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Convert a Cloud Volumes ONTAP node-based license to a capacity-based license

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After the end of availability (EOA) of your node-based licenses, you should transition to capacity-based licensing by using the license conversion tool in the NetApp Console.

For annual or longer-term commitments, NetApp recommends that you contact your NetApp representative prior to the EOA date (11 November, 2024) or license expiration date to ensure that the prerequisites for the transition are in place. If you don't have a long-term contract for a Cloud Volumes ONTAP node and run your system against an on-demand pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) subscription, it is important to plan your conversion before the end of support (EOS) on 31 December, 2024. In both the cases, you should ensure that your system fulfills the requirements before you use the license conversion tool in the NetApp Console for a seamless transition.

For information about the EOA and EOS, refer to End of availability of node-based licenses.

NetApp has restricted the purchase, extension, and renewal of BYOL licensing. For more information, refer to Restricted availability of BYOL licensing for Cloud Volumes ONTAP.

Conversion in a standard mode deployment

If you have a standard mode deployment, you can convert your node-based license to a capacity-based license by using the license conversion tool in the NetApp Console. The conversion is supported for all cloud providers, AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. You can convert your node-based license to any capacity-based license purchased through the marketplace. For example, if you have a PAYGO Standard node-based license, you can convert it to any capacity-based license purchased through the marketplace.

About this task

  • When you use the license conversion tool, the transition from node-based to capacity-based licensing model is carried out in place and online that eliminates the need for any data migration or provisioning of additional cloud resources.

  • It is a non-disruptive operation:

    • No service disruption or application downtime occurs.

    • The account and application data in your Cloud Volumes ONTAP system remains intact.

    • The underlying cloud resources remain unaffected post conversion.

  • The license conversion tool supports all deployment types, such as single node, high availability (HA) in single availability zone (AZ), HA in multiple AZ, bring your own license (BYOL), and PAYGO.

  • For standard mode, the tool supports all node-based licenses as the source and all capacity-based licenses as the destination. For example, if you have a BYOL node-based license, you can convert it to any capacity-based license purchased from NetApp.

  • Post conversion, the serial number of the node-based license is replaced by a capacity-based format. This is done as a part of the conversion, and is reflected on your NetApp Support Site (NSS) account.

  • When you transition to the capacity-based model, your data continues to be retained in the same location as the node-based licensing. This approach guarantees no disruption in data placement, and upholds data sovereignty principles throughout the transition.

Before your begin

  • You should have an NSS account with customer access or administrator access.

    • Your NSS account should be registered with the user credentials you used for accessing the Console.

    • The Cloud Volumes ONTAP system should be linked to the NSS account with customer access or administrator access.

  • You should have a valid capacity-based license in place, either a BYOL license or marketplace subscription.

  • A capacity-based license should be available in your account. This license can be a marketplace subscription or a BYOL/private offer package available under Licenses and subscriptions in the Console.

  • Understand the following criteria before selecting a destination package:

    • If the account has a capacity-based BYOL license, the destination package selected should align with the account's BYOL capacity-based licenses:

      • When Professional is selected as the destination package, the account should have a BYOL license with a Professional package:

      • When Essentials is selected as the destination package, the account should have a BYOL license with the Essentials package.

    • If the destination package does not align with the account's BYOL license availability, it implies that the capacity-based license might not include the selected package. In this case, you will be charged through your marketplace subscription.

    • If there is no capacity-based BYOL license but only a marketplace subscription, you should ensure that the selected package is included in your capacity-based marketplace subscription.

    • If there is not enough capacity in your existing capacity-based license, and if you have a marketplace subscription to charge for the additional capacity usage, you will be charged for the additional capacity through your marketplace subscription.

    • If there is not enough capacity in your existing capacity-based license, and you don't have a marketplace subscription to charge for the additional capacity usage, the conversion cannot occur. You should add a marketplace subscription to charge the additional capacity or extend the available capacity to your current license.

    • If the destination package does not align with the account's BYOL license availability and also if there is not enough capacity in your existing capacity-based license, then you will be charged through your marketplace subscription.

