--- sourceDocument: Australia Asset Management sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/it-asset-management Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia Asset Management ft:clusterId : - itam bundleId : - itam workflow : - Technology --- # Hardware Asset Management licensing # Hardware Asset Management licensing {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Australia Updated March 12, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 5 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Hardware Asset Management licensing Hardware Asset Management (HAM) licensing allows ServiceNow customers to selectively opt in to specific hardware resource categories, enabling cost savings by paying only for the categories they use. Only assets within opted-in resource categories count toward Subscription Units, which determine licensing costs. This approach provides flexibility and ensures compliance with licensing terms. Show full answer Show less Every physical asset in the Asset \[almasset\] table that belongs to an opted-in resource category and is in an active state (not Disposed or Retired) counts toward the subscription total, regardless of whether it is assigned to a user. HAM licensing does not depend on CMDB CI classes or records. ## Resource Categories and Subscription Units HAM divides licensing into various resource categories based on model types, such as End User Computers, Servers, Network Gear, Mobile Devices, and others. Each resource category has a predefined subscription unit ratio, indicating how many assets equate to one subscription unit. For example, the End User Computers category has a 4:1 ratio, meaning four assets consume one license unit. Examples of resource categories and their ratios include: * End User Computers: 4 assets per subscription unit * Servers: 1 asset per subscription unit * Network Gear: 5 assets per subscription unit * Mobile Devices: 10 assets per subscription unit * Monitors: 15 assets per subscription unit (available from HAM version 10.1.0 and license version 5.0) * Printers, Storage, Unclassified Hardware: also available under HAM version 10.1.0 and license version 5.0 To manage entitlements on on-premise instances, customers can use the `snhamactiveentitlements` system property to specify accessible entitlements in a comma-separated format. ## Custom Model Categories Customers can create custom model categories that inherit from standard categories. From HAM license version Washington DC onward, custom model category assets can only access HAM features and workflows if their parent category is opted in and licensable. This behavior can be controlled via the `snhamp.enablecustomcategorylicensing` system property, which defaults to `false`. For example, opting in the Computer category also opts in child categories like Laptop and Tablet, enabling their assets to use HAM features and counting them toward Subscription Units. Opting out the parent category disables access for all child custom categories. ## Important Considerations * Normalization functions and asset actions for models and assets only work if the resource category is opted in. * Assets with model categories that are children of opted-out resource categories or specific categories like Printer and Storage are excluded from HAM features unless opted in (applicable from HAM version 10.1.0 onward). * Telecommunications Network Inventory requires installation of the related application and opting in to its resource category for HAM feature access. * Upgrading to HAM license version 5.0 is necessary to license and access features for Monitors, Printers, Storage, and Unclassified Hardware. Hardware Asset Management (HAM) licensing enables you to choose the Hardware Asset Management resource categories that you want to use. You can save money by paying only for those categories that you use, and not for categories that you don't use. Only the resource categories that are opted in are counted toward the Subscription Units. Note: By default for a particular resource category, the normalization functions for its associated models and the asset actions for its associated assets don't work. If you want to use the normalization functions and asset actions, you have to opt in that resource category. For more information about opting in or out of the HAM license resource categories, see [Opt-in or opt-out of HAM license resource categories](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/PQz5RlPnkZB6HmE9ZkEXhA "Opt in the Hardware Asset Management (HAM) license resource categories that are part of the HAM subscription. You can purchase and opt in the resource categories that you use, and you can opt out and not pay for the categories that you don't use."). Important: Every physical asset record in the Asset \[alm_asset\] table counts toward your subscription total if it meets the following criteria: * It belongs to a resource category your organization has opted in to for HAM licensing. * It is in an active state (not Disposed or Retired). {#ham-licensing__ul_ngp_pbc_mjc} Assignment to a user is not required --- an unassigned asset that meets these criteria counts the same as an assigned asset. HAM licensing has no dependency on CMDB CI classes or CI records. Based on the usage of model categories, the ServiceNow HAM license is divided into resource categories. There are different types of resource categories. Different assets fall under different categories as well. Make sure you opt in the correct and required categories. An asset represented in the Asset \[alm_asset\] table and which meets the criteria for each managed IT resource type such as Server, End User Computers, Network Gear, and Mobile Device, is counted toward a Subscription Unit based on the predefined ratio of number of assets to subscription units. Note: Resource categories in HAM are associated with certain entitlements. For example, the Computer resource category is shown only if the computer entitlement is available in the HAM license. On an on-premise ServiceNow instance, the entitlements aren't downloaded. However, you can store your HAM entitlement details by using the sn_ham_active_entitlements system property. You can update this system property with a comma separated list of entitlements for which you have access. The comma separated entitlements should be updated in the following format: * End User Computers- ham_computer_license * Mobile Device- ham_mobiledevice_license * Servers- ham_server_license * Network Gear- ham_networkgear_license * Monitors- ham_monitor_license * Storage- ham_storage_license * Printer- ham_printer_license * Telecom Network Inventory- ham_tni_license {#ham-licensing__ul_uyv_wz5_2fc} {#ham-licensing__table_uwf_fht_fvb__entry__3} | Resource category | Subscription unit ratio | Model category | |-|-|-| | End User Computers | 4:1 | Computer | | Servers | 1:1 | Any server such as the following: * AIX Server * ESX Server * HPUX Server * Linux server * Netware Server * OS/X Server * Server * Solaris Server * Unix Server * Windows Server {#ham-licensing__ul_sgf_1cm_ypb} | | Network Gear | 5:1 | * Network gear * IP Switch * IP Router {#ham-licensing__ul_nnj_5bm_ypb} | | Mobile Device | 10:1 | Mobile Device | | Telecom Network Inventory | 1:1 | * Card * Network Interface * Logical connection * Physical connection * Telco equipment {#ham-licensing__ul_dml_11t_c1c} | | Unclassified hardware | 1:1 | Hardware | | Monitors | 15:1 | Monitor | | Storage | 3:1 | Storage Device | | Printers | 10:1 | Printer | [Table 1. HAM license resource categoriesThe Subscription unit ratio is the ratio of the number of assets to the number of subscription units. For example, the subscription unit ratio of End User Computers is 4:1, where 4 assets require a single unit of license. If 1 license costs $100, then 4 computer assets cost $100 and 8 computer assets cost $200.] {#ham-licensing__table_uwf_fht_fvb} Note: Unclassified hardware, Monitors, Storage, and Printers are available with Hardware Asset Management version 10.1.0 and later only when you upgrade to HAM license version 5.0. To access Hardware Asset Management features for Telecommunications Network Inventory, you should install the Telecommunications Network Inventory application and opt-in to the Telecom Network Inventory resource category. For more information, see [Telecommunications Network Inventory integration with Hardware Asset Management](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=integration-with-hardware-asset-management&version=australia&pubname=australia-telecom-network-inventory&ft:locale=en-US). ## HAM Licensing for custom model categories {#ham-licensing__section_m4r_w1k_nzb} HAM provides some model categories out-of-the-box. Any model category that you create is considered as custom model category. When you upgrade to the Hardware Asset Management license released in Washington DC and later releases, any asset with a custom model category can access the Hardware Asset Management features and workflows only if any of the following conditions hold good: * The custom model category of the asset belongs to the hierarchy of opted-in model categories. * The parent model category of a custom model category is associated with a licensable and opted-in resource category. {#ham-licensing__ul_gcc_hbk_nzb} Note: If you are on any HAM license version released before Hardware Asset Management license version 4, by default, the assets with custom model categories can access Hardware Asset Management features and workflows even if they aren't associated with an opted-in and licensable resource category. Also, the custom model categories aren't counted toward a Subscription Unit. You can enable HAM licensing for custom model categories by using the sn_hamp.enable_custom_category_licensing system property. By default, the value of this system property is set to false. When you set the sn_hamp.enable_custom_category_licensing system property to true, custom model category assets are excluded from HAM workflows unless the parent of the custom model category is an opted-in and licensable category. Figure 1. Example for hierarchy of model categories In the example, the Computer model category is associated with the custom model categories Laptop and Tablet. Note the following about the custom model categories: * When you opt in Computers, both Laptop and Tablet are also counted toward a Subscription Unit under the End User Computers resource category. Also, these custom model categories can access Hardware Asset Management features and workflows. * When you opt out Computers, both Laptop and Tablet are also opted-out and these custom model categories can't access Hardware Asset Management features and workflows. {#ham-licensing__ul_jj4_r4h_rzb} Note: A model category that belongs to a licensable resource category and has a parent model category is licensed only under its associated resource category. For example, the Monitor model category that's associated with the licensable Monitors resource category and that has Computer as its parent, is licensed only under Monitors. Assets with the following model categories are excluded from accessing Hardware Asset Management features and workflows: * Any model category that is a child of an opted-out resource category. * Any model category that is a child of model categories such as printer and storage device. This exclusion is only in Hardware Asset Management version 10.0.0. Note: In Hardware Asset Management version 10.0.0 and earlier, assets with model categories such as Printer, Consumables, and Storage Device retain access to Hardware Asset Management features without opting in a resource category. From Hardware Asset Management version 10.1.0 onward, the resource categories like Printers, Monitors, Storage, and Unclassified hardware are licensed and available only when you upgrade to HAM license version 5.0. You must opt in these resource categories to access the Hardware Asset Management features. When you opt in these resource categories, all their child model categories can also access the HAM features and workflows. After you upgrade to HAM license version 5.0, the printers, monitors, storage devices, and Unclassified hardware assets that were created in the earlier versions wouldn't be able to access the Hardware Asset Management features by default. You should explicitly opt in these resource categories. * Any other custom model category without a parent category. {#ham-licensing__ul_skf_vck_nzb} **Related concepts** * [Licensing framework for Hardware Asset Management solutions](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/QyBJ3UWjpJMuYkcZMiUTyQ "Manage the subscription units purchased and consumed by your organization for all the Hardware Asset Management solutions with the improved HAM licensing framework. When more than one Hardware Asset Management solution is activated on a ServiceNow instance, any licensable and opted-in resource category is licensed only under one solution.")