IBM BPM Licensing – A Practical Guide
- Licensing Models: IBM BPM offers two primary licensing models—Processor Value Unit (PVU) and Authorized User (AU).
- PVU Licensing: Based on the number of processor cores used.
- AU Licensing: Based on the number of individual users authorized to access the system.
- Compliance: Regular audits and accurate inventory tracking are essential.
- Optimization: Regularly review usage to optimize licenses.
Introduction to IBM BPM Licensing
IBM Business Process Manager (BPM) is a powerful tool for designing, executing, monitoring, and optimizing business processes.
As more organizations integrate BPM into their operations to drive efficiency and innovation, understanding the complexities of IBM BPM licensing becomes increasingly important.
Proper licensing is crucial to avoiding compliance risks, optimizing costs, and ensuring your organization maximizes its investment in IBM BPM.
This guide will explore the intricacies of IBM BPM licensing, including key licensing models, compliance considerations, real-world scenarios, and best practices for effective license management.
IBM BPM Licensing Models
IBM offers two primary licensing models for BPM: Processor Value Unit (PVU) licensing and Authorized User (AU) licensing.
Each model is designed to meet different organizational needs, and understanding the differences is essential for proper licensing.
Processor Value Unit (PVU) Licensing
PVU licensing is a capacity-based metric that considers the type and number of processor cores in the IBM BPM servers. IBM assigns a specific number of PVUs to each processor core, depending on the processor type, as detailed in IBM’s PVU table.
How to Calculate PVU License Requirements:
- Identify Processor Type and Core Count: Determine the type and number of processor cores in each server running IBM BPM.
- Consult IBM’s PVU Table: Use IBM’s PVU table to find the PVU value assigned to each processor core.
- Multiply and Sum Up PVUs: Multiply the number of cores by the PVU value to get the total PVU count for each server. Then, sum up the PVU counts across all servers to determine the overall PVU license requirement.
Example: Consider an organization with two servers running IBM BPM:
- Server A: 2 x Intel Xeon E5-2690 v4 processors (28 cores per processor)
- Server B: 1 x IBM POWER9 processor (12 cores)
Using IBM’s PVU table:
- Intel Xeon E5-2690 v4: 70 PVUs per core
- IBM POWER9: 100 PVUs per core
The PVU calculation would be:
- Server A: 28 cores × 2 processors × 70 PVUs/core = 3,920 PVUs
- Server B: 12 cores × 100 PVUs/core = 1,200 PVUs
- Total PVU requirement: 3,920 + 1,200 = 5,120 PVUs
Authorized User (AU) Licensing
AU licensing is based on the number of unique individuals authorized to access IBM BPM, regardless of the number of installations or the intensity of use. Each authorized user requires a separate license.
How to Determine AU License Requirements:
Simply count the number of unique users who will access IBM BPM. For example, if 100 employees need to use IBM BPM, your organization would require 100 AU licenses.
Compliance Risks and Considerations
Improper management of IBM BPM licenses can lead to significant compliance risks. Here are key considerations to help mitigate these risks:
Accurate Inventory
It is crucial to maintain a comprehensive inventory of all servers and processors running IBM BPM. This inventory should be regularly updated to reflect any changes in hardware or deployment configurations.
License Tracking
Implement a robust system for tracking and managing IBM BPM licenses. Monitor the number of authorized users and ensure the PVU or AU license count aligns with actual usage.
Virtualization and Sub-Capacity Licensing
If IBM BPM is deployed in a virtualized environment, it’s essential to comply with IBM’s sub-capacity licensing rules. This typically involves using the IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) or BigFix Inventory to accurately track and report PVU consumption.
Regular Audits
Conduct periodic self-audits to identify any licensing discrepancies. Address these issues proactively to avoid legal and financial consequences associated with non-compliance.
License Optimization
Review IBM BPM usage patterns regularly and look for opportunities to optimize licenses. This may involve consolidating licenses, removing unused instances, or exploring alternative licensing models.
IBM BPM Licensing Examples
To further clarify the application of IBM BPM licensing, let’s look at some real-world scenarios:
Scenario 1: Migrating from AU to PVU Licensing
An organization currently has 500 authorized users for IBM BPM but is considering migrating to PVU licensing to accommodate future growth and reduce costs. The deployment spans three servers with 2 x Intel Xeon Gold 6152 processors (22 cores per processor).
Calculation:
- Processor Type: Intel Xeon Gold 6152 = 140 PVUs per core
- Total PVUs: 22 cores × 2 processors × 3 servers × 140 PVUs/core = 18,480 PVUs
The organization would need 18,480 PVU licenses to transition from AU to PVU licensing.
Scenario 2: Ensuring Compliance in a Virtualized Environment
Another organization deploys IBM BPM in a virtualized environment using VMware. They have three ESXi hosts, each with 2 x Intel Xeon E5-2699 v4 processors (22 cores per processor). The IBM BPM virtual machines are distributed across these hosts.
