back to article SAP insists no license changes after user's multi-core arm twister

SAP has insisted there's been no change in its software licensing, following a claim audits have been used to charge extra under existing licenses. Europe's software giant told The Register that its policy on licensing has "remained consistent." Also, it claimed that should changes be made, they would not be applied to …

  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Single CPU licences

    We're a SAP Reseller of their BI stuff (Crystal & Business Objects). We've had a few customers on old single CPU deals. SAP can't change the licence unless the customer changes version, customers are fairly happy to stick to the old as not enough has changed recently.

    Problem is, try finding a single CPU server these days - all multi-core and you pay half CPU for each extra core (rounded up!).

    Virtualise we thought - turns out that the old licences didn't specifically include virtualisation rights, therefore you can't virtualise! Would love to see a test case, but SAP have deep pockets.

    One customer told SAP to go legal - that led to a pretty decent deal from SAP.

    Another have just decided to migrate to a competitor. More of a problem for ERP customers as migration is such a huge task.

    1. gregthecanuck

      Re: Single CPU licences

      <off-topic rant>

      Maybe by 2037 Crystal Reports will support vertical alignment of text fields... mustn't have received enough license fees to cover the incredible expense of that feature...

      <as-you-were>

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Single CPU licences

        I've found SAP fairly reasonable although one place I worked they spun off part of IT as a separate company and then couldn't understand why SAP (and Microsoft and Oracle etc.) now considered them a service provider and said the original licenses no longer applied. I have to say I had some sympathy for SAP and even MS and Oracle in this case.

        We're currently going through a lot of pain with MS and Oracle over similar issues to those mentioned in the article........

      2. AMBxx Silver badge

        Re: Single CPU licences

        @greg

        You'll find vertical alignment in the next release. First half next year.

        Custom formatting for boxes and lines too!

        See more: here

    2. Roland6 Silver badge

      Re: Single CPU licences

      >Problem is, try finding a single CPU server these days

      Not really a problem, plenty for sale on Dell's website!

      Just remember a CPU can have one or more cores !

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    "indirect access"

    ...means you're not allowed to run SQL queries etc, you must do everything through some crappy Java client, right?

    CEO protip: if you're gonna spend millions on ERP licensing and consultants, just roll your own, with any developer consultants under work-for-hire agreement.

    1. Triboolean
      Devil

      Re: "indirect access"

      Its a trap.

      Replace the SAP system with something else. Read your data into the new system. SAP sueball / penalty charge coming your way for not using their system per SAP jackboots & ponies license agreement.

  3. LawLessLessLaw
    Boffin

    Affinity ?

    > Problem is, try finding a single CPU server these days - all multi-core and you pay half CPU for each extra core (rounded up!).

    What if you promise to set CPU affinity to a single core ?

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