IBM announced in 2016 many iSeries/AS400 servers with hardware support end-of-life terminating on January 31, 2019.
Clearly, many users that want IBM hardware support will be affected.
As an IBM Business Partner, I have worked with many users to make transition plans since the announcement.
What causes my concern for other users is that this last week I am seeing a surge in users that want to make changes.
What I find alarming about this recent surge is that most users may not realize there is a limited of number of IBM i experts that can successfully help transition to new servers and IBM i OS smoothly. My sense is that by 3rd and 4th quarter, these experts may be overwhelmed and turn business away.
Another BIG issue I am hearing is how many users are unaware of what is involved to upgrade older ERP software that is no longer on software support.
As examples, I have 2 Infor XA (MAPICS) users on 9406-270 at V5R2 on older unsupported versions of their application software. In my discussions with them, it was apparent to me that these users are completely unaware how expensive it will be to:
1. move off an older iSeries to a new POWER server,
2. pay for software transfer fees,
3. upgrade their software version to a supported version,
4. how much effort will be involved, and
5. how long it will take.
Even if these users want to abandon their IBM i solution in favor of other manufacturing software (Windows, UNIX or Linux-based), I struggle to understand how this can be smoothly and successfully completed by January 31, 2019.
Over the decades I have observed that migrations to new software on different platforms can take 3-7 years…or longer.
While I do not want to be categorized as a fear-monger, I can only stress that if you are on an end-of-life server or IBM i OS … and IBM support is important to your operation…start planning NOW.
In my experience in the last few years, smooth transitions, at a minimum, take 3-9 months of planning with the help of experts.
Be prepared to be surprised how much some software vendors may charge for software transition fees (the fee the software providers charge to move your software to a new server and to a new IBM i OS version).
If you want to make a successful migration before your IBM support expires, get your IBM experts on board now before they get booked.
I feel anxious that time may be running out for many IBM iSeries/AS400 users.
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