> Source: [sk119075](https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk119075)

# sk119075 - How VSX & VSNext Gateways are counted in NGSM Management licenses

| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| Solution ID | sk119075 |
| Date Created | 2017-07-18 |
| Last Modified | 2026-01-29 |
| Technical Level | General |
| Products | Security Gateway, Security Management Server, Multi-Domain Security Management Server, Scalable Platforms |
| Versions | R82.10, R82, R81.20, R81.10 (EOS), R82.10, R82, R81.20, R82.10, R81 (EOS), R82.10, R82, R81.20, R81.10 (EOS), R81.10 (EOS), R81 (EOS), R81 (EOS), R81.10 (EOS), R81.20, R82 |
| OS | Gaia |

## Solution

**VSX Cluster High Availability HA and Virtual System Load Sharing (VSLS) configurations**   
Under the NGSM licensing model, only Active and Standby Virtual Systems are counted when determining how many managed gateway slots are required on the Management Server.   

Backup Virtual Systems are not counted.

For example, in a VSX cluster with **three physical members** and **four Virtual Systems** , the Management Server would require **8 managed gateway slots** (4 Virtual Systems x 2 for Active and Standby):

![](https://sc1.checkpoint.com/sc/SolutionsStatics/NEW_SK_NOID1500373404841/vsx _cluster1707180329.png)

Adding more physical members and therefore increasing the number of Backup Virtual Systems, does not impact licensing. Since the number of managed Virtual Systems stays the same.

**Maestro with VSX or VSNext and ElasticXL with VSNext configurations**   
For Maestro deployments using VSX or VSNext, as well as ElasticXL (EXL) deployments using VSNext, the same management licensing rules apply, with the distinction that these environments introduce Single?Site and Dual?Site architectures:  

**Single?Site Maestro/EXL-VSN**   
Each active VS is counted once. (x1 multiplier)  
This mirrors traditional VSX gateway behavior.  

**Dual?Site Maestro/EXL-VSN**   
Each active + standby VS is counted (x2 multiplier)  
This mirrors the behavior of traditional VSX HA and VSLS configurations as described above.  

**To summarize:**   
Regardless of whether you deploy Virtual Systems using VSX or VSNext on Open Servers, Appliances, or Maestro, the NGSM licensing model for managing Virtual System gateways remains consistent across all platforms.

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