IBM iSeries Maintenance & Support

The IBM iSeries of blade servers can offer IT managers incredible value because they are adaptable, take up minimal floor space compared to similar rack-mounted solutions and are fairly efficient from an energy perspective. There is just one problem – IBM support and maintenance plans are, though considered high-quality, known to be expensive. This leaves IT leaders who invested in iSeries systems for long-term flexibility and operational efficiency in a position where they are spending heavily on maintenance, a situation that is far from ideal.

Third-party hardware maintenance and operating system support plans can help organizations overcome this issue. A partnership with a dedicated server maintenance provider can give IT managers access to support services that are often less expensive than OEM support and extend beyond the IBM EOSL date.

Blade servers like the iSeries are becoming popular because they give organizations flexibility that cannot be obtained easily through traditional hardware solutions. However, this flexibility can be undone, to a certain degree, by support models that force IT managers to take on an early hardware refresh. A third-party maintenance plan can extend the life of the device and maximize its value over time, making it an ideal option in blade environments.