Access Keys

Access Keys control the features and capabilities available to users. Each Access Key type is designed to support different stages of your modernization journey, from initial evaluation to full-scale enterprise deployment.

The Access Key you use determines which features are available and how many applications you can fully analyze and modernize.

Access Key Capabilities

The following table shows the capabilities available with each Access Key type:

Trial Access Key

The Trial Access Key provides limited access to the product for evaluation purposes. This key is ideal for users who want to explore the product's basic capabilities and understand how it can help with their modernization needs.

Key characteristics:

• Automatic activation: This key is automatically applied when you install the product, so you can start evaluating immediately without any additional setup.
• Duration: It provides access to the product for 90 days from the date of installation.
• Sample data capabilities: You have full capability when using the provided sample data, allowing you to explore all features in a controlled environment.
• Real data capabilities: With your own data, you have the ability to perform a full scan and see the recommendations and effort estimates for those applications. This helps you understand the scope and complexity of your modernization projects.
• Modernization insights: You can see the modernization challenges identified in your applications, but you will not be provided with detailed solutions on how to address those issues. This gives you visibility into what needs to be modernized without the full remediation guidance.
• Export limitations: You cannot export modernization artefacts (such as detailed migration plans, code snippets, or configuration files), and therefore cannot complete a full end-to-end modernization workflow.
• Reporting limitations: You cannot see estate-wide reporting and guidance, which means you won't have access to portfolio-level insights and strategic recommendations.

Best for: Initial product evaluation, understanding modernization complexity, and demonstrating value to stakeholders before committing to a PoC or full purchase.

Proof of Concept (PoC) Access Key

The PoC Access Key provides full access to product capabilities for a limited number of applications. This key is designed for organizations that want to validate the product's value with real applications before making a full purchase commitment.

Key characteristics:

• How to obtain: To get this key, you need to reach out to your IBM representative and provide your instance UUID (see instructions below on how to obtain your UUID).
• Application selection: Once applied, you can select a specific number of applications (usually 3) to be included in your PoC. This allows you to focus on representative applications that demonstrate the product's value.
• Full capabilities: For these selected applications, you will have full access to all the product's capabilities, including:
  • Detailed modernization help and step-by-step guidance for addressing each issue
  • Ability to download all modernization plans and artefacts
  • Access to modernization automation features
  • Complete end-to-end workflow from analysis to implementation
  • Access to AMA Dev Tools. For more information, see IBM Application Modernization Accelerator Developer Tools
• Limitations: Estate-wide reporting and guidance features remain unavailable, as the PoC is focused on individual application modernization rather than portfolio-level strategy.

Best for: Validating the product with real applications, testing the complete modernization workflow, and building confidence before enterprise-wide deployment.

Full Access Key

The Full Access Key provides unrestricted access to all product capabilities across your entire application estate. This is the production-ready key for organizations that have purchased the product.

Key characteristics:

• How to obtain: You can download the Full Access key from IBM Passport Advantage once you have purchased entitlement to the product. Your purchase confirmation will include instructions for accessing your key.
• Unlimited applications: Once applied, you will have access to all capabilities of the product for all applications in your estate, with no restrictions on the number of applications you can analyze and modernize.
• Complete feature set: You gain access to all product capabilities, including:
  • Detailed rule help: See comprehensive, step-by-step guidance for each modernization issue, including code examples and best practices
  • Export capabilities: Export all migration plans and associated artefacts, including detailed reports, code snippets, configuration files, and automation scripts
  • Estate-wide insights: Access estate-wide reporting and guidance, providing portfolio-level visibility, strategic recommendations, and prioritization guidance across your entire application landscape
  • Modernization automation: Run automated modernization tasks to accelerate your transformation projects

Best for: Enterprise-wide modernization initiatives, production deployments, and organizations committed to comprehensive application transformation.

Applying an Access Key

You can apply a new Access Key at any time to upgrade your capabilities or extend your access period. The process is straightforward and takes effect immediately.

To apply an Access Key:

1. Locate the Access Key information in the product header. This area displays your current access key type and any expiry information.
2. Click on the Access Key information to open the Access Key panel.
3. In the panel that appears, click Upload access key.
4. In the upload dialog, browse to select your access key file (a .key file provided by IBM), then click Upload.
5. The system will validate and apply the new key. Once the key has been successfully uploaded, the page will automatically refresh and your new capabilities will be immediately enabled.

Obtaining Your Instance UUID for PoC Access Key Requests

When requesting a Proof of Concept Access Key from your IBM representative, you will need to provide your instance UUID. This unique identifier ensures that the PoC key is generated specifically for your installation.

To obtain your instance UUID:

1. Locate the Access Key information in the product header. This area displays your current access key type and any expiry information.
2. Click on the Access Key information to open the Access Key panel.
3. In the panel, locate the UUID field. This is a unique identifier for your product instance.
4. Click the copy icon next to the UUID value to copy it to your clipboard.
5. Provide this UUID to your IBM representative when requesting your PoC Access Key. They will use this to generate a key specifically for your instance.

Obtaining a Full Access Key

To continue using Transformation Advisor beyond the 90-day Trial Access period or after your PoC Access Key expires, you must have entitlement to at least one of the following products:

Required product entitlement:

• IBM WebSphere Hybrid Edition
• IBM Cloud Pak for Applications
• IBM Cloud Pak for Integration
• IBM WebSphere Application Server for z/OS

Request authorization from your Site Primary Contact or Secondary Contact to access your Passport Advantage Online (PAO) site, or ask them to download the Full Access Key on your behalf. See Passport Advantage Online for Customers for instructions on how to request access.

To download your Full Access Key:

1. Sign in to your Passport Advantage site and search for one of the products you have entitlement to (listed above).
2. Display the listing of eAssemblies for the product.
3. Download the Full Access Key file, which has the part number M13P8ML.

For further details on downloading from Passport Advantage, see Downloading software from Passport Advantage.

Access Key Best Practices

• Monitor expiry dates: Keep track of your Access Key expiry date (displayed in the product header) to ensure uninterrupted access. Plan to obtain a new key before the current one expires.
• Choose the right key: Start with the Trial Access Key to evaluate the product, move to PoC Access to validate with real applications, and upgrade to Full Access for production use.
• Plan your PoC: When using a PoC Access Key, carefully select representative applications that will best demonstrate the product's value to your organization. Note that once an application is activated under a PoC Access Key, the activation cannot be undone.
• Contact IBM early: If you need a PoC or Full Access Key, contact your IBM representative well in advance of when you need it to allow time for processing.