“Veeam Product License” or “Veeam License Key” or “License Key” is a transaction document that defines the scope of the license, eligible Licensed Units and options as well as license terms reference, such as License ID and Support ID. Veeam License Key is typically required to enable functionality of the Software. Please refer to technical documentation for product license installation help. The Veeam License Key defines the maximum number of Licensed Units for the Software to consume or process from all objects of the connected Source Infrastructure.
Customers can use copies of the Software and one License Key to manage same or multiple Source Infrastructures. In this scenario, Customers are required to implement centralized license management (for example, Veeam Enterprise Manager) to control total license consumption and compliance with the licensing terms.
Customers can use multiple License Keys with different license terms, but only for separate backup infrastructures (which are defined as not sharing servers or storage between each other and are protecting different Source infrastructures). Veeam centralized management is not available/allowed for such use cases. In these cases, Customers will be provided with separate license files for each separate backup infrastructure.
With certain conditions, Customers can combine License Keys with different license terms to manage multiple Source Infrastructures with the same backup infrastructure. Customers are advised to implement centralized license management (Veeam Enterprise Manager) to control total license consumption and compliance with the licensing terms.
A workload that had at least one restore point created by Veeam (or a partner) solution in the past 31 days, in a form of a backup or a workload’s native snapshot.
Workload is a computer (physical, virtual or cloud), an application (on-prem or SaaS), an unstructured data (files or objects) or any data source that Veeam (or partner) solution protects or manages.
An infrastructure – management servers, hosts, physical/virtual/cloud machines, applications, files or storage – that is protected, monitored or otherwise managed by the Software and by the Customer.
Customers can use copies of the Software under the same License Key and license terms to manage same or multiple Source Infrastructures. In this scenario, Customers are required to implement centralized license management (for example, Veeam Backup Enterprise Manager) to control total license consumption and compliance with the licensing terms.
Sharing of the Source Infrastructure between different Licenses and license terms is prohibited.
Licensed Object |
Description |
Socket | An occupied motherboard CPU socket (as reported by the hypervisor API) on hosts with virtual machines (VMs) to be backed up, replicated, monitored or reported on. |
VM | A protected VMware ESX, Microsoft Hyper-V or Nutanix AHV VM that is backed up, replicated, copied, monitored or otherwise consumed by the software. |
Cloud VM | An Amazon AWS EC2 Instance or a Microsoft Azure VM that is backed up, replicated, copied, monitored or otherwise consumed by the software. |
Server |
A Windows, Linux or Unix machine, physical or virtual, where the Software is installed. Each node of the clustered setup needs to be licensed. |
Application Server |
A physical or virtual machine where the application-specific Software is installed. Each node of the clustered setup needs to be licensed. |
Workstation |
A physical or virtual machine where the Software is installed. Each node of the clustered setup needs to be licensed. |
User |
A User account in all organizations as reported by the management software. |
NAS |
Front-end storage capacity pack. |
Licensed Unit |
Description |
Socket | 1 (one) License unit is consumed for each occupied motherboard CPU socket as reported by the hypervisor API.
Only source hosts are licensed — hosts on which VMs that you back up or replicate reside. Target hosts (for replication and migration jobs) do not need to be licensed. Each node of the clustered setup needs to be licensed. |
Instance | A calculated value representing the total “value” of all Licensed Objects that can be protected and/or managed by the Customer using Veeam or partner solutions. See Instance calculation for Veeam Universal License. In Rental licenses, Instance represents the value in rental points for managed workloads. |
Orchestrated instance |
1 (one) License unit is consumed by each protected workload.
This instance type allows the workload to participate in orchestration activities (be a part of plans, labs, reports) in Veeam Availability Orchestrator (VAO). |
User |
1 (one) License unit is consumed by each User account in all organizations as reported by the management software. |
TB |
Terabytes of front-end storage (NAS). |
If present, License Edition defines functionality available in the Product, and relative weight of Licensed Objects. Feature availability varies by Edition, for example Enterprise Plus edition is the best choice for access to all features.
See Veeam Backup & Replication Product Editions for more information on features by Editions.
Veeam provides product updates, licensing and technical support to Customers according to published Veeam Customer Support Policy. Customers can choose support programs with target Service Level Agreements (SLAs) as described in the support policy. Support for FREE/Community/NFR licensed products is provided on a best-effort basis.
