IBM's Power9 servers have had an impressive run of reliability, robustness, and being built to last. However, as all good things eventually do, Power9 will reach End of Support (EOS) by the end of January.
For many IT teams, that raises a big question:
"Should we purchase extended support to keep things running a little longer?"
While that may sound like the easier option, extended support often costs more than it's worth. Here are five reasons why hanging on to your Power9 might not be the best business move.
1. You're Paying More for Less
Extended support for Power9 systems doesn't come cheap, and it delivers minimal value. You'll pay premium prices for limited fixes and coverage, but your system won't get any faster, more efficient, or smarter.
That same investment could go toward a Power10 upgrade, giving you next-generation performance and long-term stability.
2. No New Enhancements or Performance Gains
Once Power9 reaches EOS, it's essentially frozen in time. You won't receive new firmware updates, OS optimizations, or performance features. That means your workloads can't fully take advantage of hybrid cloud integration, automation tools, or advanced analytics for which IBM Power10, Power11, and Cloud continue to be designed.
3. Security Gaps Start to Grow
IBM ends regular security updates once a system reaches EOS. While extended support may cover some issues, it doesn't protect against new or emerging vulnerabilities. In today's threat landscape, relying on an unsupported server can expose your business to risks and be non-compliant with cybersecurity standards.
4. Hardware Headaches Multiply
Imagine you're a car mechanic looking for a part that is no longer made. As Power9 hardware ages, replacement parts become more complicated (and more expensive) to find. Outages take longer to resolve, and maintenance costs creep upward, often without improving reliability. Paying for extended support doesn't change that reality; it just prolongs the pain.
5. You Miss the Chance to Get up to date
By sticking with Power9 under extended support, you're delaying the inevitable. The Cloud and Power10 aren't just upgrades but platforms built for today's workloads, virtualization, and cloud flexibility. Migrating now allows you to simplify your environment, improve performance, and reduce your total cost of ownership (TCO) over time.
The Smarter Move: Move with Confidence
Regardless of moving to the Cloud of Power10, you are stepping in the right direction. You'll gain improved performance, stronger security, and future-ready scalability while avoiding the Power Trap of legacy support contracts' high costs and limitations.
At Racksquared, we understand the complexity that end-of-support can bring to your organization. We are proud of our experience of helping organizations like yours act strategically towards IBM environments with tailored upgrade paths and managed hosting options designed to fit your business needs.
Ready to talk about your strategy to move you forward?
