AEM On-Premise License Question

Question

Hi there,

Can someone help me better understand how users are defined with context to AEM Sites On-Premise?

More specifically:

Do users refer to all "named" users (ie. any or all logins) connected to an AEM author instance? I've been told it's only concurrent users. Or is it total users?

Does the license model elaborate on the specific case of previewing content for named account (one can login, preview, but not edit or approve), thus enabling preview to specific users. These users are not authors and never will be. Do these count as users as well?

This is based on references from the following thread (from @anilkumar9 and @arunpatidar) :
https://experienceleaguecommunities.adobe.com/t5/adobe-experience-manager/what-are-the-differences-between-aem-as-on-premise-and-aem-as-a/m-p/626921

Thank you in advance!

MonalikaKapoor · Accepted Answer

Hi @martind-aem,In AEM Sites On-Premise, the term “user” is generally understood in terms of concurrent active sessions on the author instance—not the total number of named accounts. This means that while you can have many named user accounts (including those for preview-only access), the licensing limits are based on how many users are logged in and active at the same time.Key Points:Concurrent User Licensing:The licensed “users” refer to the maximum number of active sessions on the system at any given moment. Even if you have a large pool of named users, only those logged in concurrently count toward your licensing limits.Preview-Only (Non-Author) Users:Preview users (those who log in only to view or preview content without editing permissions) are treated the same as active author sessions under this model. When they log in, their session counts as one concurrent user even though they won’t have access to authoring or approval functionalities.Licensing Clarification:This approach means that it’s important to manage and monitor the number of concurrent logins to stay within your licensed limits. It’s generally recommended to work with your Adobe account representative or refer to your specific licensing contract for any nuances or additional clarification.