The purpose of this blog is to highlight the risk of running an IBM POWER server without support. While the IBM POWER servers are exceptionally reliable, unexpected downtime without adequate support and backup can delay recovery for days…if at all. AND, it can be VERY EXPENSIVE. Whatever savings some executive thought was to be gained can evaporate compared to the cost of recovery.
Disclaimer: AS400 and iSeries are IBM servers. IBM i is an operating system. I use them interchangeably to make it easier to find information for web searches.
As an IBM i focused Business Partner, I get to see up close what users do with their systems.
As you can imagine, over the years I have witnessed many companies discontinue support for the IBM i server to save money. Because of its reliability, many folks think a support contract is an unneeded expense. And, they think if it fails we can just call to get it fixed.
Well, think again.
There must have been a curse on unprotected IBM POWER users this last week because I got calls from 5 different businesses that experienced hardware failures. There were some doozies!
Another Power Supply Failure For Advanced/36
First, a distributor in the process of migrating to a new IBM POWER server from an Advanced/36 experienced a power supply failure. AGAIN. IBM stopped making this server in 1993. Also, there are NO new power supplies. When you can find them, they have at best a 30-day warranty. This 9402-236 is in an office in Fresno, CA, which has had very hot weather this summer. So, over the weekend when the office air conditioning is off and the outside temperature is over 100 degrees, what do you think will fail? The power supply.
This is the 3rd power supply we have provided this 9402-236 user. As I explained again, like last time, power supplies this old are warranted for 30 days. And, when machines are this old, you can have cascading hardware failure. This means you could also lose several disk drives, the internal tape drive, a cooling fan and more. This can be expected for hardware made in the early 1990’s. I am hopeful they can complete their migration to their new POWER server soon for their peace of mind.
Windows Team Doesn’t Understand IBM I And Lets IBM Support Lapse
Second, a Seattle-based software developer has four (4) 8202-E4Bs with IBM i at V7.1 and V7.3 for their software development and customer support. Several years ago the in-house IBM i administrator retired and these IBM POWER servers were re-assigned to a team of Windows administrators. While IBM notified the Windows administrators that their IBM support had expired with reminders to renew, the administrators ignored the notifications…because they did not understand IBM i. These servers were off IBM support for 3 years. When one of the systems failed, the lead programmer alerted the company, which then requested IBM support. They had to pay $11,000 extra to get back on support.
Mattress Distributor’s IBM Business Partner Fails To Renew IBM Support
Third, a Southern California based mattress distributor’s 8202 server failed. The Business Partner that sold them the system in 2012 failed to renew their IBM support agreement that expired in 2016. This company knows how to sell mattresses. They have no resident in-house IT expert. Their software provider was unaware that they had no IBM support. Over a hot weekend, their system fails. They discover they have NO support contracts. They call IBM for help. For $5000 charged to their credit card, IBM finally gets the hardware working in 3 days. Oops. The server does not start up. A software issue. It took another 3 days to get IBM software support to help them get backup up and running. They told me that a week of downtime cost them about $250,000 in lost business.
Reestablish Expired HWMA, SWMA Support Is Very Expensive
Fourth, a Texas-based distributor of paper products with an 8202-E4D at V7.1 let their support agreement lapse. A new IT director comes in and gets them back on track. Had they maintained their annual IBM support for hardware and software, the annual fee would have been $5,765. However, they must now pay $14,935 to reestablish hardware and software support.
Migration Takes Longer… Years Longer. And IBM Support Expires
Fifth, a US distributor of well-known watches runs on a 9408-M25 at V6.1 with JD Edwards 7.2 without support. This is VERY problematic. The only way to upgrade from V6.1 to V7.2 is to have both IBM and JDE software support agreements current, to access the software patches to be able to upgrade the application to work with V7.2. While this distributor thought they were saving money by dropping support, NOW it will be VERY expensive to reestablish their software support.
At the time, the decision to not renew software support may have been justified because they planned to leave the IBM i and JDE in favor of new software on a different platform. Even so, the time it takes to successfully migrate to a new server can range from 7-15 years, based on what I have seen. This is a case of the migration to the new system taking way longer than expected. Now, the 9408-M25 at V6.1 and JDE without support is a BIG challenge with no simple or affordable solution.
Conclusion: Despite the temptation to cut support contracts based on the reliability of the IBM POWER server and the intent to move to another environment, it is wiser to have reliable support agreements in place to recover from the unexpected. Because the unexpected always seems to happen. Particularly at the worst possible time.
Running an IBM i POWER server with no support? Let us help get you the support you need. Call me at (714) 593-0387 or email me at blosey@source-data.com.
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