How To Bundle IBM Products On ILMT

02/04/2025|SOFTCENSE|

IBM products in IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) involves grouping software products to correctly associate licenses and ensure accurate reporting of your IBM software deployments. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to bundle IBM products on ILMT:

1. Understand IBM Bundling Rules

  • Review IBM Licensing Terms: Familiarize yourself with IBM’s product bundles as defined in the IBM License Information Document (LID).
  • Identify Bundled Products: Check which IBM products can be bundled under a single license or category to simplify reporting.

2. Ensure Proper Software Catalog Updates

  • Update Software Catalog: Ensure ILMT is using the latest software catalog, as this defines how products are identified and recognized in ILMT.
  • Verify Catalog Accuracy: Confirm that all products in your IBM estate are detected accurately by ILMT.

3. Organize Software Deployments

  • Group Related Products: Identify which products belong to a bundle based on licensing terms (e.g., WebSphere components, DB2 versions, or CloudPaks).
  • Check Product Dependencies: Ensure all dependent products are included in the same bundle to avoid reporting errors.

4. Configure Bundling in ILMT

  • Access Bundling Features: Log in to ILMT and navigate to the software bundling section in the tool’s user interface.
  • Assign Products to Bundles: Manually associate products to the correct bundles, ensuring compliance with IBM’s licensing terms.
  • Verify Automatic Bundling: In some cases, ILMT may automatically bundle products based on software catalog rules. Review these groupings for accuracy.

5. Review and Validate Bundling Rules

  • Check Compliance: Verify that bundled products align with the IBM software license entitlements to avoid audit risks.
  • Resolve Discrepancies: Address any mismatches or products flagged as unbundled in ILMT.

6. Generate Reports

  • Run Bundling Reports: Use ILMT to generate reports that show how products are bundled and the corresponding license usage.
  • Validate Report Accuracy: Ensure the bundling reflected in the reports aligns with IBM licensing rules and your deployment records.

7. Maintain Bundling Configuration

  • Update Regularly: As your IBM estate changes, revisit the bundling configuration to reflect new deployments, product upgrades, or changes in licensing terms.
  • Conduct Periodic Reviews: Regularly review bundled products to ensure continued compliance.

8. Leverage Expert Support

  • Seek Guidance: If bundling complexities arise, consult with IBM licensing experts / IBM Software Asset Management (SAM) provider such as SoftCense.
  • Optimize Licensing: SoftCense can help you identify opportunities to optimize your IBM licensing by bundling effectively.

To ensure compliance with IBM licensing policies and accurate reporting, follow these steps to bundle IBM products effectively in ILMT.