HMC

 View Only

  • 1.  obtaining firmware for a power system via some type of bid ask

    Posted Fri September 25, 2020 05:48 PM
    Hi HMC group, I am trying to obtain the latest firmware for an 8202-E4B Power 720 system that I obtained in the market place. I do not have a maintenance agreement for the machine which is almost 10 years old, with IBM.  I have read in various IBM pubs / web pages about a Bid process for non IBM customers, whereby you provide a serial number, and some other information, like the machine location, and some organization within IBM provides you with a bid price for the machine firmware.  Then if you accept the ask(ing) price for the firmware, you are allowed to obtain the firmware solution thru IBM FIX Central and then you can apply it via an HMC or thru ASMI.

    The last IBM-ER I contacted suggested that I ask the Power Systems group.  I chose the HMC group to post because I probably will use HMC to apply the firmware.  I am very reluctant to call again at IBM hardware support as I was told it was their policy that they (IBM hardware), will charge for 4 hours at $80 USD an hour just to "open" an incident with me,  I hope someone here may have undergone the process I have described, and can help direct me to the appropriate person or tell me to to just put the machine in the garbage can, which would be a significant loss for me. 

    Anyone here have some suggestions? Much appreciated. Thanks. Gary Rupp

    ​

    ------------------------------
    Gary Rupp
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: obtaining firmware for a power system via some type of bid ask

    IBM Champion
    Posted Mon September 28, 2020 10:53 AM
    Gary,

    Hi, good day to you.  I'm Emailing my IBM contacts to see what is doable and will post their reply when it arrives.

    Regards, Steve

    ------------------------------
    Steve Munday
    AIX, IBM i, PowerVM
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: obtaining firmware for a power system via some type of bid ask

    IBM Champion
    Posted Thu October 01, 2020 03:33 AM
      |   view attached
    Gary,

    Hi, I've heard back from my IBM contacts.

    This link provides information regarding IBM maintenance and who to contact for both hardware and software maintenance service extensions for product that have been withdrawn from standard IBM hardware maintenance support.
    https://www.ibm.com/services/technology-support/hardware-software

    NOTE: One thing to point out is that the 8202-E4B went "end of support" effective Sep-30-2019, I've attached the announcement letter. IBM should still be able to support in the near term. The maintenance price is going to be depend on the number of billable feature codes installed in the machine.

    Hope the info is of some use.

    Regards, Steve

    ------------------------------
    Steve Munday
    AIX, IBM i, PowerVM
    ------------------------------

    Original Message