Processor Value Unit [PVU] licensing for Distributed Software

A Processor Value Unit (PVU) is a unit of measure used to differentiate licensing of software on distributed processor technologies (defined by Processor Vendor, Brand, Type and Model Number). IBM continues to define a processor, for purposes of PVU-based licensing, to be each processor core on a chip (socket). Each software Program has a unique price per PVU. For a complete definition of PVU licensing, please see description of PVU full-capacity and sub-capacity licensing below. For more information about PVUs, see the links to the right under 'Essentials'

Table of Processor Value Units [PVUs] per core

The tables below list existing generally available processor technologies only, as of the published date. PVU requirements for future processor technologies may differ. For PVU requirements for any processor technologies not listed below, please consult the Processor Guide to Identifying Your Processor Technology (US). For help identifying your Processor Model Number, use the Processor Model Number Discovery Guide. (US) If you still don't find what you are looking for, please contact IBM.

• Essentials
  • Processor Value Unit (PVU) licensing FAQs
  • Processor Value Unit calculator
  • Passport Advantage Sub-capacity licensing
  • Processor Guide to identifying your Processor Technology
  • Processor Model Number Discovery Guide
  • Previous Passport Advantage and PVU-related announcements

PVU full-capacity and sub-capacity licensing

Processor Value Unit (PVU) is a unit of measure by which the Program can be licensed. The number of PVU entitlements required is based on the processor technology (defined within the PVU Table above by Processor Vendor, Brand, Type and Model Number) and by the number of processors made available to the Program. IBM continues to define a processor, for the purpose of PVU-based licensing, to be each processor core on a chip (socket). A dual-core processor chip, for example, has two processor cores.

The Licensee can deploy the Program using either Full Capacity licensing or Virtualization Capacity (Sub-Capacity) licensing according to the Passport Advantage Sub-Capacity Licensing Terms. If using Full Capacity licensing, the Licensee must obtain PVU entitlements sufficient to cover all activated processor cores* in the physical hardware environment made available to or managed by the Program, except for those servers from which the Program has been permanently removed. If using Virtualization Capacity licensing, the Licensee must obtain entitlements sufficient to cover all activated processor cores made available to or managed by the Program, as defined according to the Virtualization Capacity License Counting Rules.

* An Activated processor core is a processor core that is available for use in a physical or virtual server, regardless of whether the capacity of the processor core can be or is limited through virtualization technologies, operating system commands, BIOS settings, or similar restrictions.