IBM Licensing Newsletter May 2023

Thoughts on IBM licensing????

This month saw an announcement from IBM on updates to the eligible virtualisation technologies for sub capacity licensing. The supported technologies regularly need to be updated by IBM with products and versions being added and removed from the eligible list. This creates a license compliance challenge for many organisation who frequently fall behind in upgrading the platforms on which IBM products are deployed

If you run IBM products on unsupported operating systems or virtualisation technologies you are NOT eligible for sub-capacity licensing discounts. This can be a particularly expensive compliance risk for virtualised technologies like vSphere.

If you run IBM products on unsupported operating systems or virtualisation technologies you are NOT eligible for sub-capacity licensing discounts.

The good news is that you get plenty of notice of changes. The bad news is that organisations rarely check. My recommendation to you is to add a check to your quarterly ILMT/BigFix compliance checklist to have a quick look. When you do find a technology that is soon to be out of support or is already unsupported raise the risk. Let the business know what the financial impact (usually over a million) will be for doing nothing.

I'd love to hear your thought and questions related to IBM licensing.?Leave a comment below or email me at [email protected]

??News and IBM Announcements

• ?New feature on the IBM Product Search website (where you go to find out the rules around a particular IBM product).?You now have the ability to see where a part has evolved (replaced by a new product).?You can read more detail on the Evolutions added to Product Search.
• vSphere 6.7?and MS Windows 8.1. coming to end of support as Eligible Virtualisation technology for sup capacity licensing!?You have 180 days to upgrade to remain in compliance.?You will need every one of these days and more in many cases so start planning now!
• Minor update to the Eligible Public Cloud Bring Your Own Software License (BYOSL) policy. ?The notes are the important bit to read.?In almost all cases you are required to have ILMT agents on VMs.
• This is a bit niche but is there's a good post on FAQs for IBM Compiler Licensing on AIX and Linux on Power.?If you use this product it's worth a read.

What I've been reading, listening or watching ?? ????

• Binge listening to SaasMe Unfiltered from Zylo.?It's interesting to hear the stories of other organisation on the SaaS management journey.
• Reading a bit about ChatGPT and trying to figure out how it applies to enterprise licensing.?Eric Chiu had a interesting post on the answer he received from Chatgpt about "IBM licensing compliance" was an eye opener.?Have you any suggestions?
• Post from ITAA on IBM software license audit trends to prepare for in 2023.?Always good to remind yourself what to expect and update the license audit response protocol.??If you don't have a protocol I strongly advise you draft one.?It's not if but when you'll be audit by a large vendor.

I encourage you to use the hashtag #ibmlicensing when you find a post?this audience might be interested in so it can be found more easily.

Events / Webinars ????

• ITAMreview / Flexera webinar: IBM Passport Advantage changes — the details and the impact.?I'll be checking this one out myself as Antonio Gallotti from IBM will be speaking. Register at last to get the link to the recording.
• IBM and Flexera have a webinar on Gain IT Visibility to Reduce Cost and Mitigate Risk.?Stephen Smith knows his stuff on IBM licensing so this is probably worth a listen.

If you are aware of an IBM licensing event coming up drop me an email and I'll include it.

IBM Licensing Tips ??

• Establish a Vendor Audit Response Protocol for your organisation.?Include a specific section for each of your major vendors including IBM.

You want more?

• ??? ?? ??The IBM Licensing Group on LinkedIn where you can connect with others interested in IBM licensing.?
• ?? My blog at https://www.ibmlicensingexpert.com for past articles and subscribe to my IBM license tips.
• ?? Watch IBM Licensing Expert?on YouTube.
• #???Search LinkedIn and Twitter using the hash tag #ibmlicensing
• ???Archive of past newsletters
• ?? IBM micro site for software licensing and compliance information

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