--- 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 --- # IBM virtual processor core (VPC) licenses # IBM virtual processor core (VPC) licenses {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Australia Updated March 12, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 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 IBM virtual processor core (VPC) licenses IBM virtual processor core (VPC) licenses enable ServiceNow customers to track and manage IBM software licensing based on processor cores, either virtual or physical. This licensing metric allows precise calculation of IBM software license requirements depending on the deployment environment---whether virtual machines (VMs) or physical hosts. Show full answer Show less ServiceNow's Software Asset Management (SAM) publisher pack for IBM integrates with authorized IBM Client Value Acceleration (CVA) providers, the IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT), or BigFix Inventory (using version 2 of the integration APIs) to facilitate accurate VPC license management. ## Key Features * **VPC License Metric:** Adds Virtual Processor Core licensing metric for IBM products, reflecting licensing needs based on processor cores available or managed by the IBM software. * **Integration Options:** Supports integration with authorized SAM providers under IBM CVA Program for full and sub-capacity licensing; supports ILMT and BigFix Inventory integrations for sub-capacity licensing only. * **Full Capacity vs Sub-Capacity Licensing:** * **Full Capacity:** License covers all physical cores on the host available to IBM software. * **Sub-Capacity:** License covers only virtual cores assigned to VMs running IBM software, applicable exclusively in virtual environments. * **Usage Type Visibility:** The Usage Type field in the license workbench shows how VPC licenses are applied---full capacity or sub-capacity---helping customers manage license compliance and optimize usage. * **Device Settings Management:** For ASP integrations, customers can modify Usage Type settings per device within the Software Asset Workspace under License operations, enabling tailored license application. ## Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers * Accurately track IBM VPC licenses to ensure compliance and optimize license utilization across physical and virtual environments. * Leverage integration with authorized IBM providers and tools for seamless license management and compliance reporting. * Gain clarity on license application via Usage Type, enabling informed decisions about licensing strategy and cost control. * Customize license application settings per device for greater flexibility and alignment with organizational policies using the Software Asset Workspace. If you integrate the Software Asset Management publisher pack for IBM with Software Asset Management providers that are authorized to participate in the IBM Client Value Acceleration (CVA) Program, you can track and manage IBM VPC licenses. Alternatively, you can track and manage these licenses when you integrate with the IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) or BigFix Inventory using version 2 of the integration APIs. With these integrations, the publisher pack adds the Virtual Processor Core (VPC) license metric for IBM so that you can calculate licensing for this license type. For more details on Authorized SAM Provider (ASP) integrations, see [Client Value Acceleration (CVA) integrations for IBM](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/FYVcGf5v5tnoxIaODAVIHg "Integrate the Software Asset Management publisher pack for IBM with authorized Software Asset Management providers to track and manage IBM licenses across virtualized VMware vSphere and Nutanix environments, and IBM LPAR infrastructures. These integrations help you to track and manage IBM licensing directly without integrating with the IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) or BigFix Inventory."). For more details on ILMT and BigFix Inventory integrations, see [IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) and BigFix Inventory integrations](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/Mf4xtz1IQA1xv97tffACXQ "You can use an IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) or BigFix Inventory integration to create a connection between your IBM servers and the ServiceNow AI Platform. Use this connection to import data into your ServiceNow instance so that you can track and optimize licensing for your IBM software products."). A virtual processor core (VPC) is a unit of measure that enables you to determine the licensing requirements for an IBM software product based on the number of cores that are available to or managed by that product. If you are licensing a virtual machine (VM), VPC is based on the number of virtual cores that are assigned to the VM. If you are licensing a physical host that is not partitioned for VMs, VPC is based on the number of processor cores on the host. Each VPC license requires one right for every core that is available to or managed by the associated IBM software product. If you are integrating the IBM publisher pack with an ASP, the publisher pack supports both full capacity and sub-capacity VPC licensing. If you are integrating with ILMT or BigFix Inventory, the publisher pack supports only sub-capacity VPC licensing. With a full capacity VPC license, you must account for all processor cores on the physical host that is available to or managed by the IBM software product. With a sub-capacity VPC license, which is available only in virtual environments, you must account for only the virtual cores that are assigned to the VMs on which the IBM software product is installed and running. You can gain visibility into how your VPC licenses are applied to your devices by using the Usage Type field in the [license workbench](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/K_GziLbR~smXeeWp0kcdNw "Review reconciliation results in a simplified workbench view."). Use this information to determine whether your VPC licenses are applied to the full capacity or sub-capacity of each device. If you are integrating with an ASP, you can specify how a VPC license is applied to a device by navigating to WorkspacesSoftware Asset Workspace. When the Software Asset Workspace launches, open the License operations view. From the left navigation menu of the License operations view, navigate to IBM ASP IntegrationDevice Settings to modify the value of the corresponding Usage Type field. By default, the Usage Type field is automatically set to Sub-capacity. For more details on the available device settings, see [Verify the meta data for your IBM hosts](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/th0dP0FwUWhW6diONOjpXA "To improve the accuracy of your IBM license calculations, verify the meta data for the physical hosts that your IBM software is installed on. Update any meta data that is incorrect or out of date."). *[\>]: and then