Steps to Ensure Compliance:
- Install and Configure ILMT: Set up ILMT on each ESXi host.
- Track PVU Consumption: Regularly generate PVU reports using ILMT to monitor peak PVU consumption for IBM BPM.
- Ensure Coverage: Ensure the PVU license count covers the peak consumption across all hosts.
The organization can mitigate compliance risks by proactively monitoring and managing PVU consumption in this virtualized environment.
Best Practices for IBM BPM Licensing Management
To effectively manage IBM BPM licensing, organizations should adopt the following best practices:
1. Regularly Update Your Inventory
Keep an up-to-date inventory of all hardware and software components associated with your IBM BPM deployment. This will ensure you know any changes that could impact your licensing needs.
2. Leverage License Management Tools
Use tools like ILMT and BigFix Inventory to accurately monitor and report your IBM BPM usage. These tools are critical for maintaining compliance, particularly in virtualized environments.
3. Conduct Regular Self-Audits
Regular self-audits will help you identify any discrepancies in your licensing before they become a problem. Addressing issues proactively can save your organization from potential fines and legal challenges.
4. Optimize License Use
Regularly review your organization’s use of IBM BPM to identify areas where you can optimize licensing. This might involve consolidating licenses or transitioning to a different licensing model that better suits your needs.
5. Stay Informed About Licensing Changes
IBM’s licensing policies can change, so staying informed is essential. Regularly review updates from IBM and adjust your licensing strategy as needed to remain compliant and cost-effective.
6. Engage with Licensing Experts
IBM’s licensing models can be complex, and mistakes can be costly. Consider engaging with IBM licensing experts or partners who can provide guidance and support, particularly when dealing with large or complex deployments.
FAQs
What is IBM BPM licensing?
IBM Business Process Manager (BPM) licensing refers to the models and metrics IBM uses to determine their BPM software’s cost and usage rights. Understanding these models is key to ensuring compliance and optimizing the software’s value.
What are the main licensing models for IBM BPM?
IBM BPM primarily uses two licensing models: Processor Value Unit (PVU) and Authorized User (AU). PVU is capacity-based, while AU is based on the number of unique users accessing the software.
How does PVU licensing work for IBM BPM?
PVU licensing is based on the processing power used by the BPM software. The total PVU requirement is calculated by multiplying the number of processor cores by their respective PVU values, as determined by IBM’s PVU table.
What is Authorized User (AU) licensing?
AU licensing is based on the number of unique individuals authorized to use IBM BPM. Each user requires a license regardless of how frequently or intensively they use the software.
When should an organization choose PVU licensing over AU licensing?
Organizations with large deployments across multiple servers or those expecting significant growth may find PVU licensing more cost-effective. PVU is also better suited for environments where the number of users is high or fluctuates frequently.
How do you calculate PVU requirements for IBM BPM?
Identify the processor type and the number of cores for each IBM BPM server. Use IBM’s PVU table to determine the PVU value for each core, then multiply by the number of cores to get the total PVU count.
What are the risks of non-compliance with IBM BPM licensing?
Non-compliance can lead to significant financial penalties, legal risks, and the requirement to purchase additional licenses retroactively. It can also damage your organization’s reputation with IBM.
How can organizations ensure compliance with IBM BPM licensing?
Maintain an accurate inventory of all servers and processors running BPM, regularly update your license tracking system, and conduct periodic self-audits to ensure your PVU or AU license count aligns with actual usage.
What role does virtualization play in IBM BPM licensing?
In virtualized environments, IBM’s sub-capacity licensing rules apply. Organizations must use tools like the IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) to track and report the actual PVU consumption to ensure compliance.
What is sub-capacity licensing, and how does it affect IBM BPM?
Sub-capacity licensing allows organizations to license IBM BPM based on the virtualized processing power used rather than the full physical capacity of the server. This can reduce costs but requires strict adherence to IBM’s reporting requirements.
How does IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) help with BPM licensing?
ILMT helps organizations track and report PVU consumption in virtualized environments, ensuring that they are only paying for the processing power they actually use and maintaining compliance.
What are some best practices for managing IBM BPM licenses?
Review your BPM usage regularly, optimize license distribution, ensure accurate and up-to-date inventory tracking, and conduct frequent self-audits to identify and address any discrepancies.
What should organizations consider when migrating from AU to PVU licensing?
Evaluate the current and projected number of users, assess the server infrastructure, and calculate the PVU requirements to determine if the migration will offer cost savings or better align with your organization’s needs.
How can license optimization benefit an organization using IBM BPM?
By optimizing licenses, organizations can reduce costs, eliminate unnecessary licenses, and ensure they fully utilize their BPM software. This can also help in avoiding compliance issues.
What steps should an organization take to expand its IBM BPM deployment?
Assess the current licensing model, calculate the additional PVU or AU licenses needed, review IBM’s licensing terms, and consider conducting a cost-benefit analysis to decide whether to expand under the current model or explore alternative licensing options.
