F5 Metric

NGINX Plus instance

Catalog row in Vendor License Metrics · Cited

Unit: NGINX Plus instance reporting under a JWT licence
Definition: NGINX documentation: the JWT licence "Is tied to your subscription (not to individual instances)" and NGINX combines usage reporting across all licensed instances.
Counting rules: Each NGINX Plus instance carries the licence file and reports usage to the F5 licensing endpoint (or through NGINX Instance Manager when offline). Multiple subscriptions give multiple JWT licences; each instance can be assigned to the one chosen.
Applies to products: NGINX Plus (R33 and later)
NGINX Plus Ingress Controller (4.0.0 and later)
Product category: Load Balancing Software

Evidence 8

Expired NGINX licences have a 90-day grace period to start

"If the license has expired, NGINX Plus can still start during the 90-day grace period."

FCP renewals need manual NGINX JWT updates

"If your subscription was renewed under the Flexible Consumption Program (FCP), automatic JWT renewal isn’t supported."

From R35 renewed licences are applied automatically for reporting instances

"Starting in NGINX Plus R35, JWT licenses are updated automatically for instances that report directly to the F5 licensing endpoint."

Getting started, Update the license automaticallyGetting started | NGINX Documentation (subscription licences)Retrieved 2026-10-08

NGINX Plus Ingress Controller 4.0.0 needs a JWT to run

"From version 4.0.0, this JWT token is also required to run NGINX Plus."

NGINX Plus R33 and later requires a JWT licence

"NGINX Plus R33 and later require a valid JSON Web Token (JWT) license."

NGINX Plus stops processing traffic after 180 days without a usage report

"Ongoing usage reports, at least every 180 days."

Offline NGINX Plus reports through NGINX Instance Manager

"In a disconnected environment, NGINX Plus sends usage data to F5 NGINX Instance Manager."

The NGINX licence is tied to the subscription, not to instances

"Is tied to your subscription (not to individual instances)."