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Release: Australia · Updated: 2026-03-12 · Official documentation · View source

Legacy IBM PVU Process Pack

Processor Value Unit (PVU) is a unit of measurement defined by IBM to determine software licensing costs based on processor or server model.

A processor is defined as each core on a socket. Each software package has a price defined as number of points or PVUs per core. For a complete explanation of IBM PVU licensing for distributed software, see Processor Value Unit [PVU] licensing for Distributed Software on the IBM website.

In the ServiceNow AI Platform, the concept of PVU is used by the legacy IBM PVU Process Pack, which is an add-on to the legacy Software Asset Management (com.snc.software_asset_management) plugin. This legacy process pack provides the ability to manage software licensed under the IBM Processor Value Units licensing model.

Important: The legacy IBM PVU Process Pack is not required for tracking and managing IBM PVU licenses through the Software Asset Management publisher pack for IBM, which is available as part of the Software Asset Management Professional (com.snc.samp) plugin. The IBM publisher pack includes all capabilities that are required for tracking and managing both full capacity and sub-capacity PVU and RVU licenses for your IBM products. See Software Asset Management publisher pack for IBM for more information on the IBM publisher pack.

The legacy Software Asset Management (com.snc.software_asset_management) plugin Processor Definition Extension is automatically activated when the legacy IBM PVU Process Pack is activated. It provides data model support for processor definitions and is required by all legacy Software Asset Management (com.snc.software_asset_management) plugin process packs.

Note: Oracle and Microsoft also use the concept of PVU, but have slightly different definitions.

Parent Topic:Legacy Software Asset Management plugin

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