TM1 Licensing

Cognos TM1 Licensing 13 Most Common Questions

by
2/4/2016

Little unsure about your TM1 licenses? Lodestar Solutions brings you the 13 most common TM1 licensing questions:

TM1 Licensing
Little unsure about your TM1 licenses? Lodestar Solutions brings you the 13 most common TM1 licensing questions:

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  1. What is the Difference in TM1 and IBM Cognos Performance Management? Pretty much they are the same. The license is called a Performance Management license but it’s for TM1.
  2. I heard TM1 has to two flavors of licensing what are they? IBM offers a Cognos Performance Management Express license or an IBM Cognos Enterprise license. The Express version is designed for smaller deployments as long as it doesn’t have more than 50 TM1 users. It is a lower cost and a great entry point. The Express version requires a connector as well as user licenses. If you exceed 50 users, you must purchase the upgrade to the enterprise version. With the 10.2.2 release, the code bases are the same, meaning they are on the same version. Blog on various licensing types: https://lodestarsolutions.com/lodestar/?p=5109
  3. What are the licensing options for Enterprise Performance Management/TM1? TM1 users are licensed as authorized users and can be either TM1/ Performance Management Modelers (power users), Performance Management/ TM1 Users, or TM1 Explorers (read only). Additionally, you must purchase the IBM Cognos Analytics Server license which is a Processor Value Unit (PVU) license. See blog on PVU’s https://lodestarsolutions.com/lodestar/?p=423 It’s highly recommended that you also purchase the Non-Production Analytics Server which is PVU based so you can have a test environment.
  4. Do I need a separate license for a non-production environment? Yes, if you want a test, or development environment for TM1 you much purchase the Non-Production Analytic Server PVU license.
  5. What functionality does the PM Modeler license include? PM Modelers have access to administration and modeling interfaces: Performance Modeler, Architect, Turbo Integrator and Operations Console. All IBM Cognos TM1 server deployments require a minimum of (1) IBM Performance Management Modeler license.
  6. What functionality does the PM User license include? All licensed PM Users have R/W access to any end user interface of TM1 including Cognos Insight, TM1 Applications Web, Cognos Analysis for Microsoft Excel, or custom developed interfaces through the TM1 API.
  7. Is Scorecarding included in my licensing? Yes, under the latest licensing model, IBM Scorecarding is including in the TM1 User and TM1 Modeler license. http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/ShowDoc.wss?docURL=/common/ssi/rep_ca/9/897/ENUS213-359/index.html&request_locale=en
  8. Is Cognos Analysis for Excel (CAFÉ) included in my TM1 licensing? Yes, under the latest licensing model, IBM CAFÉ is including in the TM1 User and TM1 Modeler license. Previously, this was a separate license so you might want to check your support renewal bill and make sure you aren’t paying for it twice.
  9. Do I need a license for a TM1 consultant working on my model? Yes. Clients are responsible for owning a license for every person including consultants that log into their system. Authorized user licenses cannot be shared.
  10. I’m considering migrating from Cognos Planning to TM1. My rep said the Planning licenses work on TM1. Is this correct? Well….kind of. The only Cognos Planning license that has legal rights to TM1 is the Enterprise Planning Contributor which has Performance management/TM1 user rights. Note that the Planning model does not have TM1 rights! Additionally, if your planning contributor entitlements do not have the word “Enterprise”, they do not have TM1 rights and need to be upgraded.
  11. Why do I need PVU and Authorized Users licenses? TM1 is a mixed licensing structure which requires an Analytic Server which is PVU based and the users which are Authorized users. This means that everyone that logs in needs a user license.
  12. I want to use TM1 Data in a BI report but use TM1 security to pass through from BI. Do I need a TM1 license for the Cognos BI user? TM1 is just another data source to BI. If you want to use TM1 as a base for Cognos BI, you need to have the appropriate Cognos BI license. However, real issue is that to assign security on the TM1 data which is being passed to BI, you need to put the user in a TM1 group. For example, if you need to have cell level security, you need to set them up in TM1. If the user will not access TM1, and are only set up in TM1 to assign security, they will NOT need a TM1 user license. This is specified in the TM1 License which states that BI Analytics Users or Explorers don't need additional authorized user entitlements to TM1. They do however, need the appropriate IBM Cognos Analytic Server license.
  13. Can I have a Dashboard in all TM1? TM1 user and Modeler licenses include rights to Cognos Workspace for Dashboards but the TM1 licenses restrict workspace to TM1 data. If you want to include other data, you need a Cognos BI license.

So, with those 13 points in mind, how would you like to have a place where you could have a licensing & audit workshop and learn not only about TM1 licensing but all IBM Cognos licensing and functionality? It just so happens that this place does exist and it’s in Tampa, FL!

