What Is IBM HWMA, SWMA, and ALF? - Source Data Products

What Is An IBM Hardware Maintenance Agreement (HWMA)?

A HWMA is an agreement between you and IBM to provide 24 x 7 ongoing support to fix any part of your computer hardware – both parts and labor. Actual response time varies for each incident; however, you can generally expect IBM dispatch to call with an estimated time of arrival on site of the IBM Customer Engineer (CE). In most cases, the IBM CE will have the needed parts in hand to repair the malfunction during the first onsite call.

In some cases where you have Electronic Customer Support (ECS), IBM electronically monitors your server and can anticipate the failure of a part. In such cases, the IBM CE arrives onsite and repairs the bad part before you experience any down time.

Why is HWMA a good value? If you don’t have a maintenance contract and you pay to have a bad part fixed on a time and material basis, there is a strong probability that the cost of the part and labor will exceed the cost of 2-3 years of a maintenance contract.

What Is An IBM Software Maintenance Agreement (SWMA)?

A SWMA is an agreement between you and IBM to provide ongoing support to your IBM licensed software including your operating system (OS/400), WebSphere Development Studio (RPG, COBOL, JAVA, etc.), iSeries Access (formerly known as Client Access), and Query/400.

A SWMA combines 1) Software Subscriptions, which provides you version upgrades and PTF enhancements, with 2) SupportLine, which gives you direct access IBM Rochester phone support.

Why Would I Need A SWMA?

First, to keep your IBM-licensed software current. Second, to have prompt access to IBM experts who can quickly help you with IBM software issues.

Why Should I Want To Keep My IBM Software Current?

First, most application software providers only support their software on IBM supported software versions. As they make enhancements to their software, you may not be able to use these updates if your IBM software is not current. In many cases, your application software provider may not be able to fix software bugs if you do not keep your IBM software current.

Second, even if you have been running the same legacy software for years on an older version of your IBM software, it is advisable to keep your operating system current. Most likely, you have added newer devices to your system every year (generally PCs with newer versions of Microsoft Windows such as Vista and Windows 7 or new laser printers). The IBM updates keep up with these new enhancements and provide up-to-date software drivers to make it easier to integrate newer technology to your IBM iSeries (AS/400).

Third, if you are on a version of IBM-licensed software that is no longer supported and you have a problem related to your IBM system—either hardware or licensed software—IBM cannot help you until you get to a supported version of IBM-licensed software. From a practical standpoint, this can take days to several weeks—more downtime than most companies can tolerate. Even with a third-party expert, they can only help on a best-effort basis. In many cases, this level of support is not for the faint of heart.

Lastly, and here’s a “GOTCHA” to pay attention to, if your SWMA expires and you need to renew it, IBM will also charge you an After License fee (ALF). It is pricey. It is equivalent to 2 years of SWMA. So you may pay $10,500 to reinstate P10 SWMA. This may be another strong incentive to keep your SWMA current.

Does SWMA Offer Any Other Advantages Besides Keeping My Software Current?

IBM Rochester can help you determine if the problem you are having is related to IBM software and, if it is hardware related, recommend the correct PTF; otherwise they might tell you that you need to get help from your application software supplier.

What Does IBM ALF mean?

ALF (or MAL)

ALF, or After License Fee (aka MAL or Maintenance After License Fee), is a fee IBM charges users of IBM Licensed Program Products (LLPs) that have either 1) discontinued software support Software Maintenance Agreement (SWMA) for some period of time and now wish to renew support, or 2) purchased a used IBM i on POWER (AS400 / iSeries) server and want to get SWMA to access software keys for IBM program products so that they will continue to operate after a 70 days grace period. (That’s right. If you don’t get authorized IBM software keys, your IBM LLPs, like IBM i / OS400 and your compiler, stop working after 70 days.)

In my opinion, ALF is in place for two reasons.

First, IBM charges ALF to provide financial incentive to stay on IBM SWMA. If you think you want to discontinue SMWA, it is expensive to buy SWMA AND PAY ALF if your SWMA coverage in no longer in place. Miss your SWMA renewal deadline and – ouch – it can get costly.

Here’s the point. Keep your coverage if you want support AND don’t miss your SWMA renewal deadline.

Second, ALF makes buying a used iSeries more expensive. When you compare the price of a new IBM POWER server to a used iSeries server with the cost of ALF, the new POWER is generally a much better value. I don’t think this is an accident.

Also, be aware that getting SWMA and ALF for a used iSeries is difficult. If you are not familiar with the process, you may experience delays up to 2 months or longer to get this handled. If you decide a used iSeries makes sense for you, be sure to work with an IBM Business Partner (us) experienced with getting SWMA for used IBM servers. It is a tricky and time-consuming process. If you don’t know how this is done, the delays and bureaucracy to get SWMA will drive you nuts.