Please note that Licensing Support may not be available for Customers with expired maintenance. More details on Support and Maintenance.
Customers who purchase a Perpetual License get the right to use perpetually any version of the Software shipped prior to the Support expiration date reflected in the license file. One year of Basic or Production Support and Maintenance is included with any purchase of the Perpetual License. To stay eligible for product updates and support, Customers must renew their annual maintenance contract. Read more details on maintenance renewal costs.
If present, the Perpetual License default expiration date is set to 10 years from the date of issue and can be re-issued for the longer period at any time without altering any other details of the license. Please open a licensing support ticket at the Customer portal for such a request.
Customers who purchase a Subscription License get the right to use the version of the Software for a specified term depending on SKU purchased. Basic or Production Support and Maintenance is included for the entire term of the Subscription License, provided the End User is compliant with this Licensing Policy and the EULA. More details on Support and Maintenance.
To renew your Subscription License, please contact your reseller or use the Veeam Renewal form to contact Veeam.
Veeam provides some products free of charge with full or limited functionality.
“Community Edition” licensed products provide fully functional version of the Software for small environments, limited by Licensed Units of the built-in free license. Some versions of free products may require a valid no-cost license (“Free License”) that is available for everyone upon website page registration. Please follow directions in the product interface to obtain such a license.
Community Edition license Customers agree to receive email marketing communications from Veeam Software with ability to unsubscribe from it.
Sharing of the Source Infrastructure between different Licenses is prohibited. This includes using multiple Community Edition deployments, or using both licensed and Community Edition deployments, to protect different parts of the same Source Infrastructure.
Product |
License Type(s) |
Licensed Unit |
Licensing terms |
Veeam Availability Suite |
Subscription or Perpetual | Instance | Sold in packs of 10 Instances.
Support & Maintenance is limited to Production level. Basic level is not offered.
Applications included:
|
Veeam Backup & Replication | Subscription or Perpetual | Instance | Sold in packs of 10 Instances.
Support & Maintenance is limited to Production level. Basic level is not offered.
Applications included:
|
Veeam Backup Essentials |
Subscription or Perpetual | Instance | Sold in packs of 5 Instances with a minimum of 5 Instances (or 1 pack) and a maximum of 50 Instances (or 10 packs).
Designed exclusively for small businesses and installations. Cannot be merged with another product license or centrally managed to scale above maximum. Purchase of an upgrade SKU required to grow beyond maximum limit.
Support & Maintenance is limited to Production level. Basic level is not offered.
Applications included:
|
Veeam Backup Essentials NAS Capacity Packs | Subscription or Perpetual | TB | Minimum of 5TB. Increments of 1TB Maximum of 50TB.
This NAS license is only available to Veeam Backup Essentials VUL Customers. Support & Maintenance is production level, tied to the Veeam Backup Essentials contract. |
Veeam Backup Starter |
Subscription | Instance | On October 1, 2020, this product will no longer be offered and all Starter subscriptions will be converted to Veeam Backup Essentials. |
Veeam Availability Suite |
LICENSE TYPE(S) |
Subscription or Perpetual |
LICENSED UNIT |
Instance |
LICENSING TERMS |
Sold in packs of 10 Instances.
Support & Maintenance is limited to Production level. Basic level is not offered.
Applications included:
|
Veeam Backup & Replication |
LICENSE TYPE(S) |
Subscription or Perpetual |
LICENSED UNIT |
Instance |
LICENSING TERMS |
Sold in packs of 10 Instances.
Support & Maintenance is limited to Production level. Basic level is not offered.
Applications included:
|
Veeam Backup Essentials |
LICENSE TYPE(S) |
Subscription or Perpetual |
LICENSED UNIT |
Instance |
LICENSING TERMS |
Sold in packs of 5 Instances with a minimum of 10 Instances (or 2 packs) and a maximum of 50 Instances (or 10 packs).
Designed exclusively for small businesses and installations. Cannot be merged with another product license or centrally managed to scale above maximum. Purchase of an upgrade SKU required to grow beyond maximum limit.
Support & Maintenance is limited to Production level. Basic level is not offered.
