Identifying computers as running on public cloud

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9.2.31 Available from 9.2.31.

 Computers that run on public clouds must additionally be identified as such. It ensures that proper counting rules are applied by License Metric Tool. You can identify a computer as running on a public cloud from the License Metric Tool user interface.

Before you begin

  • An icon representing a user. You must have the Manage Hardware Inventory permission to perform this task.
  • If you use disconnected scanners, they must be in version 9.2.28 or later for this method to work.

About this task

This procedure allows you to mark computers as running on pre-approved public clouds or on other public clouds.
Important: Approval from IBM is required before using public cloud which is not listed under Eligible Public Cloud BYOSL policy. For more information, see: Licensing on public clouds.
Apart from marking computers as running on public clouds from the user interface, there are other methods that are specific for each type of License Metric Tool deployment. You can choose the method that is suitable for your needs. Using the method that is specific for each deployment type is better during the environment setup as it ensures that proper subcapacity counting rules are applied from the very beginning. Identifying computers from the user interface is better in the following scenarios:
  • Closed appliances that do not allow for using the disconnected scanner configuration file.
  • When you did not identify an x86 computer as running on the public cloud from the very beginning as it applies the proper counting rules for the past. In case of other architectures, the computer is considered as running on a public cloud from the day when it was marked as such.
For detailed instructions, see:
Important: Alternative methods cannot be used to identify computers running on public clouds that are not on the BYOSL list. If you have IBM approval for a public cloud type that is not on the list, you need to identify the computers through the user interface.

Procedure

  1. Log in to License Metric Tool and go to Reports > Hardware Inventory.
  2. Select a computer or computers that you want to mark as running on a public cloud, and click Mark as Public Cloud.
    1. For pre-approved public clouds, select the type of the public cloud.
    2. 9.2.37 For other public clouds, perform these additional steps:
      1. Select Other IBM-approved Public Cloud from the list.
      2. In the Public cloud name field, provide the name of the public cloud.
      3. In the Approval details field, provide the written approval from IBM.
  3. Click Mark.
    Note: If you incorrectly identified a computer as running on a public cloud, choose None from the list of public clouds. If the option does not work, see: Type of the public cloud cannot be set to None from the License Metric Tool user interface.

Results

A computer that runs on a public cloud is assigned the number of PVUs that is specified in the IBM Eligible Public Cloud BYOSL policy.

What to do next

For the changes to take effect, run the import of data. To view what public cloud is defined for a particular computer, see the Public Cloud Type column on the Hardware Inventory report.