--- sourceDocument: Asset Management sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/it-asset-management Release : - brazil ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Asset Management ft:clusterId : - itam bundleId : - itam workflow : - Technology --- # Hardware Asset Management licensing # Hardware Asset Management licensing {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Brazil Updated September 10, 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 you to select specific resource categories that your organization uses, enabling cost savings by paying only for those categories. Only opted-in resource categories count toward your subscription units, which are calculated based on active physical asset records in the Asset \[almasset\] table that belong to those categories. Assignment to users is not required for counting assets, and HAM licensing is independent of CMDB CI classes. Show full answer Show less ## Resource Categories and Subscription Units HAM licenses are divided by resource categories such as End User Computers, Servers, Network Gear, Mobile Devices, and others, each with a predefined subscription unit ratio. For example, four End User Computers correspond to one subscription unit, whereas servers have a 1:1 ratio. Additional categories like Monitors, Storage, Printers, and Unclassified hardware are available starting with HAM version 10.1.0 and license version 5.0, requiring explicit opt-in. Resource categories are linked to specific entitlements, which must be configured, especially in on-premise instances where entitlement details are stored via the **snhamactiveentitlements** system property. ## Opt-In and Feature Access By default, normalization functions and asset actions do not operate for a resource category unless it is opted in. Opting in a category enables these features and counts assets toward licensing, while opting out disables them and excludes those assets. Custom model categories are supported if they belong under an opted-in parent model category or resource category. The **snhamp.enablecustomcategorylicensing** system property controls whether custom categories follow this licensing behavior, and it defaults to false. Custom categories without a parent or those under opted-out categories cannot access HAM features. ## Important Considerations * Assets in active states (not Disposed or Retired) count toward subscription units if their resource category is opted in. * HAM licensing does not depend on CMDB configuration items. * Telecommunications Network Inventory integration requires installation of the related application and opting in to that resource category. * Upgrading to HAM license version 5.0 is required to license new categories such as Printers and Monitors; prior assets in these categories need explicit opt-in post-upgrade to regain feature access. * Model categories that are children of opted-out resource categories or certain categories like Printer and Storage are excluded from accessing HAM features in version 10.0.0 and later. ## Practical Implications for ServiceNow Customers ServiceNow customers should carefully review their hardware asset categories and opt in only to those they actively manage to optimize licensing costs. They must update entitlement settings appropriately, especially in on-premise installations, and understand the impact of opting in or out on asset feature availability. Enabling custom model category licensing should be done thoughtfully to align with organizational asset hierarchies and licensing policies. Upgrading to HAM license version 5.0 is essential to leverage new resource categories and maintain consistent access to HAM features across all asset types. 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/YqSY1zOxJ1jZdyh951yeZg "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=brazil&pubname=brazil-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/B5O88qv5BEORM4VXUTwDgg "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.") * [Hardware Asset Management license exclusion](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/KzdWmr_nnJsWIWtMFZUe8w "Pay only for the assets using licensed Hardware Asset Management features and exclude an asset for which you don't want to use the licensed features.")