Changing Tableau Server from User-Based to Core-Based Licensing

To successfully change your Tableau Server license type from user-based to core-based:

• Verify that the number of cores on your machine, including all nodes, is equal to or less than the number of cores allowed by your license.
• Change any Creator users to Explorers that can publish.  The initial Tableau Server Administrator cannot be lowered to an Explorer and will automatically be lowered when the licenses have changed.
• Deactivate the product keys for the user-based licenses and then activate the product key(s) for the core-based license.

Verify the number of cores

Follow the instructions in this article to determine the number of cores on all nodes that will contain licensed processes are less than or equal to the core licenses to be activated.  Information on what are licensed processes is available here.

IMPORTANT: If your system has more cores than the cores licensed in the new product keys, it is imperative that you do not proceed with the steps below. Please contact your Tableau Account Team if there is a need to purchase more cores.

Change users to Explorers that can publish

Changing user roles to the lower Explorer or Viewer role is not required, but a best practice to understanding how user roles will be affected by this key change.  If there are Creator licenses that will remain activated with your Core license, there is no need to perform this step.

Information on changing user's site role is available in the Set Users' Site Role help guide.

Deactivate and activate license

If the sum core count on all nodes is equal to or less than the number of licensed cores on your machine, then you can deactivate the current product keys and successfully activate the new product key(s).  

Step 1 

Using the TSM user interface or the TSM command line, select the key(s) to deactivate and deactivate all keys that will no longer be used.  Do not restart Tableau Server until the new Core keys are activated.

Step 2 

Using the TSM user interface or the command line, activate the new core key(s).

Step 3 

You will be directed to restart Tableau Server.  If using the Command Line, issue tsm pending-changes apply and restart.

Step 4 

Log in to Tableau Server with your administrator user name and password.  Verify the users are showing as Explorers or Viewers.