Update to Passport Advantage Sub-capacity Licensing Offering
IBM United States Software Announcement 207-273November 6, 2007
 ENUS207273.PDF (26KB)
|
Overview
Back to top
 |
| Overview |
 |
Sub-capacity licensing is a key benefit to customers as they deploy the latest partitioning and virtualization technologies to their server environments. In 2005, IBM introduced sub-capacity licensing to selected Passport Advantage® software products for the UNIX®, IBM System i™, and selected Linux™ environments, and in April 2006, that support was extended to select x86 servers (Intel®-based and AMD-based). For announcement information on these prior announcements, refer to the Reference information section.
IBM is improving the sub-capacity licensing offering that will result in a simpler implementation, especially for customers with more complex computing environments. In addition, IBM plans to offer a new license metric tool for tracking all Processor Value Unit (PVU)-based licenses. Its deployment will be required under the Passport Advantage Sub-capacity Offering. In addition customers, at their option, can use the tool to track full capacity PVU licenses.
As a step toward improving the Passport Advantage Sub-capacity Offering, IBM is currently eliminating the following requirements from Section 4 of the IBM International Passport Advantage Agreement — Attachment for Sub-Capacity Terms (Z125-7174-00 5/2005):
- Register with the IBM License Management System application
- Submit to IBM, each quarter, program use reports
The requirement to implement the most current version of IBM Tivoli® License Manager (ITLM), which is currently named IBM Tivoli License Compliance Manager (ITLCM) product, in Section 4, item number 1, will remain temporarily suspended until the new license metric tool becomes generally available.
Notwithstanding these changes, the customer remains responsible for having the requisite number of license authorizations and to comply with all other terms of the attachment.
The introduction of the PVU licensing structure has given us the capability on x86 and Sun UltraSPARC T1 (Niagara 1) platforms running eligible partitioning technologies to allow licensing of PVUs to a granularity of a single processor core.
The sub-capacity offering is also being extended to include the Sun Fire T1000 or Sun Fire T2000 servers when running eligible partitioning technologies.
For a complete list of eligible software products and technologies, refer to the following Passport Advantage Web site link
Choose "Find out more about Passport Advantage and Passport Advantage
Express", select "Licensing", and then select "Sub-capacity Licenses".
Back to top
|
|
| Key prerequisites |
|
The sub-capacity offering is available for eligible Passport Advantage software products that run on UNIX (AIX®, HP-UX, and Solaris), i5/OS™, OS/400®, Windows® (x86), and Linux (System x™ and other x86 servers, and IBM System p™, System i, and System z™ servers). Refer to the Additional information section for a link to our Passport Advantage Web site which contains specific version/release information.
Because of the complexity and sophistication of distributed sub-capacity server environments, IBM requires that customers agree to additional terms beyond those required for the IBM default full capacity licensing terms. These additional terms are in the IBM International Passport Advantage Agreement — Attachment for Sub-Capacity (Z125-7174-00 5/2005).
Notwithstanding the changes to the attachment described in this announcement, the customer remains
responsible for having the requisite number of license authorizations to comply with the
requirements described in Section 2 of the sub-capacity attachment, "Authorizations," and for
complying with all other terms of the attachment.
Back to top
|
|
| Availability date |
|
November 6, 2007
For ordering, contact:
Your IBM representative or IBM Americas Call Centers at
800-IBM-CALL
(Reference: YE001).
Back to top
|
|
| Description |
|
The term sub-capacity describes an environment where a machine is divided into multiple partitions, and you license IBM software based on the maximum number of processor core capacity for the partition that is available to the IBM software, instead of the full-capacity of the entire machine. This facilitates customer adoption of new technology, thereby aligning IBM software pricing with the desire of our customers and IBM for server consolidation.
Sub-capacity licensing is available for newly acquired licenses of selected Passport Advantage software products that are licensed on a PVU basis. These products may be used on supported platforms, with the software running only in some of the partitions. For eligible platforms, refer to the Additional information section for a link to our Passport Advantage Web site which contains specific information. A customer may order sub-capacity licensed products deployed in a full-capacity environment (or, likewise, operate on multiple partitions that sum to full-capacity).
For a description of the specific requirements to be eligible for sub-capacity licensing, refer to
the
Eligibility requirements
section. Sub-capacity terms will be offered for select newly announced PVU-based software that is
enabled for IBM license manager software, and where the maximum processor core capacity is that of
the partition that is available to the IBM software.
