Applies To
Express Software Manager version 6.0 and higher

Summary
This technical note describes how to use the Express IP Library Locator utility provided with Express Software Manager 6.x to group login script users into different Express libraries during the Express metering client installation. The utility can also be used to prevent specific users from installing the Express client. Details are provided for configuring the Express IP Library Locator initialization file and handling non-standard class C subnet masks.

Understanding the IP Library Locator Utility
The IP Library Locator utility is included with Express Software Manager. The utility can be used to do the following, when deploying the Express client:

• group users into different Express Libraries

• prevent specific users from receiving the Express client

To best organize and deploy the Express client in your network environment, you need to determine the number of Express Libraries you will create and maintain. Express Metrix recommends an initial limit of 500 to 600 users per library to optimize network speed and server space. A maximum number of 800 users should be configured to write to one library. In addition, if you are using MSDE (rather than a full version of Microsoft SQL Server), you should limit the total number of clients to 800 per database. The IP Library Locator utility lets you specify which workstations should install from - and write to - a particular Express library based upon the machine's IP address.

You may also want to consider excluding specific workstations, such as dial-in RAS clients, roaming laptop users, or guest accounts from installing the Express client. The IP Library Locator utility allows you to prevent a group of users from receiving the Express client based on their workstation IP address.

How the IP Library Locator Works
The IP Library Locator's executable, Exipinst.exe, replaces the Express client executable, Exinst32.exe in the login script. When Exipinst.exe is run, it determines the IP address of the machine that runs it to the machine’s subnet mask, then uses the IP Library Locator initialization file, Exip.ini, to determine the appropriate library path. The Exipinst.exe program and Exip.ini initialization file must be copied to the login folder that contains the login batch files for the users at a given site.

Configuring the Exip.ini Initialization File
A sample Exip.ini can be found in the Clients folder within the Express library folder on the server. If you use the IP Library Locator, use the information in this section to help you determine how to edit this file to fit your specific installation needs and network environment. After deploying the IP Library Locator on your network, all users will meter to the libraries defined within this file.

While creating your Exip.ini file keep the following in mind:

• You can specify individual IP addresses, or use the wildcard character (*) to indicate an entire subnet. For example, 111.222.333.* includes all workstations in the 333 subnet.

• Enter each IP address or IP address range (wildcard) on a separate line.

• When an Express IP Library Locator script is processed, Exipinst.exe looks through the script to determine the best match for the workstation's IP address. If the IP address fits within more than one indicated IP address range, Exipinst.exe will use the most restrictive option.

• After finding the best match for the IP address, Exipinst.exe checks to make sure the IP address is not configured for NOMETER. If the address is indicated in a NOMETER line, that machine will not receive the Express client installation.

• There is no built-in limit to the number of lines that may be included in the Exip.ini file. The Microsoft function call that Exipinst.exe uses to read the Exip.ini file does, however, have a limit of 32K.

[EXIPINST] ; Express clients will be divided into four different libraries ; based on their IP address subnet.  Workstations in the  ; 111.222.30.* subnet will meter to the FirstFloor library.   ; Workstations in the 111.222.33.* subnet will meter to the ; SecondFloor library. 111.222.30.*=\\Latte\VOL3\Accts\Users\Floor_1\Emlib\Clients 111.222.33.*=\\Latte\VOL3\Accts\Users\Floor_2\Emlib\Clients ; Exclude the following subnet from metering.  This subnet is ; used only for RAS dial-in clients. 111.222.16.*=NOMETER ; Meter all remaining subnets of network 111.222.*.* to the  ; Public library. 111.222.*.*=\\Mocha\VOL3\Accts\Public\Emlib\Clients ; Meter IP addresses that are not part of the 111.222.*.* network ; (Everyone not specified above) to this library.   *.*.*.*=\\Expresso\VOL3\Accts\Public\Em\Default\Clients

Using a Subnet Mask other than 255.255.255.0 with Class C IP Addressing
It is necessary to create an entry in the Exip.ini file for the broadcast address of each subnet if all of the following are true of your network environment:

• a class C addressing scheme is being used

• the subnet mask is something other than 255.255.255.0

• you want to assign workstations within each subnet to a different Express library

222.333.44.0=\\Server\Apps\EXLIB_1\Clients
222.333.44.128=\\Server\Apps\EXLIB_2\Clients

222.333.44.*=\\Server\Apps\EXLIB\Clients

Syntax: EXIPINST [-u] [-q | -v] [-l] [-a]

Example: Exipinst -a -q

The following table lists the optional switches that can be run with the IP Library Locator utility.

Switch	Function
-a	Always Install - Always install clients from library (default: Check version first)
-l	Login Script - Exipinst is being run from a login script (default: Not using Login Script)
-q	Quiet - Don't display messages (default: Banner only)
-u	Uninstall - Uninstall the client (default: Install)
-v	Verbose - Display messages (default: Banner only)
-?	Help - Display help information

Related Technical Notes

1072	Using the Express IP Library Locator when Deploying the 5.x Express Client
9989	Express Software Manager 6.x Technical Notes