One more opinion to add. We started migrating to TSM 3 years ago. 3 tsm servers, 202 clients, 25 TDP for exchange and 3 jukebox licenses. When we made the move, it was a shock to see the substantial increase in pricing from our OS specific backups to an enterprise class solution. But we figured once we invest in the TSM server licenses all should be smooth sailing, even if the licensing goes up as we add systems to our infrastructure. That is not the case.
We purchased 25 TDP for exchange licenses and 25 NT client license for 1032.00 and 93 dollars respectively. Total $28,125.00. Seemed high... seeing how backup exec was doing the same thing for much less, but it was a license to send our exchange data to a TSM server which enabling centralized management, centralized jukebox and centralized scheduling of our backups. Most of these servers have been upgraded to 4 processor machines to handle virus scanning, content scanning and all the other management tasks that go on behind the scenes. The same licenses under the current licensing scheme is $1200.00 a processor for the TDP and 391.00 per processor for the NT client for a total of $159,100.00. We didn't buy 4-way boxes to take advantage of untapped TSM potential. So why is IBM even attempting to charge us per processor ? We buy IBM servers, IBM OS's, IBM support and still have to take it in the rear on licensing. What's next web client access licensing. Poor customer service and less than adequate patch and maintenance releases. Certainly that does not add up to a 600% increase in pricing. I am like the rest of you, I like the product and what we can do with it, but I was using something else before we migrated to TSM and by the looks of it I will be using something different in the future. Duane Ochs Systems Administration Quad/Graphics Inc. 414.566.2375 -----Original Message----- From: Ted Byrne [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2003 4:04 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: License Pricing >Doesn't the new licensing scheme result in 1) higher prices for = >clients, but 2) lower prices for the server. ... >So if you plan to back up a just a small number of clients, you may = >actually come out cheaper? >Can anyone confirm this (possibly erroneous) opinion? >Tivoli certainly doesn't make it easy to understand. Wanda, Your opinion is correct. For a small installation, TSM can actually be less expensive to purchase than it used to be. Speaking from the standpoint of someone working for a reseller, this can be a good thing. However, in my opinion, the "tipping point" where a TSM solution starts costing more than it would have before is *way* too low. I have not done an exacting analysis on where that point actually is, but for some customers, what was once 40-50K software purchase would now be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The fact that it licensing is now CPU-based rather than "box-based" introduces a very ugly multiplier effect at customers where the typical Wintel server is 2-way or 4-way. What used to be a $217 client (for a 4-way Wintel machine) is now anywhere from $1400 to $2500 list (depending on the size of the library being used) in quantities of 1. Quantity discounts are, of course, available... The figures I quote are from the IBM Tivoli Price Estimator tool. "Prices are suggested prices only and are subject to change in IBM's sole discretion." Even if you're not adding clients, the licensing change introduces a very stiff increase in maintenance costs, as well. My opinion only... (But I have shared it with folks from IBM/Tivoli when I've had the chance.) Ted