Back to top
|
|
| Statements of direction |
|
IBM is improving the sub-capacity licensing offering that will result in a simpler implementation, especially for customers with more complex computing environments. In addition, IBM plans to offer a new license metric tool for enhanced tracking of PVU-based licenses. Its deployment will be required under the Passport Advantage Sub-capacity Offering. Customers, at their option, can use the new license metric tool to track full capacity PVU licenses. IBM now expects the new license metric tool will be available by mid-2008.
The new license metric tool is planned to support the following technologies that are not currently supported by IBM Tivoli License Compliance Manager ("ITLCM") and therefore not currently an eligible sub-capacity partitioning/virtualization technology. Specifically, the new license metric tool is planned to support:
- The Multiple Virtual Shared Pools feature for AIX V5.3 and V6.1 of IBM Advanced POWER™ Virtualization technology when the new license metric tool becomes generally available
- The additional features of IBM Advanced POWER Virtualization (APV) of Dedicated and Shared Processor LPAR Groups and Live Partition Mobility for both AIX V5.3 and V6.1, by the end of fourth quarter 2008
- The new AIX technologies announced today — Workload Partitions Manager (WPAR) and Live Application Mobility for AIX V6.1, by the end of fourth quarter 2008
In addition, for those customers currently using IBM Tivoli License Compliance Manager V2.3 (D561CLL only), agent support for the AIX V6.1 operating system and its base features will be delivered via a fixpack that is expected to be released by the end of 2007.
All statements regarding future IBM direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without
notice and represent goals and objectives.
Back to top
|
|
| Eligibility requirements |
|
In order to be eligible for sub-capacity licensing terms on select Passport Advantage software, the customer must agree to the terms in the aforementioned sub-capacity attachment. These terms includes the requirement to deploy the IBM Tivoli License Compliance Manager for IBM Software for all eligible machines subject to sub-capacity terms.
This requirement will be reinstated once the new license metric tool becomes generally available next year.
Agreement to the terms in the sub-capacity attachment is still required even with the suspension of
the preceding requirement to deploy ITLCM. Existing Passport Advantage customers that have yet to
accept sub-capacity terms, accomplish this by submitting a new Passport Advantage Enrollment Form.
Back to top
|
|
| Reference information |
|
Announcement letter references
For the announcements mentioned earlier, refer to
- 205-093 , dated April 19, 2005, Unix Sub-Cap
- 206-090 , dated April 25, 2006, x86 Sub-Cap
- 206-154 , dated July 25, 2006, PVUs
- 207-143 , dated June 26, 2007, P6 PVUs
- 207-197 , dated September 4, 2007, Sun T2 PVUs
For additional information about referenced System p solutions, refer to
- 205-250 , dated October 4, 2005
- 206-026 , dated February 9, 2006
- 207-109 , dated May 22, 2007, AIX V6.1 Beta
- 207-110 , dated May 22, 2007, System p
- 207-271 , dated November 6, 2007, AIX V6.1
- 207-269 , dated November 6, 2007, IBM System p Virtualization Overview
- 207-272 , dated November 6, 2007, Workload Partitions Manager for AIX
- 207-270 , dated November 6, 2007, IBM Usage and Accounting Manager Virtualization Edition for System p
For additional information about the IBM Passport Advantage Sub-capacity offering or sub-capacity licensing in general, refer to
Choose "Find out more about Passport Advantage and Passport Advantage Express", select "Licensing", and then select "Sub-capacity Licenses" to learn more about sub-capacity licensing options at IBM. There you will find links to the most current list of products and technology platforms eligible for sub-capacity licensing. IBM also has additional technical information for the key partitioning and virtualization technologies that are currently supported.
Trademarks
Back to top
|
|
| Additional information |
|
Platforms eligible for sub-capacity licensing
For additional information about the IBM Passport Advantage® Sub-capacity offering or sub-capacity licensing in general, refer to
Choose "Find out more about Passport Advantage and Passport Advantage
Express", select "Licensing", and then select "Sub-capacity Licenses" to
learn more about sub-capacity licensing options at IBM. There you will
find links to the most current list of products and technology platforms
eligible for sub-capacity licensing. IBM also has additional technical
information for the key partitioning and virtualization technologies that
are currently supported.
