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tutorial-define-vsivpc.md

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copyright
years
2023, 2026
lastupdated 2026-04-07
keywords onboard software, third-party software, sell on IBM Cloud, partner center, virtual server image, virtual machine image, image, vm, vsi, product details, catalog entry, support, pricing, terraform, catalog, vpc, virtual private cloud
subcollection sell
content-type tutorial
account-plan paid
completion-time 10m

{{site.data.keyword.attribute-definition-list}}

Defining the product details of a virtual server image for VPC

{: #vsivpc-define} {: toc-content-type="tutorial"} {: toc-completion-time="10m"}

This tutorial walks you through the steps for defining the details of a virtual server image for virtual private cloud (VPC) in {{site.data.keyword.cloud}} Partner Center. By completing this tutorial, you review and sign the {{site.data.keyword.IBM}} Digital Provider Agreement, and define your catalog entry and product page, pricing model, and support experience. {: shortdesc}

This tutorial is one of four in a series that demonstrates how to onboard and publish a sample virtual server image for VPC. It uses a fictitious company that's called Example Corp. As you complete the tutorial, adapt each step to fit your product's needs.

Before you begin

{: #vsivpc-define-prereqs}

Register your virtual server image for VPC.

Confirm the digital provider agreement

{: #vsivpc-dpa} {: step}

As a third-party provider, you are required to sign the {{site.data.keyword.IBM_notm}} Digital Provider Agreement if you plan to offer bring your own license plans for your product. The {{site.data.keyword.IBM_notm}} Digital Provider Agreement sets the terms and conditions under which providers can onboard and sell products in {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}}. Or, you can upload a custom digital provider agreement in .pdf, .doc, or .docx file format.

Custom digital provider agreements must be reviewed and approved by {{site.data.keyword.IBM_notm}}, which increases the time it takes for you to complete the onboarding process. The uploaded files are scanned for viruses, which might take a few minutes to complete. If a virus is detected, it is recommended to run another virus scan on your file, and then try uploading it again. {: note}

For the purposes of this tutorial, complete the following steps to sign the {{site.data.keyword.IBM_notm}} Digital Provider Agreement.

  1. From the My products page in the {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} Partner Center, click Provide details in the notification that explains that company details are required.
  2. Choose I plan to offer bring your own license pricing plans from the Agreements section.
  3. Click the {{site.data.keyword.IBM_notm}} Digital Provider Agreement link to review the agreement.
  4. Select I have read and agree to the {{site.data.keyword.IBM_notm}} Digital Provider Agreement., and click Save.

Provide your product name and type

{: #vsivpc-name} {: step}

You can add a new product or import an existing product from a private catalog. For the purposes of this tutorial, add a product.

  1. From the My products page in {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} Partner Center, click Create.

  2. Click Create a product, and click Next > Start now.

  3. Select Software as the type of product that you're onboarding, and click Next.

    The product type is used for tax assessment purposes. For more information, see Selling on IBM Cloud. {: important}

  4. Enter the display name of your virtual server image, for example, Example Virtual Server Image 1.0.0. Make sure that the name you enter meets the following requirements:

    • Use 60 characters or less.
    • Don't include "{{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}}".
    • Don't include the name of your company, former product names, or pricing details.

  5. Optionally, enter the programmatic name of your product, and click Next.

  6. Review your product details and click Create.

Define your catalog entry and product page

{: #vsivpc-catalog} {: step}

Provide details that are displayed on your catalog entry and product page when your virtual server image is published in the {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} catalog. Summarize what the product is and its value.

  1. Click Catalog entry.

  2. Click Add logo to enter the URL to your company or product logo, such as http://svgur.com/i/TTP.svg.

  3. Provide a short description of your product, which is displayed on your catalog entry.

  4. From the Category list, select an option that best fits how users might use your product, for example, Compute/Virutal Machines. Categories are used to organize products in the catalog based on common solutions, function, or use.

  5. Enter keywords that users might use when they search the catalog for your product, for example, virtual machine, compute, and terraform.

  6. Provide a detailed description of your product that explains its value and what users gain by using it. The detailed description is displayed at the beginning of your product page in the catalog. You can expand on the short description that you provide for your catalog entry, but don't simply repeat it.

  7. Provide a list of features that highlights your product's attributes and benefits for users.

    Use a descriptive title and 1 - 2 sentences for each feature. You want the information to be visually scannable for users. {: tip}

  8. Provide links to high-quality images or videos to help illustrate what your product is, its value, and user benefits. The supported media types are images, videos in MP4 or WebM file format, and videos hosted on YouTube or Vimeo.

    Some examples of effective media include an introductory walkthrough of your product, an explanation of what your product is and why users might want to use it, or a comparison of certain features. {: tip}

  9. Provide a link to your product's warranted documentation.

Define your pricing model

{: #vsivpc-pricing} {: step}

{{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} supports three pricing models: free, usage-based, and bring your own license (BYOL). With the free pricing model, customers can deploy as many instances with no additional software charges incurred. With the usage-based pricing model, you offer your product as a paid integrated product, and customers need to pay to use it. Optionally, you can select licenses to add to your usage-based pricing plan, which allows you to track and manage license entitlements for each provisioned instance of your software. With the BYOL pricing model, {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} doesn't charge users for the usage of the software, and the third-party provider is responsible for licensing entitlement and enforcement.

For the purposes of this tutorial, complete the following steps to add a usage-based pricing plan.

  1. Click Pricing > Add plan > Usage-based.

  2. Enter the name of your pricing plan, for example, Standard plan.

  3. Enter the programmatic name of your pricing plan, for example, standard-plan.

  4. Optionally, select a license type to add license entitlements to this pricing plan. This allows you to track and manage license entitlements for each provisioned instance of your software.

    To view the list of available licenses that are shared with your account, you must have the IAM Viewer role or higher on the License and Entitlement service and license-provider resource type in the account.

    Adding licenses to a pricing plan is available only for select {{site.data.keyword.IBM_notm}} Business Partners. License entitlements require a configured license provider, which defines the license for your product. For more information, contact {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} Support{: external}. {: preview}

  5. The software type is automatically set to VPC VSI Image.

  6. Select whether you want to validate only one version or a range of versions, or add a semantic version string to match the versions you want to validate. For example, select All current and future versions.

  7. Provide a description for your pricing plan, for example, This plan provides usage-based pricing for the Example Virtual Server Image.

  8. Click Save.

Define your support experience

{: #vsivpc-support} {: step}

Provide details that help users understand how to get support if they encounter issues when they use the virtual server image. For more information about providing support information, see Defining your support experience.

To define your product's support experience, use the following steps:

{{site.data.content.steps-support-experience}}

Next steps

{: #vsivpc-define-next}

Onboard and validate your virtual server image.