AWS License for Access Server
What are the options for Access Server on the AWS Marketplace?
Question: What is the AWS license available for Access Server?
Answer:
On the Amazon AWS Marketplace, you can search for "OpenVPN Access Server" and find several offerings, most of which include a notation like "(xx connected devices)" in their title. Here's how the licensing and billing work for these AWS tiered instances:
1. Automatically licensed instances
Description: The "(xx connected devices)" notation indicates that the instance comes pre-licensed for the specified number of VPN connections upon launch from the AWS Marketplace.
Billing: Licensing costs are bundled with AWS instance costs and are billed hourly through Amazon AWS. The costs include both software licensing and running the EC2 instance.
2. Cost management
Active Running Costs: Charges for the software license and the EC2 instance apply while the instance runs.
Stopping Instances: If you stop the instance, you cease incurring additional costs for the software licensing and the instance operation, though minimal charges for storage may still apply.
On-Demand Use: These instances are ideal for on-demand usage. You can keep an instance on cold standby, ready to launch as needed.
Trial offer for five connected devices
Free Trial Period: The Access Server instance for five connected devices includes a 7-day trial during which there are no software licensing costs. You are only responsible for the infrastructure costs associated with running the EC2 instance.
Post-Trial Billing: After seven days, software licensing billing commences if the instance continues to run. The 8th day marks the start of software license billing.
Bring your own license (BYOL) option
BYOL Setup: The AWS Marketplace also offers a BYOL option that allows two concurrent connections by default. To expand the number of connections, you must purchase a license from the Access Server Portal.
Billing: The license key for additional connections is billed directly by OpenVPN Inc., separate from Amazon AWS. However, the costs for running the EC2 instance are still billed by Amazon AWS.