--- title: "Purchasing and managing licenses" description: "- An OVHcloud account" url: https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/account/billing/manage-licenses lang: en --- > For AI agents: the complete documentation index is available at https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/llms.txt, the full documentation bundle is available at https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/llms-full.txt. # Purchasing and managing licenses ## Requirements - An [OVHcloud account](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/account/account-information/create-account.md) - A valid [payment method](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/account/billing/manage-payment-methods.md) - Access to the [OVHcloud Control Panel](https://manager.us.ovhcloud.com/)   #### Content overview: - [Purchasing a license directly from OVHcloud versus a third-party](#purchasing-a-license-directly-from-ovhcloud-versus-a-third-party) - [Types of licenses available at OVHcloud](#types-of-licenses-available-at-ovhcloud) - [Purchasing a license in the OVHcloud Control Panel](#purchasing-a-license-in-the-ovhcloud-control-panel) - [Adding a Windows license to the OVHcloud Control Panel](#adding-a-windows-license-to-the-ovhcloud-control-panel) - [Canceling licenses](#canceling-licenses)   ### Purchasing a license directly from OVHcloud versus a third-party There are a couple of benefits to purchasing a license from OVHcloud. The first is convenience; you do not have to manage two different accounts. Also, the license is instantly attached to your account. It is important to note that a license purchased from OVHcloud cannot be used with another company, as it is tied to your OVHcloud IP. Additionally, when it comes to certain licenses (e.g., Windows Server), you can purchase one under the SPLA (Services Provider License Agreement), which allows vendors (i.e., OVHcloud) to charge a monthly rate instead of the full cost. This is beneficial if your organization is looking to use a license for a brief time. In that scenario, there is no need to pay hundreds of dollars for a license when it is only needed for a couple of months.   ### Types of licenses available at OVHcloud _cPanel_: a Unix-based control panel that automates and simplifies website hosting. cPanel utilizes a three-tier structure that provides capabilities for administrators, resellers, and end-user website owners to control various aspects of their website and server administration. In addition to the GUI, cPanel also has command line and API-based access that allows third-party software vendors, web hosting organizations, and developers to automate standard system administration processes. _Plesk_: a commercial web hosting platform with a control panel that allows a server administrator to set up new websites, reseller accounts, e-mail accounts, and DNS entries through a web-based interface. _MSSQL_: an RDBMS (Relational Database Management System) that supports a wide variety of transaction processing, business intelligence, and analytics applications in corporate IT environments. As a database server, it is a software product with the primary function of storing and retrieving data as requested by other software applications. _Microsoft license_: OVHcloud provides Microsoft Windows licenses. The license options are Microsoft Windows Server Standard and Datacenter Editions (2016, 2019, and 2022).   ## Instructions ### Purchasing a license in the OVHcloud Control Panel To purchase a license directly from OVHcloud, log in to the [OVHcloud Control Panel](https://manager.us.ovhcloud.com/). Navigate to the `Licenses` section via the `Bare Metal Cloud` menu. Click `Actions ˅` and `Order`. On the following page: 1. Select the **IP block** to which you wish to assign the license and click on the **logo** that corresponds to the license you'd like to purchase. 2. Select the **version**. 3. Choose a **duration**. 4. Next, click `Pay` at the bottom of the screen. **Important:** **WARNING:** If a license expires due to nonpayment, the license will no longer be considered valid. This situation can be remedied by [contacting support](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/account/account-information/contact-us-support.md) to purchase a new license for the product in question. Once complete, the license will be assigned to the IP address you selected.   ### Adding a Windows license to the OVHcloud Control Panel From the `Licenses` section, select the `Actions` menu and choose `Add an SPLA license`. In the pop-up window: 1. Choose the **Server** to which you want to add the license. 2. Enter the **License** number. 3. Confirm the details. **Note:** Please allow up to 10 minutes for the license to be accepted.   ### Canceling licenses To cancel a license directly from OVHcloud, log in to the [OVHcloud Control Panel](https://manager.us.ovhcloud.com/). Navigate to the `Licenses` section via the `Bare Metal Cloud` menu. `Scroll` to the right of the license you wish to cancel and click the _more options_ `...` button. From here, you have two options: #### Cancel at expiry To prevent your license from renewing, select `Details`. On the next screen, click `Edit`. In the pop-up window, choose `Yes, cancel`. **Warning:** **NOTE:** If you wish to undo this action, you will need to reach out to our [customer support team](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/account/account-information/contact-us-support.md). #### Cancel now To remove your license now, select `Cancel`. In the pop-up window, click `Yes, cancel`. **Important:** **WARNING:** You will receive an email with instructions to **finalize the cancellation** of your license. Your license will not be canceled until you complete the instructions in the email.   ## Go further Browse all the [Managing billing, payments, and services guides](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/account/billing/landing-page-billing.md). Browse the rest of the [OVHcloud US documentation](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/index.md) for guides on our other products and services.