EOL & EOSL | Service Express https://serviceexpress.com/uk/resources/topics/eol-eosl/ Global Data Center Solutions & Support Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:48:23 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://serviceexpress.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/04/cropped-cropped-Favicon-32x32.png EOL & EOSL | Service Express https://serviceexpress.com/uk/resources/topics/eol-eosl/ 32 32 IBM Power8 End of Service Life (EOSL): What’s next for your hardware? https://serviceexpress.com/uk/resources/ibm-power8-end-of-service-life-eosl/ Tue, 31 Oct 2023 15:49:29 +0000 https://serviceexpress.com/uk/?p=76621 IBM announced select Power8 models are approaching End of Service Life (EOSL) in 2024. Discover what this means for your hardware options and next steps.

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On November 15, 2022, IBM formally announced End of Service Life (EOSL) dates for select Power8 scale-out and scale-up systems. Depending on the machine type and model, the effective EOSL date may fall between March and October 2024.  

What does EOSL mean?

In simple terms, EOSL for Power8 means IBM will no longer offer hardware upgrades, firmware updates or maintenance services for the designated models.  

The IBM announcement states, “Selected machine types, models, and features will be discontinued from maintenance services. IBM will send no further correspondence of this nature for these machine types, models, features, or RPQs. After the effective date, IBM will no longer offer full hardware maintenance service for the listed machine types. If available, clients will continue to receive limited hardware maintenance service.”  

Recently, we’ve seen a significant price increase in IBM’s extended hardware maintenance costs. So once your Power8 model approaches its EOSL date, anticipate additional price increases and limited response times based on parts availability.  

What are your options?

According to an IBM i marketplace survey, 60% of the total IBM i installed is on Power8 or later generations (that’s a substantial number of customers). On the bright side, IBM has given organisations the time to plan, strategise and budget for their next hardware refresh. Now’s the time to begin planning your hardware refresh from Power8 to the newer technologies IBM has heavily invested in over the years. Below are several options to help you move forward and understand what’s next for your Power8 hardware.  

  • Refresh to Power10  
  • Migrate to Cloud 
  • Continue running your Power8 hardware with IBM third-party maintenance (TPM) 

If you’re unsure of the right option for your business, we’re here to provide your team with recommendations based on your unique needs. 

If your organisation has a Power8 or older system and would like to discuss your migration, maintenance, or refresh options, we’re here to help you understand the next steps for your hardware. For expert guidance, contact us here.

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]]> What are End of Life (EOL) & End of Service Life (EOSL)? https://serviceexpress.com/uk/resources/what-is-eol-eosl/ Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:31:00 +0000 https://serviceexpress.com/uk/resources/what-are-end-of-life-eol-end-of-service-life-eosl/ Service Express resident IT expert, Chad, covers what EOL & EOSL really mean for your data centre and which options are available before committing to a contract. Do you buy new tech and have a hardware refresh, or can you partner with a third-party data centre maintenance provider and continue to use the equipment you have?

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EPISODE ONE

Our In a Flash video series aims to educate IT professionals on popular topics and solutions for data centres in a concise and straightforward way.

In this episode, Service Express resident IT expert, Chad, covers what EOL & EOSL really mean for your data centre and which options are available before committing to a contract. Do you buy new tech and have a hardware refresh, or can you partner with a third-party data centre maintenance provider and continue to use the equipment you have?

Get all the latest data centre knowledge and information In a Flash with Service Express.

Do you know the status of your equipment?

Search our EOL & EOSL database.

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]]> Tip sheet: End of Life (EOL) vs. End of Service Life (EOSL) https://serviceexpress.com/uk/resources/eol-eosl-tip-sheet/ Thu, 26 Jan 2017 19:15:00 +0000 https://serviceexpress.com/uk/resources/what-is-end-of-life-eol-vs-end-of-service-support-eosl/ What is the difference between EOL and EOSL? Discover what these dates mean for your data centre hardware and then search our database to find your equipment.

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You may have heard the terms End of Life (EOL), End of Sale (EOS), End of Service Life (EOSL), End of Support Life (EOSL) or Last Date of Support (LDOS) used to indicate critical milestones in the IT hardware life cycle. Each stage is different and varies in levels of OEM support, marketing, development, updates and more. Understanding and recognising these terms and their meaning is important, but they don’t always correlate with a decrease in future performance. 

It’s important to note that each OEM defines these milestones individually and may vary in timeline and definition. 

What is EOL?

This is often the first stage in the IT hardware life cycle after new equipment is developed and available for consumers to purchase. EOL represents the date the manufacturer will no longer advertise, develop, produce or sell that equipment. At this time, additional firmware, patches or upgrades will be reduced, with the OEM intending to phase out the equipment over the next several years. 

This milestone may also be called End of Sale (EOS). 

EOL support options

What is EOSL?

This milestone represents the end of maintenance, technical support, repairs, updates and patches for the product. 

This milestone may also be called End of Support (EOS) or Last Date of Support (LDOS). 

EOSL support options

How to find EOL and EOSL dates 

Every OEM is different when sharing EOL and EOSL milestones, making it easy to overlook or lose track of current and upcoming dates. Here are the most common methods to find dates: 

  • Our EOL & EOSL Database includes a comprehensive list of thousands of equipment dates. Sign up for quarterly EOL and EOSL updates and never miss a date again. 
  • OEM website or product documentation 
  • Reach out to the OEM directly 

EOL and EOSL hardware support options and considerations

There are several alternatives to consider when understanding what steps to take after hardware approaches EOL or EOSL. 

Option Consideration 
Third-Party Data Centre Maintenance May be a good fit for hardware that meets security, performance, compatibility and compliance needs

Typically 30–70% less than OEM support costs 

TPM providers may have limited access to firmware or microcode, depending on OEM availability. 
Renew OEM support Post-warranty support and coverage vary for each product and life cycle stage. 

Expensive with potential to increase over time 
Leverage recertified or refurbished Data Centre Hardware Good option for companies wanting to upgrade hardware without undergoing a full refresh, saving CapEx in the long run 

Requires a partner with access to Data Centre Hardware 
Refresh hardware  Purchasing new hardware may be an option if you’re required to maintain compliance, capacity, power and performance standards. 

Often extremely costly and time intensive 
Maintain in-house Option for companies with an extensive human capital budget and IT talent with unique skill sets 

Requires access to replacement parts and hardware 

Next steps for your EOL and EOSL equipment 

Assess your immediate and future needs before identifying what’s next for your EOL or EOSL hardware. According to our 20+ years of research, most data centre hardware remains reliable for over 10 years. There are several factors to consider when outlining your options and alternatives to ensure you’re improving the value of your original investment. Connecting with a third-party maintenance provider can help you weigh your options and advise on the best route forward. 

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