Applications included:
|
Veeam Backup Essentials NAS Capacity Packs |
LICENSE TYPE(S) |
Subscription or Perpetual |
LICENSED UNIT |
TB |
LICENSING TERMS |
Minimum of 5TB. Increments of 1TB Maximum of 50TB.
This NAS license is only available to Veeam Backup Essentials VUL Customers. Support & Maintenance is production level, tied to the Veeam Backup Essentials contract. |
Veeam Backup Starter |
LICENSE TYPE(S) |
Subscription |
LICENSED UNIT |
Instance |
LICENSING TERMS |
On October 1, 2020, this product will no longer be offered.
Designed exclusively for small businesses and installations. Cannot be merged with another product license to scale above maximum. Purchase of an upgrade SKU required to grow beyond maximum limit.
Functionality limited to Standard Edition and cannot be managed by Veeam Backup Enterprise Manager.
Support & Maintenance is limited to Basic level. Production level not offered.
Applications included:
|
Workload Type | Licensed Object(s) | Instance |
VM or Cloud VM |
1 | 1 |
Server or Application Server |
1 | 1 |
Workstation | 3 | 1 |
NAS | 250 GB | 1 |
VM or Cloud VM | |
Licensed Object(s) | 1 |
Instance | 1 |
Server or Application Server | |
Licensed Object(s) | 1 |
Instance | 1 |
Workstation | |
Licensed Object(s) | 3 |
Instance | 1 |
NAS | |
Licensed Object(s) | 250 GB |
Instance | 1 |
Protected workload | Standard edition | Enterprise edition | Enterprise Plus edition |
VM or Cloud VM |
1 | 1 | 1 |
Server or Application Server |
3 | 1.5 | 1 |
Workstation (3 Licensed objects) | 3 | 1.5 | 1 |
STANDARD EDITION | |
VM or Cloud VM | 1 |
Server or Application Server | 3 |
Workstation (3 Licensed objects) | 3 |
ENTERPRISE EDITION | |
VM or Cloud VM | 1 |
Server or Application Server | 1.5 |
Workstation (3 Licensed objects) | 1.5 |
ENTERPRISE PLUS EDITION | |
VM or Cloud VM | 1 |
Server or Application Server | 1 |
Workstation (3 Licensed objects) | 1 |
Product |
License Type(s) |
Licensed Unit |
Licensing terms |
Veeam Availability Suite |
Perpetual | Socket | For VMware and Hyper-V virtual machine workloads only.
Product Edition options include:
Support & Maintenance options include:
Applications included:
|
Veeam Backup & Replication | Perpetual | Socket | For VMware and Hyper-V virtual machine workloads only.
Product Edition options include:
Support & Maintenance options include:
Applications included:
|
Veeam Backup Essentials |
Perpetual | Socket | For VMware and Hyper-V virtual machine workloads only.
Sold in packs of 2 Sockets with maximum of 6 Sockets (3 Packs).
Designed exclusively for small businesses and installations. Cannot be merged with another product license or centrally managed to scale above maximum limit of Sockets. Can be combined with Veeam Availability Suite VUL. Purchase of an upgrade SKU required to grow beyond maximum limit of Sockets.
Product Edition options include:
Support & Maintenance options include:
Applications included:
|
Veeam ONE | Perpetual | Socket |
|
Veeam Backup for AWS |
Subscription | Instance | Solid in packs of 10 Instances. Available as part of AWS Marketplace subscription or with BYOL version. |
Veeam Backup for Azure |
Subscription | Instance | Sold in packs of 10 Instances. BYOL version only. |
Veeam Availability Orchestrator |
Subscription | Orchestrated Instance | Sold in packs of 10 Orchestrated Instances.
Non-transferable to or from other Veeam products using Instances. |
Veeam Backup for Microsoft Office 365 |
Subscription | User | Minimum of 10 Users.
Licensed per User account in all customer organizations. A license is not required for:
Please read more at https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbo365/guide/ |
Veeam Management Pack for System Center |
Subscription | Socket | Minimum of 10 Sockets. |
Veeam Availability Suite |
LICENSE TYPE(S) |
Perpetual |
LICENSED UNIT |
Socket |
LICENSING TERMS |
For VMware and Hyper-V virtual machine workloads only.
Product Edition options include:
Support & Maintenance options include:
Applications included:
|
Veeam Backup & Replication |
LICENSE TYPE(S) |
Perpetual |
LICENSED UNIT |
Socket |
LICENSING TERMS |
For VMware and Hyper-V virtual machine workloads only.
