The following chart depicts the lifespan of IBM System i models through 2008. The model life begins at initial availability, and ends when upgrades from the model are no longer available.
IBM Maintenance Agreements continue to be available after models and upgrades are withdrawn from marketing.
Notes:
Dates on individual models may vary by country.
The chart is valid through 2008 based on announcements as of October 7, 2008.
Marketing life table
System i model lifecycles
System i models have historically followed a progression of life stages. Each model family generally goes through these stages over time, from the initial introduction on to the end of hardware service. The chart below shows a progression of System i RISC models through the life stages. The first point in a row indicates the date of the announcement of that stage. The second point in the row indicates the effective date of the action that was announced. As of October 2008, none of the model families listed have been announced to have reached the stage of discontinued hardware maintenance, so there are no points in that row.
Announce/GA — The time the model family was first announced and made generally available to the worldwide marketplace.
w/d model from marketing — The announcement that the models within that family will no longer be marketed after the declared effective date. Beginning on that date, orders for the withdrawn models will not be accepted.
w/d unique features — The announcement that features for the withdrawn model family which are not orderable on subsequent models will be withdrawn. This will generally include memory and processor features, along with I/O features which have been superseded on the newer models.
w/d upgrades from model — The announcement that upgrades from the withdrawn model family will no longer be available. When the effective date for this announcement is reached, the model can no longer be upgraded to a more current model.
Last O/S support — The announcement that a specified release of the operating system (i5/OS or OS/400) will be the final release to be supported on the model family. O/S support on the withdrawn model will continue to be available until that operating system release reaches end of support for all models.
Discontinue HW maintenance — The announcement that hardware maintenance agreements will no longer be offered for the model. As of the effective date of the end of hardware maintenance, service will only be offered at a time and materials rate on a best efforts basis.
