Bring Your Own License for Db2 Db2 license through AWS Marketplace Switching between Db2 licenses

Amazon RDS for Db2 licensing options

Amazon RDS for Db2 has two licensing options: Bring Your Own License (BYOL) and Db2 license through AWS Marketplace.

Topics

Bring Your Own License for Db2
Db2 license through AWS Marketplace
Switching between Db2 licenses

Bring Your Own License for Db2

In the BYOL model, you use your existing Db2 database licenses to deploy databases on Amazon RDS. Verify that you have the appropriate Db2 database license for the DB instance class and Db2 database edition that you want to run. You must also follow IBM policies for licensing IBM database software in the cloud computing environment.

Note

Multi-AZ DB instances are cold standbys because the Db2 database is installed but not running. Standbys aren't readable, running, or serving requests. For more information, see IBM Db2 licensing information on the IBM website.

In this model, you continue to use your active IBM support account, and you contact IBM directly for Db2 database service requests. If you have an AWS Support account with case support, you can contact AWS Support for Amazon RDS issues. Amazon Web Services and IBM have a multi-vendor support process for cases that require assistance from both organizations.

Amazon RDS supports the BYOL model for Db2 Standard Edition and Db2 Advanced Edition.

Topics

IBM IDs for Bring Your Own License for Db2
Adding IBM IDs to a parameter group for RDS for Db2 DB instances
Integrating with AWS License Manager

IBM IDs for Bring Your Own License for Db2

In the BYOL model, you need your IBM Customer ID and your IBM Site ID to create, modify, or restore RDS for Db2 DB instances. You must create a custom parameter group with your IBM Customer ID and your IBM Site ID before you create an RDS for Db2 DB instance. For more information, see Adding IBM IDs to a parameter group for RDS for Db2 DB instances. You can run multiple RDS for Db2 DB instances with different IBM Customer IDs and IBM Site IDs in the same AWS account or AWS Region.

Important

If you're an existing IBM Db2 customer, you can find your IBM Customer ID and your IBM Site ID on your Proof of Entitlement certificate from IBM.

If you're a new IBM Db2 customer, you must first purchase a Db2 software license from IBM. After you purchase a Db2 software license, you will receive a Proof of Entitlement from IBM, which lists your IBM Customer ID and your IBM Site ID.

If we can't verify your license by your IBM Customer ID and your IBM Site ID, we might terminate any DB instances running with these unverified licenses.

Adding IBM IDs to a parameter group for RDS for Db2 DB instances

Because you can't modify default parameter groups, you must create a custom parameter group and then modify it to include the values for your IBM Customer ID and your IBM Site ID. For information about parameter groups, see DB parameter groups for Amazon RDS DB instances.

Important

You must create a custom parameter group with your IBM Customer ID and your IBM Site ID before you create an RDS for Db2 DB instance.

Use the parameter settings in the following table.

Parameter	Value
`rds.ibm_customer_id`	`<your IBM Customer ID>`
`rds.ibm_site_id`	`<your IBM Site ID>`
`ApplyMethod`	`immediate`, `pending-reboot`

These parameters are dynamic, which means that any changes to them take effect immediately and that you don't need to reboot the DB instance. If you don't want the changes to take effect immediately, you can set ApplyMethod to pending-reboot and schedule these changes to be made during a maintenance window.

You can create and modify a custom parameter group by using the AWS Management Console, the AWS CLI, or the Amazon RDS API.

To add your IBM Customer ID and your IBM Site ID to a parameter group

Create a new DB parameter group. For more information about creating a DB parameter group, see Creating a DB parameter group in Amazon RDS.
Modify the parameter group that you created. For more information about modifying a parameter group, see Modifying parameters in a DB parameter group in Amazon RDS.

To add your IBM Customer ID and your IBM Site ID to a parameter group

Create a custom parameter group by running the create-db-parameter-group command.

Include the following required options:
- --db-parameter-group-name – A name for the parameter group that you are creating.
- --db-parameter-group-family – The Db2 engine edition and major version. Valid values: db2-se-11.5, db2-ae-11.5.
- --description – A description for this parameter group.
For more information about creating a DB parameter group, see Creating a DB parameter group in Amazon RDS.
Modify the parameters in the custom parameter group that you created by running the modify-db-parameter-group command.

Include the following required options:
- --db-parameter-group-name – The name of the parameter group that you created.
- --parameters – An array of parameter names, values, and the application methods for the parameter update.
For more information about modifying a parameter group, see Modifying parameters in a DB parameter group in Amazon RDS.

