Midrange Workload License Charges
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q.   When will MWLC be available?

A.   MWLC requires that customers run a minimum of the z/VSE V4 operating system, which can be ordered from IBM as of March 16, 2007. The pricing is also limited to z9™ Business Class and z9 Enterprise Class servers.

Q.   Which MWLC options will CSI support?

A.   CSI will support the full-capacity and sub-capacity MWLC options.

Q.   What are the hardware requirements for MWLC?

A.    Customers must run on the IBM System z9 Business Class (z9 BC) or the IBM System z9 Enterprise Class (z9 EC) server. The smallest z9 BC server (capacity setting A01) is excluded from the MWLC offering and will be priced using IBM’s zELC pricing model.

Q.  Will the sub-capacity option of MWLC be available to z/VSE customers that are running under z/VM?

A.  Yes. However, z/VSE V4 must be running as a guest of z/VM V5.2 or higher. Older releases of z/VSE or z/VM may not be included in the configuration.

Q.  What will CSI accept for utilization measurements from customers that choose the MWLC sub-capacity pricing option?

A.  CSI will accept the SCRT Report produced by IBM. Customers will simply email the report to CSI upon receipt from IBM.

Q.   Can I choose full-capacity pricing for some products and sub-capacity pricing for other products?

A.   Yes. Our objective is to help customers best align the cost of our solutions with the value they provide in their enterprise.

Q.   If I choose the sub-capacity pricing option, how much utilization data must I provide during the reporting period?

A.   We understand that all z/VSE sites may not operate on a 24 x 7 basis. We will honor IBM’s reporting requirements for the MWLC sub-capacity pricing option. Failure to meet the established reporting requirements will result in all solutions being priced at the full-capacity level for the given month.

Q.   I realize that my monthly software bill will fluctuate under the CSI implementation of MWLC sub-capacity pricing. Do I have a minimum monthly charge, regardless of my utilization levels?

A.   No, CSI does not impose a minimum monthly charge. As long as you meet the monthly utilization reporting requirements, all charges will be based upon your actual utilization.

Q.   How can I “lock in” pricing to make my costs more predictable for the full-capacity and sub-capacity options of the CSI implementation of MWLC?

A.   Pricing for the full-capacity and sub-capacity options is based on a tiered “$$$/MSU” charge on a product basis. The “$$$/MSU” charge declines as the number of MSUs increases. CSI customers may choose to “lock in” the rates per MSU for current and higher capacity ratings for a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 36 months.

Q.  Are tools available to help me analyze my current utilization and model potential cost savings offered by a sub-capacity pricing model?

A.  We recommend that you contact your IBM Business Partner for assistance/direction in this area. They may be able to provide you with price/performance ratio comparisons between z9s, z/VSE V4 and previous hardware and software releases.        

Q.  IBM offers MWLC sub-capacity pricing on a limited number of their products. Which CSI solutions are eligible for this special pricing?

A.  A complete list of CSI’s eligible solutions can be found at http://www.e-vse.com/release.htm

Q.  How can I get more information on CSI solutions and MWLC pricing?

A.  In the U.S. and Canada please contact your CSI Sales Specialist or a CSI Business Partner. Elsewhere, please contact your local CSI Distributor.

Contact numbers and email addresses may be found at the following location: http://e-vse.com/contact/contact.htm

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