IBM Software PVU's Made Easy

PVU Definition

PVU's, or Processor Value Units, from IBM, are seen by most to be a complicated way to buy software.  IBM say:

A Processor Value Unit (PVU) is a unit of measure used to differentiate licensing of software on distributed processor technologies (defined by Processor Vendor, Brand, Type and Model Number).  IBM continues to define a processor, for purposes of PVU-based licensing, to be each processor core on a chip (socket).  Each software Program has a unique price per PVU.

In other words, the more power in your server, the higher the PVU count will be.  As IBM then charge a defined amount per PVU, you can then calculate what the total cost of your IBM software will be.  This is for most IBM software brands, including Cognos, TM1, SPSS and Lotus.

PVU Calculator

You can go to the IBM website here to see a table for PVU's for different processors and on this page as well is a link to a tool where you can calculate PVU's for a server.  Note that IBM updates the PVU values regularly so please check back as often as required.

PVU Calculation Example

As an example, let's say you look up the specs on a server and find that it is a 100 PVU server.  You then learn that the price per PVU is $345.  This would mean that the server would cost you 100 x $62, or $34,500.