To add your IBM Customer ID and your IBM Site ID to a parameter group

Create a custom DB parameter group by using the Amazon RDS API CreateDBParameterGroup operation.

Include the following required parameters:
- DBParameterGroupName
- DBParameterGroupFamily
- Description
For more information about creating a DB parameter group, see Creating a DB parameter group in Amazon RDS.
Modify the parameters in the custom parameter group that you created by using the RDS API ModifyDBParameterGroup operation.

Include the following required parameters:
- DBParameterGroupName
- Parameters
For more information about modifying a parameter group, see Modifying parameters in a DB parameter group in Amazon RDS.

Now you are ready to create a DB instance and attach the custom parameter group to the DB instance. For more information, see Creating an Amazon RDS DB instance and Associating a DB parameter group with a DB instance in Amazon RDS.

Integrating with AWS License Manager

To aid in monitoring RDS for Db2 license usage in the BYOL model, AWS License Manager integrates with RDS for Db2. License Manager supports tracking of RDS for Db2 engine editions based on virtual CPUs (vCPUs). You can also use License Manager with AWS Organizations to manage all of your organizational accounts centrally.

The following table shows available values for the Engine Edition product information filter for RDS for Db2.

Value	Description
`db2-se`	Db2 Standard Edition
`db2-ae`	Db2 Advanced Edition

Topics

Terminology
Creating a self-managed license in AWS License Manager
Settings for creating self-managed licenses by using the AWS License Manager CLI and API

Terminology

This page uses the following terminology when discussing the Amazon RDS integration with AWS License Manager.

Self-managed license: Self-managed license is a term used in AWS License Manager. The Amazon RDS console refers to the license as an AWS License Manager configuration. A self-managed license contains licensing rules based on the terms of your enterprise agreements. The rules that you create determine how AWS processes commands that consume licenses. While creating a self-managed license, work closely with your organization's compliance team to review your enterprise agreements. For more information, see Self-managed licenses in License Manager.

Creating a self-managed license in AWS License Manager

To track license usage of your RDS for Db2 DB instances, you must create a self-managed license. In this case, RDS for Db2 resources that match the product information filter are automatically associated with the self-managed license. Discovery of RDS for Db2 DB instances can take up to 24 hours.

Note

If you create an RDS for Db2 DB instance by using the AWS Management Console, you will create a self-managed license by entering a name for the license. Then Amazon RDS associates the DB instance with this license. (In the Amazon RDS console, this license is referred to as an AWS License Manager configuration.) If you want to create an RDS for Db2 DB instance by using the AWS License Manager CLI or AWS License Manager API, you must first create a self-managed license with the following steps. The same situation applies to restoring an RDS for Db2 DB instance to a point in time or from a snapshot.

To create a self-managed license to track the license usage of your RDS for Db2 DB instances

Go to https://console.aws.amazon.com/license-manager/.
Create a self-managed license.

For instructions, see Create a self-managed license in the AWS License Manager User Guide.

Add a rule for an RDS Product Information Filter in the Product Information panel.

For more information, see ProductInformation in the AWS License Manager API Reference.

Note

This procedure uses an AWS License Manager CLI command.

To create a self-managed license by using the AWS CLI, call the AWS License Manager create-license-configuration command. Use the --cli-input-json or --cli-input-yaml parameters to pass the parameters to the command.

For more information about the parameters, see Settings for creating self-managed licenses by using the AWS License Manager CLI and API.

The following code creates a self-managed license for Db2 Standard Edition.


aws license-manager create-license-configuration --cli-input-json file://rds-db2-se.json

The following JSON is the content of the rds-db2-se.json file used in the previous command.


{
    "Name": "rds-db2-se",
    "Description": "RDS Db2 Standard Edition",
    "LicenseCountingType": "vCPU",
    "LicenseCountHardLimit": false,
    "ProductInformationList": [
        {
            "ResourceType": "RDS",
            "ProductInformationFilterList": [
                {
                    "ProductInformationFilterName": "Engine Edition",
                    "ProductInformationFilterValue": ["db2-se"],
                    "ProductInformationFilterComparator": "EQUALS"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}

For more information about product information, see Automated discovery of resource inventory in the AWS License Manager User Guide.

For more information about the --cli-input parameter, see Generating AWS CLI skeleton and input parameters from a JSON or YAML input file in the AWS CLI User Guide.

Note

This procedure uses an AWS License Manager API command.

To create a self-managed license, use the CreateLicenseConfiguration AWS License Manager API operation with the following required parameters:

Name
LicenseCountingType
ProductInformationList
ResourceType
ProductInformationFilterList
ProductInformationFilterName
ProductInformationFilterValue
ProductInformationFilterComparator

For more information about the parameters, see Settings for creating self-managed licenses by using the AWS License Manager CLI and API.

