Software Sales Specialist
In January, IBM introduced IBM WebSphere Hybrid Edition to the marketplace, and we have been fielding questions from our customers about this new all-encompassing WebSphere container and microservices ready platform. The most common questions have been “What WebSphere licensing is included with this offering?” and “Does this replace IBM Cloud Pak for Applications”? This blog will address the answers to these questions and more.
For openers, with the IBM WebSphere Hybrid Edition IBM is consolidating the multiple WebSphere offerings into one complete offering. Simply put, this provides much more flexibility to WebSphere customers, while simplifying licensing.
Most of our customers tell us that they are looking to modernize their existing WebSphere environments in the future. They recognize the need to move to new cloud native applications and they see the value of utilizing IBM’s next generation application platform, Red Hat OpenShift with Kubernetes based container orchestration (not included in WebSphere Hybrid Edition). However, they need time to do this, and it can be a long and arduous process even when planned properly. WebSphere Hybrid Edition provides solutions for today’s existing WebSphere Application Server (WAS) deployments as well as tomorrow’s hybrid cloud native new applications. WebSphere Hybrid Edition provides the tools needed for modernization of existing applications where that makes sense. It provides deployment flexibility and enables clients to transition between these deployment options at their own pace.
Common License Entitlement
The WebSphere Hybrid Edition brings together the following key WebSphere Application Server products under a common license entitlement:
- WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment, which includes the Network Deployment editions of both the traditional WAS and Liberty application servers
- WebSphere Application Server, which includes the single server editions of both the traditional WAS and Liberty application servers
- WebSphere Application Server Liberty Core
- IBM Cloud Foundry Migration Runtime — requires a separately acquired Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform (OCP)
- Application Migration Tools: Transformation Advisor and Mono2Micro – assists with the move to microservices and application optimization
These solutions are delivered in a ratio-based licensing model that provides the ultimate mix and match flexibility to our clients. WebSphere Hybrid Edition implements the familiar Cloud Pak ratio table format. Assume a customer buys 1 VPC of the IBM WebSphere Hybrid Edition solution, then the customer is entitled to run:
- 1 VPC of WAS ND, or
- 4 VPCs of WAS (base), or
- 8 VPCs of WAS Liberty Core, or
- 8 VPCs of IBM Cloud Foundry Migration Runtime –requires a separately acquired Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform (OCP)
- Transformation Advisor and Mono2Micro are unlimited components.
Licensing Options
You may acquire IBM WebSphere Hybrid Edition as “net new” or via an “upgrade” licensed by the number of Virtual Processors Cores (VPC) required or desired. Deployment combinations of the above options are also possible. Customers can also change their deployments as their needs change (provided they stay within their entitled VPC license quantity). All of these solutions can be deployed in either VMs or Containers (as supported).
Customers can trade up (perpetual) or upgrade (subscription) from various WebSphere family of products but are NOT required to do so. IBM Perpetual, Subscription, and Monthly Term Licensing options are available. Your Mainline Account Executive can provide more information on these options, to assist you in selecting the most effective solution to optimize your business.
Slightly Different from IBM Cloud Pak for Applications
Note that the IBM WebSphere Hybrid Edition is slightly different than the former IBM Cloud Pak for Applications Offering. WebSphere Hybrid Edition provides many of the same benefits of IBM Cloud Pak for Applications, but does not include Red Hat solution components, IBM Cloud Private, or Accelerators for Teams. WebSphere Hybrid Edition adds new exclusives such as supported Mono2Micro and Cloud Foundry Migration Runtime. IBM will continue to support customers with IBM Cloud Pak for Applications through at least 2030. IBM is offering customers currently running Cloud Pak for Applications with the ability to upgrade to WebSphere Hybrid Edition (at a 1:1 VPC exchange rate) although they are NOT required to do so.
Meeting Customer Needs
IBM really did listen to our customers with this offering, and they have addressed the following needs:
- One complete solution with all the necessary tooling to migrate your existing legacy apps and create new cloud native apps
- More-flexible entitlements that ensure you have sufficient entitlements before, during and after migration
- A simple and consistent metric for billing and payments, based on the resources available to the platform
- A way to trade-up or upgrade that makes the most of your existing investments
More Information
Mainline is an IBM Platinum partner, the highest level in IBM’s PartnerWorld program, and our software experts are available to help you tackle your information technology business needs. To learn more about licensing options for IBM WebSphere Hybrid Edition, IBM Cloud Paks, or any IBM software solution, please contact your Mainline Account Executive directly or click here to contact us with any questions.
Related articles and information:
Blog: Container Storage – The Use and Benefit of Persistent Storage in Your Data Center
Blog: Benefits and Use Cases for IBM Cloud Pak for Integration
IBM Announcement Letter: IBM WebSphere Hybrid Edition
IBM Knowledge Center: IBM WebSphere Hybrid Edition Overview