Automate Licensing Tasks

Several command line options allow you to perform common licensing tasks for Tableau Server using automated scripts.

If you want to perform these licensing tasks for Tableau Desktop using automated scripts, see Deploy Tableau Desktop(Link opens in a new window) in the Desktop Deployment Guide.

Command Line Tool Options and Better Script Automation

You can use a utility called tabinstallck.exe to script the activation, refresh, and deactivation of server product keys. tabinstallck.exe is installed in the Tableau Server \bin directory on the initial node. By default this is:

C:\Program Files\Tableau\Tableau Server\packages\bin.<version_code>

You can also use tsm licenses to perform licensing tasks such as activating or deactivating a Tableau Server product key on- or off-line, and getting associated files for offline activation or deactivation. However, Tableau Server must already be deployed and configured. You can automate these licensing tasks using the Tableau Services Manager API. In addition, tabinstallck.exe provides a way to script the licensing step for a new Tableau Server installation that is not completely configured.

To use tabinstallck.exe, you need to run the commands or script as an administrator on the primary Tableau Server node.

Note: tabinstallck.exe does not support offline activation and deactivation. To learn more, see Activate Tableau Server Offline.

Product key operations with forward proxy servers

If the computer where you are running Tableau Server has been configured to connect to the internet through a forward proxy, follow the procedure in the topic, Configure Product Key Operations with Forward Proxy, before attempting to activate, refresh, or deactivate product keys.

Activate

Activate a Tableau Server license using the -activate option:

start/wait tabinstallck.exe -activate <product_key>

Refresh

Refresh a Tableau Server license using the -refresh option:

start/wait tabinstallck.exe -refresh <product_key>

Deactivate

Deactivate a Tableau Server license using the -return option:

start/wait tabinstallck.exe -return <product_key>

Example

An example of a script to activate Tableau Server might look like this:

@echo off
start/wait tabinstallck.exe -activate <product_key>
if %errorlevel% EQU 0 (ECHO SUCCESS) ELSE (ECHO FAILED)

Error Handling

When you use tabinstallck.exe to automate Tableau Server licensing tasks, status information is returned as an exit code in the ERRORLEVEL environment variable. If activation was successful, the exit code is 0 (zero). The table below lists exit codes from the activation process and what they mean. You can also find error information in the tabinstallck.log file. This log file is located in the Tableau Server \logs folder, by default:

C:\ProgramData\Tableau\Tableau Server\data\tabsvc\logs\

The ProgramData folder is hidden by default.

This example script shows how to activate Tableau Server and check for specific errors, such as an invalid product key (536871018) and general licensing issues (536871012).

@echo off
start/wait tabinstallck.exe -activate  <product_key>
if %errorlevel% EQU 536871018 (ECHO TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_INVALID_KEY)
if %errorlevel% EQU 536871012 (ECHO TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENCING_GENERAL)
if %errorlevel% EQU 0 (ECHO SUCCESS)
Exit Code Message Value
536871012 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_GENERAL An unknown error occurred during the licensing operation.
536871013 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_INTERNAL The product is unable to start due to an internal licensing error.
536871014 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_SETUP The product is unable to start due to an internal licensing error.
536871015 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_CONNECT An error occurred contacting the Tableau license server.
536871017 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_ACTIVATION_ASR An error occurred while activating the ASR.
536871016 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_ACTIVATION_GENERAL Activation failed, please try again.
536871018 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_ACTIVATION_INVALID_KEY Invalid product key.
536871019 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_ACTIVATION_OFFLINE Unable to complete offline activation.
536871020 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_ACTIVATION_INVALID_MODEL An error was returned from the license server. Check the Tableau log file for more information.
536871021 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_ACTIVATION_MAX_REHOSTS Failed to deactivate the license because you have reached the limit of deactivations for this license.
536871033 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_ACTIVATION_MAX_EXTRA_ACTIVATIONS Failed to activate the license because you have reached the limit of activations for this license.
536871022 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_UNLICENSED_GENERAL An unknown error occurred during the unlicensing operation. Check your product key or contact support.
536871023 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_UNLICENSED_NONE_FOUND No licenses found.
536871024 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_UNLICENSED_EXPIRED Only expired product keys were found.
536871025 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_UNLICENSED_EXPIRED_TRIAL Your trial for this version has ended.
536871026 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_UNLICENSED_EXPIRED_SUBSCRIPTION The product key is expired.
536871027 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_UNLICENSED_EXPIRED_MAINTENANCE Maintenance has expired.
536871028 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_RESYNC_GENERAL Your product keys could not be synchronized.
536871029 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_REGISTRATION_GENERAL An error occurred during product registration.
536871030 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_SERVICE_INSTALL An unknown error occurred during licensing operations.
536871031 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_SERVICE_UNINSTALL An unknown error occurred during licensing operations.
536871032 TABLEAU_ERROR_LICENSING_SERVICE_NOT_PRESENT The FLEXnet licensing service is not present on the system.
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