NI FBUS configurator

[pjshah]

I have the hardware (Fieldbus Interface) NI USB8486. I have installed software
NI FBus Configurator version 4.0.1 successfully. It only allows me to evaluate
the software but when I clicked on it, it does not show any online available
link (see attached screen-shot) even though FF device is attached to it. I
think it is asking for activation code. How do I get that? And what is the next
process?

[LewisL]

Hi pjshah,

Possibly you only purchased the USB-8486 hardware. Please check your order. You can provide your Serial Number to fieldbus.support@ni.com for me to check. You can activate NI-FBUS software using the SN if you have purchased it.

It could be intended that you didn't purchase NI-FBUS Configurator or Monitor. The reason is in the details about the software as below.
The NI-FBUS software included in the CD basically consists of four portions:
1. Communications Manager, also called CM or COMM SW, is free for use. It provides the drivers for NI-FBUS interface hardware and APIs for accessing FF H1 network. The APIs support C, .Net, VB and LabVIEW. You can build your own FF applications by calling these APIs without any activation.  (LV API includes two advanced functions - "set node address" and "set tag", while others don't.)
2. NI-FBUS Configurator is not free. It is a graphical tool for complete configuration of FF networks in online mode and offline mode. It needs activation to use online functionality.
3. NI-FBUS Monitor is not free. It is used for monitoring traffic on H1 networks. It needs activation to use online functionality.
4. CM with HSE support is also not free.