Settings for creating self-managed licenses by using the AWS License Manager CLI and API

In the following table, you can find details about the settings for creating self-managed licenses by using the AWS License Manager CLI and API. For more information, see create-license-configuration in the AWS CLI Command Reference and CreateLicenseConfiguration in the AWS License Manager API Reference.

Parameter name	Data type	Required	Description
Name	string	Yes	The name of the license configuration.
Description	string	No	The description of the license configuration.
LicenseCountingType	string	Yes	The dimension used to track the license inventory. Valid value: `vCPU`.
LicenseCountHardLimit	boolean	No	Indicates whether hard or soft license enforcement is used. Exceeding a hard limit blocks the launch of new instances.
ProductInformationList	array of objects	Yes	A list of product information for a license configuration.
ResourceType	string	Yes	The resource type. Valid value: `RDS`.
ProductInformationFilterList	array of objects	Yes	A list of product information filters for a license configuration.
ProductInformationFilterName	string	Yes	The name of the type of filter being declared. Valid value: `Engine Edition`.
ProductInformationFilterValue	array of strings	Yes	The value to filter on. You must only specify one value. Valid values: `db2-se` or `db2-ae`.
ProductInformationFilterComparator	string	Yes	The logical operator for `ProductInformationFilterName`. Valid value: `EQUALS`.

Db2 license through AWS Marketplace

In the Db2 license through AWS Marketplace model, you pay an hourly rate to subscribe to Db2 licenses. This model helps you get started quickly with RDS for Db2 without needing to purchase licenses.

To use Db2 license through AWS Marketplace, you need an active AWS Marketplace subscription for the particular IBM Db2 edition that you want to use. If you don't already have one, subscribe to AWS Marketplace for that IBM Db2 edition.

Amazon RDS supports Db2 license through AWS Marketplace for IBM Db2 Standard Edition and IBM Db2 Advanced Edition.

Topics

Terminology
Payments and billing
Subscribing to Db2 Marketplace listings and registering with IBM
Obtaining a private offer

Terminology

This page uses the following terminology when discussing the Amazon RDS integration with AWS Marketplace.

SaaS subscription: In AWS Marketplace, software-as-a-service (SaaS) products such as the pay-as-you-go license model adopt a usage-based subscription model. IBM, the software seller for Db2, tracks your usage and you pay only for what you use.
Public offer: Public offers allow you to purchase AWS Marketplace products directly from the AWS Management Console.
Private offer: Private offers are a purchasing program that allow sellers and buyers to negotiate custom prices and end user licensing agreement (EULA) terms for purchases in AWS Marketplace.
Db2 Marketplace fees: Fees charged for the Db2 software license usage by IBM. These service fees are metered through AWS Marketplace and appear on your AWS bill under the AWS Marketplace section.
Amazon RDS fees: Fees that AWS charges for the RDS for Db2 services, which excludes licenses when using AWS Marketplace for Db2 licenses. Fees are metered through the Amazon RDS service being used and appear on your AWS bill.

Payments and billing

RDS for Db2 integrates with AWS Marketplace to offer hourly, pay-as-you-go licenses for Db2. The Db2 Marketplace fees cover the license costs of the Db2 software, and the Amazon RDS fees cover the costs of your RDS for Db2 DB instance usage. For information about pricing, see Amazon RDS for Db2 pricing.

To stop these fees, you must delete any RDS for Db2 DB instances. In addition, you can remove your subscriptions to AWS Marketplace for Db2 licenses. If you remove your subscriptions without deleting your DB instances, Amazon RDS will continue to bill you for the use of the DB instances. For more information, see Deleting a DB instance.

You can view bills and manage payments for your RDS for Db2 DB instances that use Db2 license through AWS Marketplace in the AWS Billing console. Your bills includes two charges: one for your usage of Db2 license through AWS Marketplace and one for your usage of Amazon RDS. For more information about billing, see Viewing your bill in the AWS Billing and Cost Management User Guide.

Subscribing to Db2 Marketplace listings and registering with IBM

To use Db2 license through AWS Marketplace, you must use the AWS Management Console to complete the following two tasks. You can't complete these tasks through the AWS CLI or the RDS API.

Note

If you want to create your DB instances by using the AWS CLI or the RDS API, you must complete these two tasks first.

