Licence Security

[Joblack]

These questions are all in respect to what IBM's policy would be / is to the following questions, as I have recently heard of a cnc business that had there workstation stolen and they had to re-purchase there licences in full from the software vendor:
Does a business have to take out insurance for theft of the licences/server or can you bolt it down to the floor/wall with one of those security cages?.
What happens if you get a lightning strike or your server needs to be replaced?.
I believe the machine ID is taken from the network card, what then happens if the card goes faulty?.

 

[jackk]

Have you asked your IBM rep?

I haven't read the small print on the licensing agreement, and I'm not speaking for IBM, but I'm sure that license can be transferred to a new machine. (machines are always being replaced)

Maybe there's more to the story?

 

[APrince]

We've had to shuffle our licenses around a bit lately for a project we're working on and our vendor, working with IBM, has been able to accomodate us very well in this.

The changes have required licenses that were previously a unit to be broken down into smaller units and reassigned to different machines.

Backing up the server with the licenses is a good form of disaster insurance. It's possible to restore the directories used by LUM in order to recover licenses. Which came as a great relief to myself when a man made disaster occurred.

 

[catiajim]

The big questions is probably: are you current on you ALC (Annual License Charge)? If not, that's probably why they are charging you for a new license. CATIA is generally charged on a "Right To Use" basis, which means if you stop paying, you lose the right to use the software. IBM usually issues licenses in multi-year keys, so there is no real checking on whether or not you are current - until you need to upgrade or you need new keys. Then they stick you for a new PLC as well as the ALC costs.

Most other software is actually Purchased, which means you get perpetual license to run, and you pay for maintenance which entitles you support and upgrades.

Generally, it is cheaper in the long run to continue to pay your ALCs.

 

[Joblack]

catiajim, everything is current from that side, I was just looking for some comments and or if anybody had had any experience with regards to the questions I called up, ie how would IBM treat or what there stance would be to each scenario if it had to happen.

 

[catiajim]

Then I think you are OK, but I would double check with your software provider just to be sure.

 

[solid7]

how would IBM treat or what there stance would be to each scenario if it had to happen.

Filing a police report with the machine serial number and target ID would avail you of most of your worries. Staying current on your ALC (as mentioned) would take care of the rest.

Anytime a license key is transferred, one only needs to call in the key center and give the necessary information. In the case of a stolen machine, providing the information of the stolen machine may also help catch a thief...

You are not responsible for a new seat purchase in the case of theft. (provided you have a police report) If IBM says that you are, I would recommend pushing the issue up, up, up. IBM is a very large company, with very poor customer service for small companies. Most of the time, you won't get the right person, but they'll make you think you're talking to the right person. I've had simple issues that I've had to chase for months before I got the right person, with someone else (from IBM) giving me a line of crap the whole time.

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