Product Edition options include:
Support & Maintenance options include:
Applications included:
|
Veeam Backup Essentials |
LICENSE TYPE(S) |
Perpetual |
LICENSED UNIT |
Socket |
LICENSING TERMS |
For VMware and Hyper-V virtual machine workloads only.
Sold in packs of 2 Sockets with maximum of 6 Sockets (3 Packs).
Designed exclusively for small businesses and installations. Cannot be merged with another product license or centrally managed to scale above maximum limit of Sockets. Can be combined with Veeam Availability Suite VUL. Purchase of an upgrade SKU required to grow beyond maximum limit of Sockets.
Product Edition options include:
Support & Maintenance options include:
Applications included:
|
Veeam ONE |
LICENSE TYPE(S) |
Perpetual |
LICENSED UNIT |
Socket |
Veeam Agent for IBM AIX Subscription |
LICENSE TYPE(S) |
Subscription |
LICENSED UNIT |
Server |
LICENSING TERMS |
Each node of the clustered setup needs to be licensed separately. |
Veeam Backup for AWS |
LICENSE TYPE(S) |
Subscription |
LICENSED UNIT |
Instance |
LICENSING TERMS |
Solid in packs of 10 Instances. Available as part of AWS Marketplace subscription or with BYOL version. |
Veeam Backup for Azure |
LICENSE TYPE(S) |
Subscription |
LICENSED UNIT |
Instance |
LICENSING TERMS |
Sold in packs of 10 Instances. BYOL version only. |
Veeam Availability Orchestrator |
LICENSE TYPE(S) |
Subscription |
LICENSED UNIT |
Orchestrated Instance |
LICENSING TERMS |
Sold in packs of 10 Orchestrated Instances.
Non-transferable to or from other Veeam products using Instances. |
Veeam Backup for Microsoft Office 365 |
LICENSE TYPE(S) |
Subscription |
LICENSED UNIT |
User |
LICENSING TERMS |
Minimum of 10 Users.
Licensed per User account in all customer organizations. A license is not required for:
Please read more at https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/vbo365/guide/vbo_licensing.html |
Veeam Management Pack for System Center |
LICENSE TYPE(S) |
Subscription |
LICENSED UNIT |
Socket |
LICENSING TERMS |
Minimum of 10 Sockets. |
For all Perpetual Licenses with Sockets, Veeam Backup & Replication and Veeam ONE products will enable additional FREE Instance licenses to be available for use - one Instance per each Socket with maximum of 6 gifted Instances.
For Veeam ONE, these FREE instances can only be used on monitoring and reporting on all non-VM workloads from the connected Veeam Backup & Replication.
Customers who need to combine purchased Socket and Instance licenses into one License Key can do so on the Customer Portal (https://my.veeam.com). Read more about License Key merges.
Starting with version 10, Veeam Backup & Replication allows installing separate Socket and Instance License Keys at the same time without prior merging of keys at the customer portal. The following conditions will apply:
Instances, when in the presence of sockets, will protect NAS, Agents, Plug-Ins, AHV and Cloud VMs, and any workload excluding VMware and Hyper-V VMs.
Instance license expiration will, following the grace period, disable all product functionality until the expired license is removed from the product installation.
Socket license support expiration will not have any impact on the product’s functionality, except for the limitation to install product updates shipped after the support expiration date.
Important note: To receive Production Support for combined license, the Socket license must be at the Production support level.
Customers may migrate their existing Enterprise Plus Perpetual Socket licenses to Subscription Veeam Universal Licenses (VUL) via a special program. Migrations from Perpetual Socket licenses to Perpetual VUL are also available. Customers on lower editions may migrate to VUL, but an Edition Upgrade to Enterprise Plus is required.
For more information, please contact Veeam Renewals by submitting the form https://www.veeam.com/renewal.html.
Veeam issues License Key for each license purchased. The End User is authorized to use each License Key to activate and use the Software within the parameters of this Licensing Policy according to this License Policy terms.
Veeam License Key contains specific licensing terms and a signature record that proves the integrity of the License Key file for the product. Only those License Keys that are marked as “Active” in Veeam’s records are considered legitimate and valid License Keys. Customer’s Active License Keys are always visible on the Customer Portal.