Topics

Task 1: Subscribe to Db2 in AWS Marketplace
Task 2: Register your subscription with IBM

Task 1: Subscribe to Db2 in AWS Marketplace

To use Db2 license with AWS Marketplace, you need to have an active AWS Marketplace subscription for Db2. Because subscriptions are associated with a specific IBM Db2 edition, you need to subscribe to Db2 in AWS Marketplace for each edition of Db2 that you want to use: IBM Db2 Advanced Edition, IBM Db2 Standard Edition. For information about AWS Marketplace subscriptions, see Saas usage-based subscriptions in the AWS Marketplace Buyer Guide.

We recommend that you subscribe to Db2 in AWS Marketplace before you start to create a DB instance.

Task 2: Register your subscription with IBM

After you subscribe to Db2 in AWS Marketplace, complete the registration of your IBM order from the AWS Marketplace page for the type of Db2 subscription that you chose. On the AWS Marketplace page, choose View purchase options, and then choose Set up your account. You can register either with your existing IBM account or by creating a free IBM account.

Obtaining a private offer

You can request an AWS Marketplace private offer for Db2 from IBM. For more information, see Private offers in the AWS Marketplace Buyer Guide.

Note

If you are an AWS Organizations user and received a private offer that was issued to your payer and member accounts, follow the procedure below to subscribe to Db2 directly on each account in your organization.

To obtain a Db2 private offer

After a private offer has been issued, sign in to the AWS Marketplace Console.
Open the email with a Db2 private offer link.
Follow the link to directly access the private offer.

Note
Following this link before logging in to the correct account will result in a Page note found (404) error.
Review the terms and conditions.
Choose Accept terms.

Note
If an AWS Marketplace private offer is not accepted, the Db2 service fees from AWS Marketplace will continue to be billed at the public hourly rate.
To verify the offer details, select Show details in the product listing.

After you've completed the procedure, you can create your DB instance by following the steps in Creating an Amazon RDS DB instance. In the AWS Management Console, under License, make sure that you choose Through AWS Marketplace.

Switching between Db2 licenses

You can switch between Db2 licenses in RDS for Db2. For example, you can start with Bring Your Own License, and then switch to Db2 license through AWS Marketplace.

Important

If you want to switch to Db2 license through AWS Marketplace, make sure that you have an active AWS Marketplace subscription for the IBM Db2 edition that you want to use. If you don't, first subscribe to Db2 in AWS Marketplace for that Db2 edition, and then complete the restore procedure.

To switch between Db2 licenses

Sign in to the AWS Management Console and open the Amazon RDS console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/rds/.
In the navigation pane, choose Automated backups.

The automated backups are displayed on the Current Region tab.
Choose the DB instance that you want to restore.
For Actions, choose Restore to point in time.

The Restore to point in time window appears.
Choose Latest restorable time to restore to the latest possible time, or choose Custom to choose a time.

If you chose Custom, enter the date and time you want to restore the instance to.

Note
Times are shown in your local time zone, which is indicated by an offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). For example, UTC-5 is Eastern Standard Time/Central Daylight Time.
For DB engine, choose the Db2 license you want to use.
For DB instance identifier, enter the name of the target restored DB instance. The name must be unique.
Choose other options as needed, such as DB instance class, storage, and whether you want to use storage autoscaling.

For information about each setting, see Settings for DB instances.
Choose Restore to point in time.

For more information, see Restoring a DB instance to a specified time for Amazon RDS.

To switch between Db2 licenses, use the AWS CLI command restore-db-instance-to-point-in-time. The following example restores the latest point-in-time version, sets the DB engine to IBM Db2 Advanced Edition, and sets the license model to Db2 license through AWS Marketplace.

You can specify other settings. For information about each setting, see Settings for DB instances.

For Linux, macOS, or Unix:


aws rds restore-db-instance-to-point-in-time \
    --source-db-instance-identifier my_source_db_instance \
    --target-db-instance-identifier my_target_db_instance \
    --use-latest-restorable-time \
    --engine db2-ae \
    --license-model marketplace-license

For Windows:


aws rds restore-db-instance-to-point-in-time ^
    --source-db-instance-identifier my_source_db_instance ^
    --target-db-instance-identifier my_target_db_instance ^
    --use-latest-restorable-time ^
    --engine db2-ae ^
    --license-model marketplace-license

For more information, see Restoring a DB instance to a specified time for Amazon RDS.

To switch between Db2 licenses, call the Amazon RDS API RestoreDBInstanceToPointInTime operation with the following parameters:

SourceDBInstanceIdentifier
TargetDBInstanceIdentifier
RestoreTime
Engine
LicenseModel

For more information, see Restoring a DB instance to a specified time for Amazon RDS.

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Document Conventions

Db2 versions

Db2 instance classes