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Matlab

IMSS maintains a Matlab Total Academic Headcount (TAH) license, which includes a Campus license (which allows standalone AND network activations), and a Student license (only standalone activation). Click to see a list of all toolboxes included in the Matlab full suite.

NOTE: Our campus Matlab license now allows use in cloud services (GCP, AWS, etc.) using the Login Named User (LNU) feature. To request access to the LNU license, please contact us at https://help.caltech.edu (request type IMSS > Software Licensing & Distribution > Matlab Inquiry).

Eligibility

Software Title Eligibility Cost
Matlab (network & standalone) Faculty, Staff, Visitor Free
Matlab (standalone) Students Free

Instructions

Please note the type of license your ordered via the software.caltech.edu webstore. Network licenses use "file installation keys" whereas standalone/single-machine licenses use "activation keys".

Matlab R2020 Installation (both Network & Standalone):

  • MATLAB network installations require a Caltech network connection. If using Matlab from off-campus, please use VPN. If using a single machine/standalone installation, you do not need a network connection, but you will need to reactivate annually.
  • MATLAB network installations require a license.dat file to run, which can be downloaded from the link provided in your software.caltech.edu Matlab purchase receipt.
    • Hover over link and right click to Save As.
    • Mac users may need to update the file extension to remove .txt that is automatically appended. To do this, select the license.dat.txt file and press Apple-I to Get Info. Then remove the .txt extension and close window.
  1. Launch the installation to begin installation
  2. Login with a Mathworks.com account; create one if you do not have one. Your username should be your @caltech.edu email address
  3. Accept the License Agreement
  4. You may now choose to activate as a standalone license or a network license.
  • To activate as a standalone license:
    If your Mathworks.com account is already associated with the Caltech license, under Licenses, you will see a list of the Caltech licenses available. You may select the Matlab (individual) license, if available, otherwise enter the 25-digit Activation Key (from your software.caltech.edu purchase receipt). Choose to authorize now and proceed with the installation as prompted.
  • To activate as a network license:
    From the Advanced Options pull down menu at the top right, select "I have a File Installation Key". Enter the 115-digit file installation key from your software.caltech.edu purchase receipt. You will also need the license.dat file (downloaded from the link on your software.caltech.edu purchase receipt.) Proceed with the installation as prompted.

Matlab (pre R2020) Network Installation:

  • MATLAB network installations require a Caltech network connection. If using Matlab from off-campus, please use VPN. If using a single machine/standalone installation, you do not need a network connection, but you will need to reactivate annually.
  • MATLAB network installations require a license file to run, which can be downloaded from the link provided in your software.caltech.edu Matlab purchase receipt.
    Download the license.dat file to your Desktop from the link provided in your software.caltech.edu Matlab purchase receipt.
    • Hover over link and right click to Save As.
    • Mac users may need to update the file extension to remove .txt that is automatically appended. To do this, select the license.dat.txt file and press Apple-I to Get Info. Then remove the .txt extension and close window.
  1. Launch the installer to begin installation.
  2. Select 'Use File Installation Key (No internet connection required)'.
  3. If prompted, Agree to the License Agreement.
  4. Enter the File Installation Key (75 numbers long) from your software.caltech.edu purchase receipt.
  5. Enter the full path to the installation folder.
  6. Select the products to install. By default, all products are selected.
  7. Select typical or custom installation.
  8. When asked for the license file, browse to the license.dat file on your Desktop.
  9. Continue with the installation process.
  10. If asked to start the license manager, choose NO.
  11. If Matlab is already installed on your machine and you only need to Activate (via Start > Matlab > R201x > Activate):
    • Select the option to 'Activate manually without the Internet'.
    • Enter the full path to the license file, linked from your software.caltech.edu purchase receipt
    • Click Finish

Matlab (pre R2020) Standalone/Single Machine Installation:

  1. Launch the Matlab installer. When prompted, choose the option to 'Login with a MathWorks Account (Requires an internet connection)'.
  2. Agree to the license agreement and click Next.
  3. Either login with your existing MathWorks.com account or create a new account if you don't already have an account.
    • If creating a new account, enter your information into the required fields and click Next.
    • You need to confirm your Mathworks account before proceeding. Check your email and click on the link to confirm your account. Then return to this installation window and click Next.
  1. Choose to Install or Download only.
  2. If your account is already associated with our campus license, you can simply Select a License (first radio option).
  3. Otherwise, select the second radio option and enter the 25-digit activation key provided on your software.caltech.edu purchase receipt. Note that for standalone installations, you MUST provide the activation key associated with a Single Machine license orders. The key provided for Network license orders will not work for the standalone installation.
  4. Specify the installation folder and click Next.
  5. Select the products to install. By default, all products are selected.
  6. Select desired installation options and proceed with the installation. Click Install.
  7. If Matlab is already installed on your machine and you only need to Activate (via Start > Matlab > R201x > Activate):
    • Select the option to 'Activate automatically using the Internet'.
    • Proceed with steps 3, 5, and 6 above.

Converting a Network Installation to a Single-Machine/Standalone Installation

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/95190-how-do-i-convert-my-installation-from-network-to-standalone-or-from-standalone-to-network?s_tid=srchtitle

Matlab License Renewal

Note that network installations of Matlab do not need to do anything to update their license. IMSS will update the campus Matlab license annually in November, which will automatically renew all network installations. For instructions on how to renew your standalone Matlab installation before the license expires annually in November, click here.