The License expiration date and License support expiration date are calculated from the License/Contract start date which is the date when Veeam accepts the Purchase Order from distribution and delivers the License Key to the Customer portal at https://my.veeam.com.
When purchasing a renewal of Perpetual or Subscription Licenses, the updated License Keys become available at the Customer portal. In case the License Key auto-update functionality is enabled, the updated License Key may be installed into the product automatically.
Customers that are current on maintenance have an option to merge several Production License Keys into a single License Key to use in a product installation. Merge functionality for current versions is available at Customer Portal (https://my.veeam.com). For cases when merge is required for older versions of Veeam products, the Licensing support case needs to be opened.
When several License Keys are merged, the lowest Edition terms are selected for the resulting key (e.g. merging a 10 Socket Standard Edition license with the Veeam Universal License will result in a Standard Edition License Key). Similarly, the earliest license expiration date and support expiration date with respective Support ID will be provided.
License Key merge is only available for compatible licenses and when below terms match, if present:
To revert the License Key merge operation, Customers may choose “Undo merge” to destroy the merged license and revert to original product License Keys.
Below are clarifications and exceptions to general merge rules:
License Key merge exception |
Merge rules |
Veeam Backup Essentials |
This product offering is not allowed for merging between License Types or with other products.
|
Veeam Backup Starter |
This product offering is not allowed for merging between License Types or with other products. This product will no longer be offered on October 1, 2020. Support will be discontinued with v11 release. |
Veeam Universal Licenses
|
Merge is allowed between Veeam Universal Licenses and other types of supported licenses.
The resulting License Key will contain combined License Units from Perpetual and Subscription Licenses.
Legacy Instance licenses will be re-calculated based one-to-one match (e.g. 10 Instances Standard Edition will match 10 Instances of Veeam Universal Licenses).
All other License Key parameters will follow License Key merge rules. |
Merging License Keys with Sockets and Instances
|
Customers can combine Socket Perpetual and Instance Subscription License Keys to use with previous versions of the Veeam Backup & Replication. Below are merging directions for resulting key:
Please note that:
|
LICENSE KEY MERGE EXCEPTION |
Veeam Backup Essentials |
MERGE RULES |
This product offering is not allowed for merging between License Types or with other products. |
LICENSE KEY MERGE EXCEPTION |
Veeam Backup Starter |
MERGE RULES | This product offering is not allowed for merging between License Types or with other products. This product will no longer be offered on October 1, 2020. Support will be discontinued with v11 release. |
LICENSE KEY MERGE EXCEPTION | Veeam Universal Licenses |
MERGE RULES | Merge is allowed between Veeam Universal Licenses and other types of supported licenses. The resulting License Key will contain combined License Units from Perpetual and Subscription Licenses. Legacy Instance licenses will be re-calculated based one-to-one match (e.g. 10 Instances Standard Edition will match 10 Instances of Veeam Universal Licenses). All other License Key parameters will follow License Key merge rules. |
LICENSE KEY MERGE EXCEPTION | Merging License Keys with Sockets and Instances |
MERGE RULES | Customers can combine Socket Perpetual and Instance Subscription License Keys to use with previous versions of the Veeam Backup & Replication. Below are merging directions for resulting key:
Please note that:
|
To initiate the license transfer process to another License Administrator or to another Company, Customers are required to open a licensing case on the Customer portal (https://my.veeam.com/)
The licensing case must be opened by the current Veeam License Administrator or a representative of the Customer with a proof of purchase submitted via the case.
Veeam has three support programs: Premier, Production, and Basic. Additionally, there is an Evaluation support program for 30 days following product downloads. Each program provides a guarantee for support via Web, E-mail and Phone, and the ability to open cases via Web or Phone. Support for Customers with the Community Edition/Free License/NFR licensed products is provided on a best-effort basis. For more information, please refer to the Veeam Customer Support Policy.
New product releases and maintenance updates are also available only to Customers with current maintenance contract. Product update may be refused by the Software in case the License Key Support Expiration date is past due.
Support level for Customers always defaults to their lowest contracted level. For instance, if a Customer has 90% of their licenses contracted to Production Support and 10% of their licenses contracted to Basic Support, Veeam will only provide Basic Support.
See more on https://www.veeam.com/support-renewals.html