Cognos 10 - licensing

[meri]

Hi all,

When is it more profitable to buy PVU "enhanced cosumer" license than for the named users separetly? What number of users is usually breaking point? Let's say you have 2 CPU server.

Thank you,
Meri

[RobsWalker68]

Hi,

Unfortunately its not a straight forward answer as it does depend on a number of differing variables.  For the most complete answer I would ask your IBM Partner or IBM if your a direct client to work out the numbers for you.

Regards

Rob

[Suraj]

From our experience, be very careful when moving to PVU from named license.
PVU limits how many CPU you can have.
For example, you pay PVU server license for 2 CPU and then if the server needs additional CPU to meet the performance, additional 2 CPU is same cost as the initial server license.
The more CPU, the more you pay.
In old license system, that wasn't the issue and users could increase horsepower of the server without having to pay additional for the same application.

[kmuller]

If you are confused about Cognos licesning, just wait a few weeks.  They will change it.

[MFGF]

If you are confused about Cognos licesning, just wait a few weeks.  They will change it.

What an odd thing to say.  What makes you think there is a change being planned by IBM?

[jleyba]

What an odd thing to say.  What makes you think there is a change being planned by IBM?

Odd?

Not to those of us who have dealt with IBM sales.  ;)

[SomeClown]

lol

Be fair - it doesn't change that often.  Being the abstract and convoluted mess that it is, it's not fully understood by anyone at IBM.  Combined with the revolving door of sales assignments, you get wildly differing interpretations of what you own, what you are allowed to do, and what you will get punished for.  When possible, best to get any interpretation of rights and permissions in writing.  IBM licensing is the best sales tool for all its competitors.

[kmuller]

Best quote i have seen in a while "IBM licensing is the best sales tool for all its competitors".  No kidding.

Even the sales reps are confused.  You ask questions so that your company is abiding by the contract and you do not get good answers.

[Suraj]

If you are confused about Cognos licesning, just wait a few weeks.  They will change it.

Cognos licenses do not change often.
However, I have to agree that the reps assigned do not have complete knowledge of the roles and licenses. We are working for last six months and the rep/s have had difficult times getting information. We even got explanation from IBM sales director on some license issues that everyone else was giving confusing answers.

[Yunus]

From our experience, be very careful when moving to PVU from named license.
PVU limits how many CPU you can have.
For example, you pay PVU server license for 2 CPU and then if the server needs additional CPU to meet the performance, additional 2 CPU is same cost as the initial server license.
The more CPU, the more you pay.
In old license system, that wasn't the issue and users could increase horsepower of the server without having to pay additional for the same application.

It's worse than that.  Cognos charged by CPU's, IBM charges by cores.  So a dual core chip will cost more than a single core chip.  This was not the case under Cognos but is now under IBM and when you go to your annual renewal they might let you keep your old license once but not the second time.

IBM licensing is causing us to seriously consider another BI tool.