ARL

ARL Classification Update on IBM WebSphere Application Server Liberty and WebSphere Application Server Liberty Network Deployment

Overview

Flexera is updating the Application Recognition Library (ARL) classification for the following IBM offerings:

• WebSphere Application Server Liberty, also known as WebSphere Application Server (base) Liberty
• WebSphere Application Server Liberty Network Deployment

These offerings are currently classified in the ARL as Commercial products. Following this update, they will be classified as Components of their corresponding traditional WebSphere Application Server offerings. This change aligns the ARL classification with IBM’s documented product packaging and entitlement model.

Why Are We Making This Change?

IBM documentation states that WebSphere Application Server Liberty base is not available as a standalone product. Entitlement to it is obtained through WebSphere Application Server (traditional), which includes entitlement to both the traditional and Liberty base components. Vendor literature reference - [ibm.com], [ibm.com]

Similarly, WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment Liberty is not available as a standalone product. Entitlement to it is obtained through WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment (traditional), which includes entitlement to both the traditional and Liberty Network Deployment components. Vendor literature reference - [ibm.com]

Flexera is therefore updating these ARL classifications from Commercial to Component to more accurately represent IBM’s documented product structure.

What Is Changing?

Only the ARL classification is changing. Existing application metadata, evidence linking, and product relationships will be retained.

What Is Not Changing?

This is a classification update only. It will not change:

• Product and application recognition results
• Inventory collection
• Software discovery
• Existing installations or deployments
• Evidence linking
• Application metadata
• Existing product relationships

Systems that currently recognize these products will continue to recognize them after the update.

Customer Impact

After the update, customers will see the affected products classified as Component instead of Commercial in ARL.

Customers may observe the new classification in:

• Custom reports and dashboards
• ARL exports
• Integrations that consume ARL classification data
• Automated workflows that use Product Classification as a filter

Recommended Customer Action

Customers should review the update if they use the Classification attribute in either or similar options, like custom reports, dashboards, integrations, exports, or automated workflows etc.

Release Information

This change is scheduled to be included in the ARL release on September 21, 2026.

The attached file contains the list of affected products and applications included in this update.

If you have questions about this change or observe unexpected behavior after the release, please raise a Flexera Support case.