Maybe IBM is doing this for the simple reason they don't build P7 processors
anymore and they are running out of them? (they do keep sufficient supplies
for maintenance purposes) Also maybe the P8 will support the two OS
versions available at that time and they don't want to spend the money on
supporting a processor they don't need?
As to peripherals that are not supported, there has been plenty of notice
that those items would not be supported in the future. The future is now.
IBM does not do this to hurt anyone, but IBMs suppliers don't make these
things anymore, and since IBM can't source the parts, they have to drop
support for them.
When you think about it there are plenty of reasons IBM does what it does,
not all of them are within IBMs control.
--
Jim Oberholtzer
Chief Technical Architect
Agile Technology Architects
-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
rob@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2015 6:58 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: Announcement letter 915-050, November 30, 2015, various Power7
and Power7+ processor modules and core activations are being withdrawn
I would suspect, now that IBM has enhanced the range of Power 8 models, that
IBM sees no need to continue marketing new Power 7 machines. Or, why should
people upgrade to new Power 7's when Power 8's are out? This frees up
manufacturing to producing only one line of hardware.
As far as the processor activation goes, if it means what I think it does,
then you should pony up and activate those additional processors before
then, or plan on leaving them dormant. Although I don't see why they would
do that. Maybe they meant they won't be selling any more physical processor
upgrades.
We skipped Power 7 and upgraded from Power 6 to Power 8.
Upgrading from Power 6, and upgrading to 7.2 is what killed most of our old
hardware (actually all except some tape libraries we've recently upgraded).
I don't think upgrading to Power 8 from Power 7, keeping the same OS level,
killed that much hardware. Granted, I don't think Power 8 supports 6.1 but
if you still need to run on that you have some serious issues.
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ssm1platformibmi
http://www-947.ibm.com/systems/support/i/planning/upgrade/suptschedule.html
Rob Berendt
--
IBM Certified System Administrator - IBM i 6.1 Group Dekko Dept 1600 Mail
to: 2505 Dekko Drive
Garrett, IN 46738
Ship to: Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com
From: "Steinmetz, Paul" <PSteinmetz@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'"
<midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 03/02/2015 11:25 PM
Subject: Announcement letter 915-050, November 30, 2015, various
Power7 and Power7+ processor modules and core activations are being
withdrawn
Sent by: "MIDRANGE-L" <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
How will this impact Power7 and Power7+ users?
Do we need to consider an upgrade to Power8?
In a separate and unrelated development, IBM is giving customers who might
want to buy Power7 and Power7+ systems, peripherals for them, or feature
conversions related to them that it will be pulling the plug on a bunch of
iron this coming November 30. In announcement letter 915-050, various
Power7 and Power7+ processor modules and core activations are being
withdrawn, and so are vintage Power 710, Power 730, Power 740, Power 770,
Power 780, and Power 795 machines based on these processors
Thank You
_____
Paul Steinmetz
IBM i Systems Administrator
Pencor Services, Inc.
462 Delaware Ave
Palmerton Pa 18071
610-826-9117 work
610-826-9188 fax
610-349-0913 cell
610-377-6012 home
psteinmetz@xxxxxxxxxx
http://www.pencor.com/
midrange.com
