Navigating Your Power System Upgrade Path: Beyond a Simple Power11 Purchase

The end of official IBM support for Power8, and the upcoming withdrawal of support for Power9 in early 2026, present pivotal moments for users of IBM Power Systems. 

 While the instinct at board-level may be to see this as a compliance risk, the reality is more nuanced. The question is not simply “Do we upgrade?”, but rather “What is the most strategic and cost-effective path for our business?” 

Continuing with a Power8 or Power9 system on Extended Support may seem like a viable short-term solution. However, this approach can incur significant and often overlooked costs. Extended Support for hardware plus Software Extension fees can accumulate rapidly, potentially costing your business tens of thousands of pounds annually. Conversely, a move to the latest IBM Power technology (either Power10 or Power11) can be a strategic investment that comes with three years of hardware and software support included, significantly reducing your total cost of ownership (TCO) from day one.  

 Key considerations for your migration strategy: 

• TCO Analysis: 
  Covenco can demonstrate how the savings from three years of free support on a new system could outweigh the cost of new hardware, providing a compelling business case for your finance department. 

• Application Migration: 
  The transition involves more than just lifting and shifting your workloads. Covenco can help you with the necessary hardware and associated skills so you can conduct testing on the latest environment and operating system.

• Tactical Considerations for Scale Out Systems Users: 
  For smaller ‘Scale Out’ users, a move to a S1014 Power10 offers a powerful and supported platform now with three years of support included by IBM – positioning you for future advancements, including the eventual release of a suitable Power11 equivalent*. 

• Future Proofing:
  Take advantage of POWER11’s improved Security features, in built AI capabilities and more… 

Don’t make a decision based on incomplete information, and don’t continue paying through the nose for expensive extended support.

Contact us and talk to Covenco’s IBM Power team today to explore your options. We can provide a customised TCO report, uniquely factoring in your specific application migration pathways, to help you make an informed decision that safely drives genuine business value.  

*At the time of writing, Single Socket Scale-Out Power11 Systems are not due for release until mid 2026.

Migrating to IBM Power11 – A roadmap for a successful IBM Power migration project.