Program Temporary Fixes (PTFs)
Recently, we have been asked whether a customer, who does not have SWMA and HWMA, is entitled to PTFs? If yes, how do they go about getting PTFs?
The answer to the question is that customers can use SNDPTFORD or Fix Central (requires web registration) to order iSeries Cumulative PTF packages without having HW Warranty, HWMA or SWMA, provided the Machine type and Serial Number of the connecting iSeries is registered in CCPF in RETAIN. The HIPER and DB PTF Groups are included as part of the Cumulative PTF order. In the US, mixed orders, HW and SW PTFs in the same order, are delivered if there is no HW Warranty, NO HWMA, or NO SWMA. If HW fixes only comprise the order, and NO Warranty or HWMA, then the order will fail. Below are the contact points to request HW PTFs without HW Warranty and no HWMA.
Mail: IBM CORP, Dept 909, 3605 HW 52 NORTH, ROCHESTER, MN 55901. Fax: 800-288-9584
Software Maintenance (SWMA)
Software Maintenance may also be known as Software Subscription. In this article, it refers to the set of IBM rules for what must occur when iSeries licensed software versions are updated, downgraded or transferred from one machine to another.
Here are some tips that answer the more frequently asked questions on this topic.
a. SWMA is NOT transferable outside of the end user’s enterprise.
b. An international end user customer CANNOT transfer their SWMA to an enterprise related system in another country.
c. The end user customer can transfer SWMA to a machine within their enterprise (different customer number) IF the release level of the TRANSFERRED TO machine is at the same or more current release level as the TRANSFERRED FROM machine. For example, one CANNOT transfer SWMA from a V5R2 machine to a V5R1 machine.
d. SWMA after license fees may apply:
– A system must be at the current release (current release as of this article is V5R3), and a customer must acquire SWMA within 30 days of purchasing the box to avoid the fees.
– If an end user customer purchases a system that is licensed to a release that is not current (currently, V5R3), and they purchase SWMA, the after license fee DOES apply.
For additional information or questions to clarify how SWMA may affect you or your end user, contact Susan Brearley at smbrear@us.ibm.com This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Electronic Proof of Entitlement (ePOE) and References
For your reference, here is a copy of the Customer Notice that is currently included with each iSeries Licensed Program, as well as link references on www.ibm.com that should prove useful.
Dear IBM Customer;
We have not shipped a printed Proof of Entitlement (PoE) document in this software package. Instead, we have created an electronic Proof of Entitlement (ePoE) record that is available to you on the Web and which you can print, if you wish, for your records.
As a result of customer feedback, we are implementing ePoE which we believe will result in improved and more efficient record keeping for customer entitlements to use IBM software.
The ePoE record is the official record of your entitlement and contains the following information: Product Name, Product Number, Product Option Number, Version, Install Code ID, Quantity, Proof Number, Customer Number, Machine type/serial (optional).
To access your ePoE, you must first be registered with IBM. You can register at URL:http://www.ibm.com/account/registration/selfreg. With your registration, you can access the ePoE and software license key information at URL: http://www.ibm.com/software/lms. You will need your Customer Number and IBM Order Number as specified on the software order Packing List provided with this software package.
If this is an upgrade for this program, you must destroy your original IBM printed PoE for this software program, as the ePoE record replaces it and is now the only record of your entitlement that IBM recognizes.
Program transfer capability is governed by the International Program License Agreement (IPLA) and License Information documentation shipped with this program. Please refer to this documentation to understand your transfer rights and obligations. If you want to transfer your program to another party outside your Enterprise, please contact the Software Key Center at the phone number provided at URL: http://www.ibm.com/software/lms.