Well said.
sal
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU]On Behalf Of
> Zlatko Krastev/ACIT
> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2003 4:48 AM
> To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
> Subject: Re: new TSM Client Pricing - a BP opinion
>
>
> The thread is getting longer and longer and the frustration increases. So
> I will throw another attempt to explain things.
>
> 1. Formal disclaimer:
> I am working for an IBM Business Partner but not for IBM itself. The
> opinion presented here is personal, binds our company but does not bind
> IBM and is made at best will derived from IBM *official documents*. Many
> of you do not have business with Bulgaria so I will skip the marketing.
>
>
> 2. License types:
> - in the past there were four types of ADSM/TSM licenses - for TSM
> server, for TSM client which is server in the enterprise, for TSM client
> which is client in the enterprise and for mainframes' MSUs. TSM servers
> and server-class TSM clients were subdivided into "Tiers" based on
> processor count (1-4 Intels were Tier 1, 5+ Intels and 1-23 RISKs were
> Tier 2, 24+ RISKs were Tier 3). The client-class TSM clients had single
> license for any type and number of processors. There were separate
> licenses for "Managed Library" (library above certain size required a
> license, also Tiered), "Shared Library" (server shares library with
> storage agents or another servers), "Managed System for SAN" (formal name
> for Storage Agents).
> - with introduction of ITSM v5.1 the licensing have been changed to
> calculate number of processors instead of TMPs derived from number of
> processors. The differences between RISK and Intel processors has been
> removed. Separate license for TSM server(s) was also removed and they were
> made equal to server-class TSM client licenses. The license for
> client-class TSM clients remained unchanged except it is now quoted in
> dollars, euro, etc. instead of TMPs (which had their own price).
>
> In my personal opinion (not binding anyone) this was rather good.
> Simplification does matter and the discussions on it mimic the past
> discussion should Great Britain abandon pennies/shillings/guineas in
> favour of metric monetary system.
> Maybe we being IT professionals know what is the difference between
> processors, between "tiers", between system acting as client or server,
> etc. But the management or purchase/procurement department does not! And
> they need simple quantitive system. </personal>
>
>
> 3. What is considered server-class and what is client-class. Official
> wording from IBM will be used here. It was put in a file named "Enhanced
> Value Based Pricing definitions" on www.tivoli.com. After migration to
> ibm.com it became unreachable as lot of other content.
> - "A client is a computer system or a process that requests a
> service of another computer system that is typically referred to as a
> server. ... Examples include laptop computers, desktop computers,
> deskside computers, and technical workstations."
> - "A server is defined by its use in the customer's environment, not
> by its use within a Tivoli application."
> - "A server is a computer system that provides services to one or
> more clients and/or other devices over a network. Examples include, but
> are not limited to, file servers, print servers, mail servers, database
> servers, application servers, and Web servers."
>
> Therefore single processor Pentium/200 print server box will require the
> expensive ITSM "processor" license while 4-processor mighty SGI box for
> video processing will require cheap ITSM "client" license. But this was
> just the same in versions 4.2 and before, thus I cannot find reasons for
> complains.
>
>
> 4. Open registration of licenses.
> If the company/organization have decided to use open registration it means
> it prefers to do less planning. If there is no plan based on good usage
> predictions you should have enough <whatever> on stock to fulfil the
> demand. Either switch to well-planned configuration with precise usage
> tracking (for TSM this means closed registration) or keep a pool of
> necessary goods, materials, licenses, people, etc.
> If we talk to something material - workstations or tapes for example, what
> can we do if there is no desktop for new staff constantly coming in or we
> run out of scratch tapes!?! Nothing better than buying new ones or findin
> out a way how to reuse existing ones.
>
>
> --> We were told yesterday that a processor is a processor.
>
> Incorrect. ADSM/TSM/ITSM "client" licenses are for client-class system
> with *any* number of processors. If you have 8-processor Xeon just to play
> Quake on it, the decision is yours and it is still a "client". If you make
> it a HTTP proxy the server-class rules will apply.
>
> --> furthermore it doesn't matter whether it is running TSM server or TSM
> client.
>
> It matters. TSM client might be server requiring "processor" licenses
> (same as for TSM server) or might be a non-serving system requiring only a
> "client" license.
