HCL Domino licensing explained: CCB, CCX, perpetual and term
By Patrick Lavan, Domino Expert, Blue Sky
Published · 8 min read
Last reviewed:
Domino licensing has changed a great deal in recent years. The old mix of server, processor and client licences has given way to a simpler per-user model. Simpler does not always mean cheaper, though. Most of the surprises we see at renewal come from how users are counted, not from the price list. If you would rather have someone check your position for you, we offer a Domino licence review.
How does HCL Domino licensing work?
HCL Domino is now licensed per user rather than per server. Complete Collaboration Business (CCB) covers internal users with unlimited servers, clients and protocols. CCX covers external users who edit your applications, CCS is for software vendors who embed Domino and Messaging Express covers mail-only users. Most organisations need CCB and sometimes CCX.
Because CCB includes unlimited servers, you no longer license individual servers. The number that matters is how many people and IDs log in.
| Licence | Who it is for | Mailbox | Can create apps | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCB | Internal users: employees, contractors, service and admin IDs | Yes | Yes | Unlimited servers, clients and protocols |
| CCX | External users who edit content in your apps | No | No | Needs CCB; counted on the 30-day peak of active users; term only |
| Messaging Express | Mail-only users | Yes | No | Term licence |
| Known Guest | Registered read-only users | No | No | No paid licence needed |
| Guest | Anonymous web visitors | No | No | No paid licence needed |
What is the difference between CCB and CCX?
CCB licenses internal users such as employees and contractors and gives them full access, including a mailbox and the ability to create applications. CCX licenses external users such as partners or customers who need to edit content in your applications. CCX users have no mailbox, cannot create applications and need CCB alongside them.
People outside your organisation who only read content do not need CCX. They can be Known Guests, which are free.
Who counts as a user under CCB?
Under CCB every login credential counts as an authorised user. That means employees and contractors, plus service IDs, admin IDs and test IDs, even though no person uses them day to day. Estates that have grown over many years often hold more of these IDs than anyone expects, and each one adds to the renewal.
CCX is counted differently. It is based on the highest number of active external users in any 30-day period. That figure is usually lower than the number of external accounts you hold, because not every partner logs in every month.
Anonymous web visitors are covered as Guests and registered read-only users as Known Guests. Both are free.
What replaced the Domino Utility Server licence?
Nothing directly replaced it. Utility Server and Utility Express were withdrawn from sale in June 2023 and support ended in June 2024. Estates that still run on Utility Server, or on older processor-based licences, move to per-user CCB or CCX licences at renewal, which is often when costs change most.
It is worth working out your user numbers well before that renewal, so the new position holds no surprises.
Should you choose perpetual or term licences?
Choose perpetual if you want to own your licences and are happy to renew support every year. Choose term if you want support included and need features such as Domino IQ, unlimited Domino Leap or unlimited HEI/SAP connectivity, which since Domino 14.5 come only with term licences. Term licences must be renewed to keep using the software.
Perpetual support cannot be renewed on only part of an estate: it covers all of your perpetual licences or none of them. Without active support you are not entitled to run newer versions, which matters if you are still running older Domino versions.
| Perpetual | Term | |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Licence is permanent | Leased for the term; remove the software if not renewed |
| Support | Renewed annually, all or nothing | Included |
| Domino Leap | Up to five enterprise apps | Unlimited |
| Domino IQ | Not included | Included |
| HEI/SAP connectivity | Not included | Unlimited |
What is DLAU and how are users counted?
DLAU is the Domino Licensing Analysis Utility, HCL's tool for counting users. It runs from a Notes client, reads server logs and configuration and produces a baseline count of CCB and CCX users. It works back to Domino 7, and Domino 14.5 adds a built-in licence dashboard that gives a similar view.
DLAU produces a baseline count, not an audit. Its figures still need checking against what you know about your organisation, because the tool cannot tell a leaver from a current member of staff or a functional mailbox from a person.
What are the common ways to overpay?
Most organisations overpay because their user count includes people and IDs that should not be there. The usual causes are functional mailboxes and guests counted as users, leavers who were never removed, limited-access users who still hold web passwords and users in deny-access groups who also appear in regular groups.
- Functional mailboxes and guests counted as users. Shared mailboxes and read-only guests can appear in the count when they do not need a paid licence.
- Leavers not removed. People who have left remain in the Domino Directory and are still counted.
- Limited-access users who still hold web passwords. A web password can make a user look like an authorised user even if they only need read-only access.
- Users in deny-access groups who also appear in regular groups. If someone is in both, they may still be counted.
Each of these is easy to fix once found. Together they can make a noticeable difference to your renewal.
What should you check before a Domino renewal?
Before a Domino renewal, count your users with DLAU or the licence dashboard, clean up the Domino Directory, separate internal and external users, decide between perpetual and term and then get a quote. Allow at least a month before your renewal date so there is time to act on what you find.
- Run DLAU or check the licence dashboard on Domino 14.5.
- Clean up the Domino Directory: remove leavers, duplicates and unneeded web passwords.
- Separate internal and external users, and identify read-only and anonymous users.
- Decide between perpetual and term, based on your plans and the features you need.
- Get a quote.
If an upgrade is part of your plans, the Domino upgrade checklist covers licensing alongside the other areas to review.
Sources: HCL: All you ever wanted to know about Domino CCB licensing and DLAU v14.5 · HCL: Product announcement, HCL Domino licence simplification
Blue Sky provides Domino hosting and management for UK organisations, including upgrades to Domino 14.5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do service IDs count as users under HCL CCB licensing?
Yes. Under CCB every login credential counts as an authorised user, including service, admin and test IDs, as well as employees and contractors. Removing IDs that are no longer needed is one of the simplest ways to reduce a renewal.
Do I need CCX for external partners?
Only if they need to edit content in your Domino applications. External users who only read content can be Known Guests, and anonymous visitors are Guests. Neither needs a paid licence.
Can you mix perpetual and term Domino licences?
Yes, but the term licences must run alongside your perpetual support renewal dates, and Domino IQ cannot be used by users in a mixed perpetual and term setup.
What is DLAU?
The Domino Licensing Analysis Utility is HCL's free tool for counting users. It runs from a Notes client, reads server logs and configuration and produces a baseline count of CCB and CCX users. It works with Domino 7 onwards and is not an audit.
What happens if we stop paying support on perpetual Domino licences?
You keep the right to run the versions you already have, but you are not entitled to install newer versions or fixes. Support cannot be renewed on only part of an estate.
Renewal coming up?
We'll review your Domino licence position before you commit.