Lodestar Solutions is holding an IBM Cognos Functionality, Licensing & Audit workshop on March 25th, 2016 in beautiful sunny Tampa! In this workshop you will learn:

* What Cognos functionality is included in each license

* Which Cognos tools to use when

* How to determine what tools to use for future projects

* Techniques so you can self-audit licenses

* Tips for negotiating the best price on software purchases

For more information on TM1 licensing or to register for the workshop, visit www.analyticleadership.com. You may also call us at 813-254-2040 (extension 205).

Understanding Cognos TM1 Licensing

by
8/26/15

​Cognos TM1 licensing - Enterprise vs. Express

To better understand the IBM Cognos TM1 licensing functionality and structure, we’ll break it down into its components. By the way, are you aware that Cognos Express is now using the same EXACT architecture as the Cognos Enterprise version? Even if you are an existing Cognos TM1 owner, keep reading, because seeing the functionality in black and white may make you re-think how your user base really uses the software. You may find that your current license mix is not what you really need going forward.

Cognos TM1 licensing

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Cognos TM1 Enterprise (aka Cognos Performance Management)

Required licenses:

  • IBM Cognos Analytic Server (ICAS)
  • IBM Cognos Performance Management Modeler Authorized User (min. of 1)

Additional licenses:

  • IBM Cognos Performance Management User Authorized User
  • IBM Cognos Enterprise Planning TM1 Explorer Authorized User
  • IBM Cognos Enterprise User Authorized User
  • IBM Cognos Enterprise Planning Contributor Authorized User*

IBM Cognos Analytic Server (ICAS): This is a Processor Value Unit (PVU) based license. A PVU is a number that is assigned to a specific processor core type by IBM – what’s your processor’s PVU rate? The ratings generally range from 30 to 120. Its best to check every year with your IT department to determine what processor(s) and how many cores are currently being used, as they may have changed your server. Also, IBM reserves the right to change a processor’s rating. Once you determine the rating of your processor and the number of cores used, the formula for how many PVU’s you need is simply:

Processor Rating * # of Cores Used = PVU requirement

IBM Cognos Performance Management Modeler Authorized User: This license is basically an administrator licenses. It is based on Authorized User (named person) and has all functionality to use the software (ie create, execute, delete, security, etc). You need a minimum of one of these licenses to use Cognos TM1. We suggest that you have at least two, that way someone in your organization is cross-trained to ensure coverage. Also note that you will need a license to cover any and all consultants that are logging into your Cognos TM1 environment.

IBM Cognos Performance Management User Authorized User: This license allows an Authorized User to have Write access to the database (Contribute) and run processes. They will not have the ability to build cubes, write processes or build objects. They are able to update a dimension.

IBM Cognos Enterprise Planning TM1 Explorer Authorized User: This license only allows this Authorized User to have Read access to the database.

IBM Cognos Enterprise User Authorized User: This license allows all the functionality of the IBM Cognos Performance Management User Authorized User AND gives them IBM Cognos BI Analytics User capabilities.

IBM Cognos Enterprise Planning Contributor Authorized User*: Even though this is an older license, it is still very valuable for organizations to keep. This license allows your Cognos Enterprise Planning Contributors to retain access to your Cognos Planning model and gives them access to use Cognos TM1. It also is a very cost effective way to “renew” these users into Cognos TM1 as you migrate from Planning to TM1. If you are still using Planning and your Contributors are not Enterprise Contributors, please contact us to go over your licensing renewal (Renewals@LodestarSolutions.com). Right now IBM is offering to trade-up your Planning Contributors to Enterprise Planning Contributors at no additional cost per unit than what your renewal would be for your existing Contributors.

Cognos Express for Performance Management (Cognos TM1 Express)

Previously, Express had a slightly different look and would be about six months behind on new functionality. Now they are one and the same, though Express has some size limitations. There still is the limitation of a max of 50 users. However, you don’t have to pay the higher cost of an IBM Cognos Analytic Server license that may have been cost prohibited for smaller organizations.

Required licenses:

  • IBM Cognos Express Connector for Performance Management per Install
  • IBM Cognos Express Administrator Authorized User (min. of 1)

Additional licenses:

  • IBM Cognos Express Performance Management User Authorized User
  • IBM Cognos Express Connector for Performance Mgmt for Non-Prod Env per Install*

IBM Cognos Express Connector for Performance Management per Install: This license is in lieu of the Enterprise Analytic Server license and makes Express very affordable.

IBM Cognos Express Administrator Authorized User (min. of 1): This license is primarily for granting Authorized Users access to Cognos TM1. This is not to be confused with the Enterprise version of the Administrator/Modeler license.

IBM Cognos Express Performance Management User Authorized User: In Express, this is your primary user of Cognos TM1. Through security of the Authorized User, you have a lot of flexibility to grant specific users greater responsibility to objects.

IBM Cognos Express Connector for Performance Mgmt for Non-Prod Env per Install*: This is an optional license. However, we do suggest that it is best to have a Non-Prod environment for testing purposes. This comes in handy if you have Cognos Express that includes Business Intelligence reporting.

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