64 Bit Pricing Query

[BigDSter]

Just a quick question about pricing if anyone has any recent knowledge.

When we last looked into getting a 64 bit TM1 server we were quoted twice the price of the 32 bit server, which has always put us off. We are currently in the process of migrating to a 64 bit platform but a 32 bit server, to get the memory benefit.

However our Ops guys are surprised that the 64 bit server costs twice as much as when they deal with IBM normally, the 32/64 bit choice is just that, a choice, but with no price premium. So they were wondering if this has changed now that TM1 is owned by IBM.

If not then we'll just continue with the first option.

Ta

[stephen waters]

David,
Buying IBM Cognos TM1 software new it can be used on both 32 and 64 bit hardware BUT the server pricing is now by processor power (Processor Value Units or PVU's). We have not got into the complexitities of this yet but I expect that 64 bit hardware will have a higher PVU cost than 32 bit. I think that pricing by processsor power is the standard IBM approach so you can tell your ops guys that they are not comparing like for like. Given the single threading nature of TM1 calcs you could argue PVU should be based on a single core but I dont think that will wash!

You can move from legacy pricing model (server instance+ concurrent + 32\64 choice) to new model (named users, 32 and 64, PVU based server) but the cost and terms will depend on your current license, what migration is currently on offer and what mood your sales rep is in. There may be other options as well; speak to your sales rep.

The changes to the TM1 licensing model over the last 4 years are worthy of specialist subject in Mastermind, if not a PhD dissertation!

[Alan Kirk]

Just a quick question about pricing if anyone has any recent knowledge.

When we last looked into getting a 64 bit TM1 server we were quoted twice the price of the 32 bit server, which has always put us off. We are currently in the process of migrating to a 64 bit platform but a 32 bit server, to get the memory benefit.

However our Ops guys are surprised that the 64 bit server costs twice as much as when they deal with IBM normally, the 32/64 bit choice is just that, a choice, but with no price premium. So they were wondering if this has changed now that TM1 is owned by IBM.

If not then we'll just continue with the first option.

The price that we've been quoted for an upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit (and indeed, they do see it as an upgrade) is... well, just take the national debt of an average third world country and you're in the ballpark. Bear in mind that we've already moved from concurrent to named user, just before the Cognos takeover.

As Stephen indicated, the number of cores will also have an effect; double the cores, double the size of the hole in your Capex budget.

But I more than concur with his point that:

The changes to the TM1 licensing model over the last 4 years are worthy of specialist subject in Mastermind, if not a PhD dissertation!

and the odds of any two customers getting the same answer or price are probably remote.