Microsoft core licensing

[FranckM]

Hi Folks,

does anyone already check the result of the WS Core licensing out of SAM?

for a licensing at the virtual layser of a WS 2022, Microsoft request a minima of 8 cores.

Sam Pro is calculating with 4

License metric used: "per core"

See picture.

Any configuration advice?

Regards

[FranckM]

@dreinhardt 

[dreinhardt]

Hi @FranckM,

compared to the content library data and the SAM Pro documentation, it looks like you've set the wrong license metric. Did you onboard the entitlement per PPN, if so I'm wondering how "per core" was choosen.

Content Library Example:

SAM Pro Documentation: Microsoft Per Core (with CAL) licensing rules • Australia Asset Management • Docs | ServiceNow

Check your entitlement setup, change the metric to "Per Core (with CAL)" and re-run the recon, this should help to get the min. of 8 cores.

Best, Dennis

[ptishberg-SNow]

Please also refer to the KB: 

KB2986694 SAM Pro: Microsoft Per‑Core License Metric Not Visible After Zurich or Australia Upgrade

SAM Pro: Microsoft Per‑Core License Metric Not Visible After Zurich or Australia Upgrade - Known Err...

Thank you, Dennis (dreinhardt). for pointing this out in another post.

For those asset managers without support access available to them, I am reposting the kb here below with a screenshot referencing the license metric picker definition related to this particular issue that has come up in Zurich & Australia releases for SAMPro.

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KB Article:

KB2986694 

Latest Version

SAM Pro: Microsoft Per‑Core License Metric Not Visible After Zurich or Australia Upgrade

 Revised by Tony Zhang (NOW)  167 Views  Last updated : Aug 10, 2026  Internal

Description

Customers using Software Asset Management Pro on the Zurich or Australia releases may notice issues with the Microsoft per‑core license metric.

After upgrading to the Zurich release or later, some customers may find that the per‑core license metric used by Microsoft server products (such as Microsoft SQL Server) is no longer available in the Microsoft license metric picker on Microsoft entitlements.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Login to your instance.

2. Open the "Per Core" record https://<your Instance>.service-now.com/samp_sw_license_metric.do?sys_id=ef64c370534323005d74ddeeff7b1238

3. You will notice that the Metric group field is blank. (The expected value is Microsoft)

Workaround

This problem is currently under review. To receive notifications when more information is available, subscribe to this Known Error article by clicking the Subscribe button at the top right of the article. Meanwhile, please apply the workaround. 

Please verify if SAM Pro (plugins com.sn_samp_master_ws or com.sn_samp_master) is enabled on your instance. If neither plugin is installed, we recommend installing one of them. If the plugin is already installed and the issue persists, please proceed with the steps outlined below

Step 1: Run the fix script "Add Microsoft to the license metrics" to restore the Microsoft Per Core metric under the Microsoft metric group.

Step 2: Navigate to the entitlement records (alm_license) using the URL suffix below. This filtered list will show SQL Server entitlements where the publisher part number's license metric is Microsoft Per Core, but the entitlement's own license metric is not. For each record returned, update the license_metric field to Microsoft Per Core.

alm_license_list.do?sysparm_query=software_model.product%3D4b20dc060b3022002d6c650d37673a9e%5Epublisher_part_number.license_metric%3Def64c370534323005d74ddeeff7b1238%5Elicense_metric!%3Def64c370534323005d74ddeeff7b1238

Step 3: Re-run Reconciliation. The issue should now be resolved.

Related Problem: PRB2018383

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Potentially Seen In

	Zurich -> Zurich Patch 9
	Australia -> Australia Patch 2

Intended Fix Version

	Australia Patch 6
	Brazil

Fixed In

	Australia Patch 3
	Zurich Patch 10

Safe Harbor Statement

This "Intended Fix Version" information is meant to outline ServiceNow's general product direction and should not be relied upon in making a purchasing decision. The information provided here is for information purposes only and may not be incorporated into any contract. It is not a commitment, promise, or legal obligation to deliver any material, code, or functionality. The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality described for our products remains at ServiceNow's sole discretion.

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The license Metric Picker definition:

Hope that this post helps clarify and unwind some of the confusion for this specific licensing issue with Microsoft