Microsoft License Mobility through Software Assurance for Microsoft Windows Server Applications on IBM SmartCloud Enterprise and Enterprise+

Microsoft License Mobility through Software Assurance for certain Microsoft products is available for IBM SmartCloud Services offerings, including IBM SmartCloud Enterprise and Enterprise+.

Microsoft customers can easily move current on-premises Microsoft Server application workloads to IBM SmartCloud Enterprise and Enterprise+, without additional Microsoft software license fees.

Eligibility Requirements:

To take advantage of this Microsoft program, the following conditions must apply:

Many products are included in this Microsoft program. Some popular server software that is part of this program includes:

  • Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server
  • Microsoft Exchange Server
  • Microsoft Lync Server
  • Microsoft SharePoint Server
  • Microsoft SQL Server Standard Edition
  • Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft System Center Server

    For more information and a complete listing, please see the full list of eligible products.

Microsoft Server application products that are migrated to IBM SmartCloud Enterprise or Enterprise+ with License Mobility through the Software Assurance program must all be covered with active Software Assurance.

Eligible Volume Licensing programs include the Enterprise Agreement, Enterprise Subscription Agreement, and Microsoft Open Value Agreement, where Software Assurance is included. Also accepted are other Volume Licensing programs where Software Assurance is an option, such as Select Plus or Microsoft Open License.

Proper Client Access Licenses (CALs) must be maintained by the customers. They must have Software Assurance in their Volume Licensing agreement for accessing the application servers.

These benefits do not include use of the Microsoft Windows Server operating system, Microsoft Windows Client operating system, or Desktop application products such as Microsoft Office. IBM SmartCloud Enterprise and Enterprise+ customers will need to continue to run their applications through Windows-based instances on IBM SmartCloud Enterprise or SmartCloud Enterprise+.

Users must comply with Microsoft's "server farm" rules. Licenses deployed in specific IBM SmartCloud Enterprise or Enterprise+ locations must follow license relocation restrictions as documented in Microsoft's Product Use Rights (the PUR).

How to Sign Up

To sign up, customers using License Mobility through Software Assurance must confirm their product license is eligible. Microsoft requires the customer to complete a license verification form. The form will include three fields specific to IBM, which should be filled in as follows:

Authorized Mobility Partner Name: IBM
Authorize Mobility Partner Website URL: www.ibm.com/services/uk/en/cloud-enterprise/microsoft-license-mobility.html
Authorized Mobility Partner Email Address: lmatibm@us.ibm.com

Microsoft will process the submitted form and confirm with the customer and IBM whether the customer has eligible licenses. Microsoft will specify the eligible products and quantities that the customer can move. It typically takes Microsoft 3 days to process these forms.

Microsoft allows customers to redeploy their license(s) before the customer's eligibility has been verified. The customer must continue to comply with all licensing requirements, including retaining active SA coverage for the products while the licenses are deployed in IBM cloud server farms. The customer must also manage renewals and true ups as per their agreement.

Customers can begin the verification process and review further details on Microsoft's License Mobility through Software Assurance page.

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  • Lisa Burgess

    Lisa Burgess

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