Back to top
|
|
| Required and Entitled License Capacity |
|
The quantity of each Passport Advantage license needed to satisfy applicable terms is referred to as the required license capacity. The quantity of each Passport Advantage license that you have acquired is referred to as your entitled license capacity. For each applicable license, you should compare your required license capacity to your entitled license capacity to ensure that you maintain the required number of software licenses to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement.
You should plan for and obtain required future license capacity on an on-going basis to ensure
compliance. Regardless of whether or not you place an order for additional capacity, you will be
liable for excess capacity that is not properly licensed.
Back to top
|
|
| License requirements |
|
Sub-capacity licenses for select Passport Advantage software are offered on a Processor Value Unit basis. The quantity of sub-capacity licenses required in a partition is equal to the maximum number of processor cores contained in that partition where the software product is available times the number of PVUs required for that processor technology (for example in a partition with four processor cores, you multiply the appropriate number of PVU licenses for each product in the partition based on the type of processor core times four cores to determine the aggregate PVU license quantity required). PVU licenses for a particular product may be transferred to another machine.
Distributed sub-capacity methodology
For products eligible for sub-capacity licensing installed in an eligible partitioning technology, a Proof of Entitlement (PoE) must be acquired on a server-by-server basis, based upon the lower of:
- The highest number of activated processor cores in the partition available to the product or
- The highest number of activated processor cores on the server
Back to top
|
|
| Ordering information |
|
You must order sub-capacity eligible products through either Passport Advantage (PA) or Passport Advantage Express (PAE). New Passport Advantage customers must enroll by completing and returning the applicable hardcopy Passport Advantage Enrollment Forms to IBM or an IBM Business Partner. This form, may be obtained by going to the Passport Advantage program page at
Existing Passport Advantage customers must agree to the terms of a new attachment to their Passport Advantage Agreement and submit a new Passport Advantage Enrollment Form.
For additional information about the IBM Passport Advantage Sub-capacity offering or sub-capacity licensing in general, refer to
Choose "Find out more about Passport Advantage and Passport Advantage Express", then select "Licensing", and then select "Sub-capacity Licenses" to learn more about sub-capacity licensing options at IBM. There you will find links to the most current list of products and technology platforms eligible for sub-capacity licensing. IBM also has additional technical information for the key partitioning and virtualization technologies that are currently supported.
The customer Originating Site on a Passport Advantage Agreement must enroll under sub-capacity terms, or must add sub-capacity terms, before any Additional Site under that Passport Advantage Agreement can place an order for sub-capacity products.
The enrollment forms and sub-capacity attachment links will also become available via the PA/PAE enrollment and e-commerce Web pages. All completed enrollment forms must continue to be faxed to the Customer Fulfillment Organization (CFO) prior to placing an order for sub-capacity products. Orders for sub-capacity products through Business Partners will be accepted via fax or EDI.
Passport Advantage Express acceptance wording has been updated to include
reference to sub-capacity terms. An updated copy of the agreement is
generated with the order documents from the IBM order fulfillment
systems.
Back to top
|
|
| Compliance |
|
Once the new license metric tool is generally available, and the suspension is lifted, you must monitor product use on a continuous basis with the tool, whether your sub-capacity terms were obtained through a special bid or through the acceptance of the attachment
You should plan for and purchase required future license capacity on an on-going basis to ensure
compliance. If you exceed your authorized use level of sub-capacity at any time, you are required
to submit a purchase order to IBM (or a Business Partner) for the sub-capacity licenses required for
compliance at the time the authorized use level was exceeded.
Back to top
|
|
| Order now |
|
To order, contact the Americas Call Centers or your local IBM representative.
To identify your local IBM representative, call 800-IBM-4YOU (426-4968).
Phone: 800-IBM-CALL (426-2255)
Fax: 800-2IBM-FAX (242-6329)
Internet: callserv@ca.ibm.com
Mail: IBM Teleweb Customer Support
ibm.com Sales Execution Center, Americas North
3500 Steeles Ave. East, Tower 3/4
Markham, Ontario
Canada
L3R 2Z1
Reference: YE001
The Americas Call Centers, our national direct marketing organization, can add your name to the mailing list for catalogs of IBM products.
Note: Shipments will begin after the planned availability date.
Trademarks
Back to top
Printable version