Note If any of these requirements is not fulfilled, the license conversion does not happen. In specific cases, the license might be converted, but cannot be used. Click the information icon to identify the issues and take corrective actions.
Steps

  1. From the left navigation menu, select Storage > Management.

  2. On the Systems page, double-click the name of the system for which you want to modify the license type.

  3. On the Overview tab, click the Features panel.

  4. Check the pencil icon next to Charging method. If the charging method for your system is Node Based, you can convert it to by-capacity charging.

    Tip The icon is disabled if your Cloud Volumes ONTAP system is already charged by capacity, or if any of the requirements is not fulfilled.

  5. On the Convert Node-based licenses to Capacity-based screen, verify the system name and source license details.

  6. Select the destination package for converting the existing license:

    • Essentials. The default value is Essentials.

    • Professional

  7. If you have a BYOL license, you can select the checkbox to delete the node-based license from the Console after the conversion is complete. If the conversion is still in progress, selecting this checkbox will not remove the license from the Console. This option is not available for marketplace subscriptions.

  8. Select the check box to confirm that you understand the implications of the change, and then click Proceed.

After you finish

View the new license serial number and verify the changes in the Administration > Licenses and subscriptions menu of the Console.

Conversion in a private mode deployment

If you have a private mode deployment, you can convert your node-based license to a capacity-based license by using the license conversion tool in the NetApp Console. The conversion is supported for all cloud providers, AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

Because marketplace subscriptions are not supported in private mode, you need to purchase an Essentials (bring your own license (BYOL)) package from NetApp. This lets you keep the benefits of capacity-based licensing within the BYOL model without requiring marketplace subscriptions.

Note The conversion from node-based licenses to any capacity-based license other than Essentials is not supported for private mode.
About this task

  • After conversion, the entire capacity of your node-based license is tracked under the Essentials package, and you continue to be billed through your BYOL agreement.

  • When you use the license conversion tool, the transition from node-based to capacity-based licensing model is carried out in place that eliminates the need for any data migration or provisioning of additional cloud resources.

  • It is a non-disruptive operation:

    • No service disruption or application downtime occurs.

    • The account and application data in your Cloud Volumes ONTAP system remains intact.

    • The underlying cloud resources remain unaffected post conversion.

    • Your data continues to be retained in the same location as the node-based licensing. This approach guarantees no disruption in data placement, and upholds data sovereignty principles throughout the transition.

  • The license conversion tool supports all deployment types, such as single node and high availability (HA) configuration in single availability zone (AZ) and multiple AZ.

  • Post conversion, the Cloud Volumes ONTAP systems are updated with new serial numbers.

Before you begin

  • Because private mode Cloud Volumes ONTAP deployments don't support marketplace subscriptions, you must procure your capacity-based Essentials license from NetApp.

  • The capacity-based license should have a similar capacity as the node-based license for the conversion.

  • The capacity-based Essentials package should correspond to your node-based BYOL license type. For example, a private-mode deployment with secondary volume (HA) should have the respective Essentials Secondary HA license or a license with the best match, such as Essentials Primary, Essentials Primary HA.

Steps

  1. From the left navigation menu, select Storage > Management.

  2. On the Systems page, double-click the name of the system for which you want to modify the license type.

  3. On the Overview tab, click the Features panel.

  4. Check the pencil icon next to Charging method. If the charging method for your system is Node Based, you can convert it to a capacity-based license.

    Tip The icon is disabled if your Cloud Volumes ONTAP system is already charged by capacity, or if any of the requirements is not fulfilled.

  5. On the Convert Node-based licenses to Capacity-based screen, verify the system name and source license details.

  6. Select Essentials as the destination package for converting the existing license:

  7. You can select the checkbox to delete the node-based license from the Console after the conversion is complete. If the conversion is still in progress, selecting this checkbox will not remove the license from the Console.

  8. Select the check box to confirm that you understand the implications of the change, and then click Proceed.

After you finish

View the new license serial number and verify the changes in the Administration > Licenses and subscriptions menu of the Console.

Pricing in different hyperscalars

For details on pricing, go to the NetApp Console website.

For information about private offers in specific hyperscalars, write to:

Related links