Virtual Processor Core (VPC)
Catalog row in Vendor License Metrics · Cited
- Unit
- VPC
- Aliases
- VPC; Virtual Processor Cores; vCPU (IBM: in IBM licensing, a vCPU is also referred to as a Virtual Processor Core (VPC))
- Definition
- Virtual Processor Core (VPC) is a unit of measure by which the Program can be licensed. A Physical Server is a physical computer that is comprised of processing units, memory, and input/output capabilities. A Virtual Server is either a virtual computer created by partitioning the resources available to a Physical Server or an unpartitioned Physical Server. A Processor Core is a functional unit within a computing device that interprets and executes instructions. A Virtual Processor Core is a Processor Core in an unpartitioned Physical Server, or a virtual core assigned to a Virtual Server.
- Counting rules
- Deploy using full capacity, sub-capacity, or container licensing if the program supports it. Sub-capacity: same lower-of virtual vs physical cores as PVU; then IBM states 1 VPC equals 1 virtual CPU (vCPU). IBM does not publish a global VPC-to-PVU table for traditional VM licensing. Container guidance separately states 1 vCPU = 1 VPC and 1 vCPU = 70 PVU for container licensing only. The container 70 PVU rate does not apply to traditional VM sub-capacity. VPC sub-capacity ILMT: with PA v11, sub-capacity reporting that applied to PVU/RVU now applies to VPC for new customers 1 Feb 2023 and existing 1 May 2023. Effective 10 May 2022, VPC sub-capacity requires ILMT or approved tool; manual capacity counting no longer permitted. Failure → full capacity of activated physical cores. Container licensing is not included in that VPC policy change. Containers: IBM License Service is the only accepted tracking tool (no exceptions). ILMT is a tool, not a metric. Cloud Pak is a bundle topology, not a metric.
- Floors / minimums
- Same whole-core minimum as other core-based metrics (Sub-Capacity FAQs: appropriate entitlements for one whole processor core). Container: pod fractions allowed; cluster-level aggregation rounded up to nearest whole integer (Container Licenses page / Container Licensing Guide).
- Applies to products
- IBM Cloud Pak
- Related metrics
- Product category