Setting a usage limit with workload groups

Workload groups allow you to set a usage limit for a licensed program by restricting the number of processor cores that are available to be used by the licensed program with a given logical partition.

Without workload groups, a licensed program's usage count for a given partition is calculated by using the full configured processingcapacity of the logical partition. With workload groups, a licensed program and all of its workloads are associated with a workload group. This allows the licensed program's usage count for a given partition to be based on the maximum capacity of the workload group.

Limiting the usage count of a licensed program to a value less than the full configured processing capacity of a partition can affect the licensing of a product. A licensed program owner can choose to recognize the workload group maximum processor core limit as an acceptable usage count for the product. If the licensed program owner accepts the workload group maximum processor core limit, they can then choose to provide a reduced cost license key reflecting the reduced core capacity of the workload group.