLAB using the MATLAB (Individual) license on shared computers. So let's jump in.

The MATLAB (Individual) license option on your Campus-Wide License supports multiuser access on shared computers. It is no longer limited to single-user activations, to a username, or host ID. To access and license MATLAB using named user licensing, each user will simply log in with their MathWorks Account or, for even greater convenience, log in using their university credentials if Single Sign-On is enabled.

Adopting Individual licensing on shared computers, such as lab environments, offers significant advantages, including enhanced license portability. Users can access MATLAB the same way anywhere by signing in with their MathWorks account, allowing quick and easy use in both cloud and virtual environments, as well as on their personal computers, classroom computers, or even on a browser. MATLAB (Individual) also simplifies license management for administrators by removing the need for network servers or manual computer activations.

Another advantage of MATLAB (Individual) licensing is the ability to mass deploy MATLAB installations. When setting up a new computer lab or installing MATLAB on existing computers, the MathWorks noninteractive installer, or silent installer, combined with your university deployment tools, such as SSCM, simplifies the process by allowing license administrators to install or update MATLAB across multiple computers on campus, saving time, ensuring consistency, and reducing manual errors.

With MATLAB (Individual), no activations or license server is required. The end users will simply sign in for MATLAB to run without any additional administrative overhead, which leads us to the MATLAB startup experience for both new and existing users.

When a user starts MATLAB for the first time on a computer with MATLAB (Individual) installed, they will be prompted to sign in with their university email address. For this example, I will be using a mathworks.com email domain. After entering in their email address, the user will be prompted for either their MathWorks Account password or their university credentials, if Single Sign-On is enabled.

Once the user is successfully logged in, MATLAB will launch for instant access. After logging in on the computer for the first time, the user will not be prompted to log in the next time they launch MATLAB the same computer. The user will also be able to continue to access MATLAB the computer completely offline.

For shared computers with MATLAB installed by the university, a user may not have a MathWorks Account or may not be linked to license before attempting to run MATLAB for the first time. If this occurs, the user can create a MathWorks Account right from the MATLAB login prompt by selecting 'Create one' after launching MATLAB for the first time.

Once they fill out the account creation page using their university email, they will be instructed to verify their email address. Once verified, the user may choose a password. After choosing a password, they will be automatically linked to the license and have instant access to MATLAB on the machine.

With Single Sign-On, the process is even easier, as the user can log in using their university credentials for access without requiring an email verification or a MathWorks Account password creation. It is important to note that MATLAB (Individual) does not support permanently offline computers or computers with shared operating system user logins. For these use cases only, we recommend installing with the designated computer license option.

To finish off our video, deploying MATLAB (Individual) on shared university computers is a straightforward process that offers flexibility and ease of management. For further assistance, please visit the MathWorks Support page for our extensive documentation or to contact MathWorks Support for assistance. We encourage license administrators to take full advantage of Individual licensing for all personal, classroom, and teaching lab installations, whether on campus or at home. Thank you for watching.