Cloud based IBM i

With cloud based IBM i available from a number of providers, and more on the way, I wonder how some of this works. For example I am reading one provider provides the data center space but " IBM will be responsible for maintaining all the hardware, firmware, and system software in the ... data center. The customer, meanwhile, will be responsible for maintaining everything from the operating system on up. That means that IBM will apply firmware updates, but it's the customer's job to apply operating systems PTFs and to run backups.".
The data center mentioned has no external replication (yet) to a remote DC. And I wouldn't want to assume they replicate locally.

When they do a disruptive firmware upgrade do they just say plan on an outage at this date/time? I assume that even if you have wonderful replication you can expect a 5250 session to drop, and a disruption in a file transfer. Me, I could accept that. Even my bank posts on their site when they are planning outages. And it's not some local mom & pop bank.

Do they keep hardware forever? Let's say you're one of those customers who wants to continue running 7.3 even when it becomes obsolete and no longer supported on newer hardware, or does something asinine like drop support for Infor. Does the provider say "tough cookie, we're upgrading to this model of hardware with this serial number which supports only these versions of OS and y'all better have a plan to be ready"?

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