>
> --> Tivoli defines a client as a desktop machine (Win98, etc..)
>
> Incorrect. Tivoli defines a client based on its usage. Win98 box sitting
> in the corner and used by whole department to print on its laser printer
> *is* a print server and therefore requires a "processor" license.
>
> --> ... have told me that for LAN based backup there is only one license
> part number (D5127LL) that is a per processor license and is the same for
> TSM client use or TSM server use.
>
> Misleading. There is more than "one" license part number. The one shown is
> for TSM server and server-class TSM client for IBM TSM (base edition).
> There another one for ITSM Extended Edition - D51MFLL. For client-class
> TSM client (workstations, desktops, etc.) there are two another "Clients"
> part number - D5158LL, D51MKLL which are actually equal (paid upgrade of
> server licenses D5127LL -> D51MFLL implies no charge upgrade D5158LL ->
> D51MKLL). Both these are initial purchase numbers and have several
> corresponding software maintenance numbers. Maintenance and upgrades are
> another story.
>
> --> ... new xeon processors with hyperthreading... 2 physical processors look
> like 4 to the OS!
>
> As two processors. Physical number of processors is counted not virtual.
> Same as processors in the box are counted but not the number of TSM nodes
> you may define on it. BTW: IBM Power4 processors have hyperthreading since
> '99 but being not used in PCs this is not popular.
>
> --> But since it has a modem, and other computers dial into it (just to
> upload/download files), it is considered a SERVER, NOT a DESKTOP
>
> This falls into twilight zone. It is both "a system that requests a
> service of another system" and "a system that provides services to one or
> more clients". If most of the time system is used as a workstation and
> files are transferred only occasionally - it is a "client". But if this is
> a no-matter-what-hardware PC with no-matter-what-software OS, which is
> used mainly for dial-in and file transfer - it is definitely a server and
> needs "processor" license. Cheating yourself putting server-type load on a
> "desktop" is not an excuse.
>
> --> In the past, we have bought TSM client licenses in advance of need, or
> knowing where they will get used. Will one have to know when a client
> requests services if it qualifies as a server, or client, and how many
> CPU's it has, before we can buy the license?
>
> Not knowing where the licenses will be used does not change the rules. In
> the past you could not know will the TSM client be Tier 1 or Tier 2 and
> how many TMPs you need to have on hand. Now you do not know how many CPUs
> the TSM client will have and how many "processors" you may need. But it is
> nearly the same.
> Yes, I agree having TMPs allowed you to get both "client" desktops and
> "tiered" server in single pool, while now you need to keep pools of
> "clients" and "processors". But I think this should pay itself with easier
> negotiations with procurement if right arguments are used.
>
> --> Huge, multiprocessor, single user machines, ...
>
> If it is single-user, it qualifies as a "client", no matter how many or
> how powerful the processors are, period. Anything else is an attempt from
> the VAR or from IBM to squeeze out more money from you! Change the VAR or
> fill an official complaint.
>
> --> I can tell you now that our notoriously ill-tempered administrative person
> will run me out of town with both guns blazing if I present this. How can
> we continue to purchase generic client licenses, in advance, in quantity
> at bulk discounts, without knowing the exact characteristics of each
> client node?
>
> Ask the ill-tempered administrator is he/she waiting to run out of paper
> or toner for the copier machine before to order new ones. Or is keeping
> both few packs of paper *and* spare toner cartridge on hand.
>
>
> Sorry for the lengthy message. Your rant is for licensing, my one is for
> asking already answered a year ago questions.
>
>
> Zlatko Krastev
> IT Consultant
>
> P.S. If you read all this I would be glad to have some feedback - was it
> exhaustive, was I offensive, etc.
> ZK
>
>
>
>
>
> "Klein, Robert (NIH/CIT)" <kleinr AT EXCHANGE.NIH DOT GOV>
> Sent by: "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU>
> 13.05.2003 20:10
> Please respond to "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager"
>
>
> To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
> cc:
> Subject: new TSM Client Pricing
>
>
> I was speaking with our TSM sales rep earlier today about ordering TSM
> client software upgrades. She said that as of this past January, a factor
> in the pricing of a client software license is whether or not the client
> is
> a server or a desktop and, if a server, how many cpus it has. Has anyone
> else heard anything about this?
>
> Thanks.
>
>
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