Software licensing documents

This information describes the documents that you receive with your software release order. These can be either printed or online.

These documents contain important information concerning the use, management, and transfer of licensed programs. The licensing documents for IBM® licensed programs that you receive could be either printed or online on the server. The Customer Notice that is included in your software order describes how to access the online documents.

To automatically install IBM licensed programs that have online software agreements, you need to accept the agreement through the Prepare for Install menu before you can install the programs. An upgrade of the Licensed Internal Code and the i5/OS™ operating system will stop if the agreements have not been accepted. The topic Required: Accepting software agreements describes how to accept the agreements.

Ensure that you read and understand all software license agreements and documents before you use the programs.

Store the printed agreements and documents in a secure location. Both printed and online agreements need to be passed to the new owner when you transfer a program.

Proof of Entitlement
The Proof of Entitlement (PoE) is evidence of the owner's authorization to use the program and is the official record on entitlement. It is evidence of eligibility for any version or release updates under software subscription, warranty services, future upgrade program prices (if announced), and potential special or promotional opportunities. A PoE is created for new customer orders or when additional entitlement is purchased.

An electronic PoE for i5/OS software upgrade orders is replacing the printed PoE formerly shipped with your software products. For instructions on how to access your electronic PoEs and software license keys, refer to the Customer Notice that is included with your software order. The printed PoEs should be destroyed after you verify the existence and content of the Web-based PoE.

The International Program License Agreement
The International Program License Agreement (IPLA) provides a nonexclusive license to use a software product that has a warranty.
International License Agreement for Non-Warranted Programs
This agreement is similar to the IPLA but is used for IBM licensed programs that have no warranty.
International License Agreement for Evaluation of Programs
The Evaluation of Programs provides a nonexclusive, nontransferable license to use a program only for internal evaluation, testing, or demonstration purposes, on a trial or “try-and-buy” basis.
Licensed Information Document
The Licensed Information Document (LID) contains specific license information and additional restrictions for a product.
Software license keys
For each keyed IBM product or keyed IBM product option that you order, a software license key is created. This applies to both new and upgraded software. You can view, print, or download the software license keys from the Entitled software supportLink outside Information Center Web site. You need to have your customer number and either your order number or system number that is listed on your software packing list available. For further instructions on how to access your online software license keys, refer to the Customer Notice that is included with your software order.

The Entitled software supportLink
outside Information Center Web site also contains more information on managing IBM software license keys.

For a general description of how software license keys are used, see the topic Work with software agreements and licenses . For unique licensing applications regarding logical partitions on iSeries™ 8xx or earlier models, see the topic Software licensing and licensed programs for logical partitions . For IBM System i5, System p5, and IBM eServer™ i5 and p5 systems, see Considerations for i5/OS license agreements .