specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
provider: IBM WebSphere
providerId: websphere
publisherName: IBM Corporation
serviceCategory: Application Server / Middleware
created: '2026-05-04'
# Provenance stamped 2026-08-11: this artifact was written by the API Evangelist
# bulk sweep dated 2026-05-04, not harvested from the provider. See roadmap#35.
method: generated
modified: '2026-05-05'
reconciled: false
tags:
  - Application Server
  - Cloud Native
  - Enterprise Java
  - J2EE
  - FinOps
  - FOCUS
  - Contact Sales
description: FinOps placement for IBM WebSphere. WebSphere is sold as a perpetual / subscription
  software license (per PVU / VPC / Container core) through IBM Passport Advantage or Cloud Paks; spend
  tracks license entitlement, S&S renewals, and underlying infrastructure rather than a metered API
  surface.
notes: ibm.com pricing 403 on fetch. FOCUS mapping reflects software-license shape; no public usage
  API meters available.
sources:
  - https://www.ibm.com/products/websphere-application-server
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Software License + Support
  billingFrequency: Annual
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
    - Purchase
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: IBM WebSphere
  ServiceCategory: Application Server / Middleware
  ProviderName: IBM
  PublisherName: IBM Corporation
  InvoiceIssuerName: IBM Corporation
  BillingCurrency: USD
meters:
  - name: websphere_license
    description: WebSphere license entitlement, sized per PVU / VPC / Container core via IBM Passport
      Advantage or Cloud Pak for Applications.
    unit: varies
    aggregation: sum
  - name: websphere_subscription_and_support
    description: IBM Subscription & Support renewal on the WebSphere entitlement.
    unit: month
    aggregation: sum
principles:
  - name: Visibility
    description: Spend visibility comes from IBM Passport Advantage entitlement reports and the
      customer's IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) deployment.
  - name: Allocation
    description: Allocate WebSphere spend by cell, deployment, or business application using ILMT
      tagging and CMDB ownership records.
  - name: Optimization
    description: Cost levers include sub-capacity licensing via ILMT, migration from WAS Traditional to
      WebSphere Liberty, Cloud Pak entitlement sharing, and consolidation at S&S renewal.
  - name: Accountability
    description: Middleware platform owners and IBM software-asset-management leads coordinate true-ups
      and renewals with IBM account management.
maintainers:
  - FN: Kin Lane
    email: kin@apievangelist.com