IBM has unveiled IBM Tivoli License Manager, a version of a popular
IBM Global Services (IGS) offering designed to help customers
remedy software licence tracking and compliance complexities.
Built on IBM WebSphere, the browser-based IBM Tivoli License
Manager is a standalone product from the Tivoli systems management
framework, featuring its own set of agents, automation and
self-healing capabilities.
The tool, integrated with Tivoli Enterprise Data Warehouse, is
designed to ensure that software used within an enterprise is paid
for and renewed on a timely basis, said David Ertl, market manager
at IBM Tivoli.
The product covers PC and Unix platforms and offers base level
software inventory scanning across an environment.
Incorporating policy enforcement under its software asset
management umbrella, IBM Tivoli License Manager provides metering
and licence entitlement rights to set designated limits upon
usage.
Ertl said IBM plans to broaden the range of IBM Tivoli License
Manager to track usage metering and licences for software running
on IBM zSeries and iSeries. That capability should help customers
to manage service-level agreement contract negotiations by giving a
PC-to-back-end view of software usage.
"We're talking to our customers and they think they're
over-purchasing five to 15% in software they need just to maintain
compliance," said Ertl.
In a tough economic climate, possessing up-to-date licence
inventory and compliance knowledge as well as the ability to define
users, machines or departments in terms of contract control is
essential, according to Audrey Rasmussen, vice-president of
Enterprise Management Associates.
"Licence management is becoming a priority because IT budgets are
being scaled back and that's a potential savings area. If customers
know they're not using software they can cut that cost," said
Rasmussen.