Floating User Consumption

[sanbeam]

Hi,

 I've linked devices to my IBM floating user license and I see them allocated when I click on the "Show assessment details" under the consumption tab and the assessment result is "consumed". I have the rule "Allocations consume license entitlements".

 I was expecting to see the consumption count increase in the "Compliance" tab after a recon, but that didn't happen. Shouldn't I be seeing the consumption count here? Is there anything I should be doing to have this reflected?

[mfranz · Accepted solution]

Hi,

https://docs.flexera.com/FlexNetManagerSuite2019R2/EN/WebHelp/index.html#glossaries/licType_IBMFloatingUser.html#glossentry_20160504_1324

"The Consumed count is not calculated. It may be entered manually or imported through the business importer."

Best regards,

Markward

[sanbeam]

Thank you, @mfranz 

[tivens]

Hi @sanbeam 

In addition to @mfranz correct comments above I think it is worth highlighting IBM's general definition of Floating User license metric

"Floating user

Floating User is a unit of measure by which the Program can be licensed. A Floating User is a person who is accessing the Program at any particular point in time. An Install is an installed copy of the Program on a physical or virtual disk made available to be executed on a computer. The Program may be installed on any number of computers or servers, but if the Floating User simultaneously accesses more than one Install of the Program, the Floating User requires a separate entitlement for each such Install. Licensee must obtain separate entitlements for each Floating User simultaneously accessing the Program on each Install in any manner directly or indirectly (for example: via a multiplexing program, device, or application server) through any means.

Note: Some programs may be licensed where devices are considered users. In that case the following applies: Any computing device that requests the execution of or receives for execution a set of commands, procedures, or applications from the Program or that is otherwise managed by the Program is considered a separate User of the Program and requires an entitlement as if that device were a person."

https://www.ibm.com/software/passportadvantage/about_software_licensing.html#floating

[sanbeam]

@tivens , thank you for that additional information. It did help me understand the license type better.

However, I was trying to import the consumption value through a business adapter and I don't see it reflecting. I've added the value to the field "Number allocated" in the "Software allocation" object. We have another adapter set up in a similar way. Any suggestions on how I need to set up the adapter for this to work?

[mfranz]

Hi,

Allocations would only work if there was a calculation logic based on these allocated users.

I think, you'll have to update the "Consumed entitlements" field directly. In the database that is table "SoftwareTitle_MT", column "NumberInstalled". I couldn't find a matching field in the Business Adapter Studio, so I guess, you'll have to update it using SQL (Custom Query).

Best regards,

Markward

[sanbeam]

Thank you, @mfranz 

I've been going through some documents in the community and looks like this is only possible if I have the FlexNet Manager for Engineering Applications. We have a FlexNet Manager Suite Cloud solution. I'm not entirely sure if this is achievable in our case, I do not have a confirmation.

[mfranz]

Unfortunately, the cloud solution won't allow that.

[sanbeam]

Makes complete sense. Thank you for all the information, @mfranz!