Clarify GHES license seat count for metered billing enterprises (#61456)

Co-authored-by: Copilot <copilot@github.com>
Co-authored-by: Laura Coursen <lecoursen@github.com>

Author: 3 people

content/billing/concepts/enterprise-billing/combined-enterprise-use.md

@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@ There are two types of {% data variables.product.prodname_enterprise %} (GHE) li
 * **GHE (Usage-based, also called metered)**: A cloud-first license where users must first be assigned to a {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_cloud %} organization.
     * All Cloud users automatically receive a right to use {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_server %}.
     * Billing is based on the number of active users each month.
-    * Users can generate their own Server license, which covers the number of assigned Cloud seats at the time of generation and is valid for one year.
+    * Users can generate their own Server license, and the seat count is based on the number of consumed enterprise Cloud licenses at the time of generation. The license is valid for one year.
+
+      You can find your enterprise's consumed Cloud license count on your enterprise's **Billing & Licensing > Licensing** page. Do **not** use the "Total consumed" licenses count on the **People > Members** page: that number will be higher than the Cloud-only count used for license generation.
     * Server-only users will be added to GHE (Metered) billing. These users are de-duplicated with email matching to avoid double billing.
 
 * **GHE (Volume/Subscription, also called GHE Unified)**: A bundled license for both {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_cloud %} and {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_server %}.
@@ -57,7 +59,7 @@ There are two types of {% data variables.product.prodname_enterprise %} (GHE) li
 | **Cloud vs. Server**             | Cloud-first, with a Server use right for Cloud users | 1 user license covers both Cloud and Server (hybrid, Cloud-only, or Server-only)              |
 | **Setup**            | Self-service | Manual setup via {% data variables.product.github %} Sales                                    |
 | **Server license generation**    | Users generate their own {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_server %} license | Enterprise owners download their own {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_server %} license |
-| **License file scope**        | Covers Cloud-assigned users at time of generation | Covers all purchased users for both Cloud and Server                                          |
+| **License file scope**        | Covers consumed Cloud licenses at time of generation | Covers all purchased users for both Cloud and Server                                          |
 | **License expiration**           | Expires in 12 months | Aligned with volume license term                                                              |
 | **License key usage**            | Limits max Server users | Covers all users in the volume subscription                                                   |
 | **Required {% data variables.product.prodname_enterprise %} version**        | {% data variables.product.prodname_enterprise %} 3.13+, with {% data variables.product.prodname_github_connect %} | No specific version required                                                                  |

content/billing/concepts/enterprise-billing/ghes-license-files.md

@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ In order to use a {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_server %} instance, you
 
 A license file has an expiration date and controls the number of people who can use {% data variables.location.product_location_enterprise %}. After you download and install {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_server %}, you must upload the license file to unlock the application for you to use.
 
+If your enterprise uses metered (usage-based) billing, the seat count in your license file is based on the number of consumed Cloud licenses at the time you generated the license. To see this count, go to your enterprise's **Billing & Licensing > Licensing** page.
+
 If your license expires, you won't be able to access {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_server %} via a web browser or Git. If needed, you will be able to use command-line utilities to back up all your data.
 
 ## Next steps

content/billing/how-tos/manage-server-licenses/download-your-license.md

@@ -47,8 +47,12 @@ If you have any questions about downloading your license, contact {% data variab
 {% data reusables.enterprise-accounts.access-enterprise-on-dotcom %}
 {% data reusables.enterprise-accounts.licensing-tab-both-platforms %}
 1. Optionally, if a yellow banner appears, click **Generate new license** to generate a new license key. A yellow banner appears in either of the following situations:
-   * Your license usage for {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_cloud %} has changed.
+   * Your license usage for {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_cloud %} has changed. For metered billing enterprises, this means the consumed Cloud license count has increased, and you can generate a new license with updated seat capacity.
    * Your current server license key expires within 30 days.
+
+   > [!NOTE]
+   > If your enterprise uses metered (usage-based) billing, the seat count in your generated Server license is based on the number of **consumed Cloud licenses** at the time of generation. The license is valid for one year. For more information about how Cloud and Server license usage work together, see [AUTOTITLE](/billing/concepts/enterprise-billing/combined-enterprise-use).
+
 1. Scroll down to "Enterprise Server licenses". Next to the license you want to download, click **{% octicon "download" aria-hidden="true" aria-label="download" %} Download**.
 
 After you download your license file, you can upload the file to {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_server %} to validate your application. For more information, see {% ifversion ghec %}[AUTOTITLE](/enterprise-server@latest/billing/managing-your-license-for-github-enterprise/uploading-a-new-license-to-github-enterprise-server) in the {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_server %} documentation.{% elsif ghes %}[AUTOTITLE](/enterprise-server@latest/billing/managing-your-license-for-github-enterprise/uploading-a-new-license-to-github-enterprise-server).{% endif %}