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IBM third-party support

Ensure your IBM server, storage, network and software are up and running with the help of third-party maintenance (TPM). Our team of IBM experts work alongside you to meet changing demands, refine hardware refresh strategies and achieve short and long-term goals.  

Maximize performance with IBM support and maintenance

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IBM Hardware Support

Upgrade expectations with proactive IBM hardware support

Gain peace of mind with reliable third-party maintenance for IBM server, storage and network equipment. Eliminate bad days in the data center with the help of knowledgeable engineers, data-driven service insights and hands-on support.

  • 24/7×365 onsite support 
  • Gap coverage
  • EOL & EOSL support 
  • Dedicated primary and secondary engineer
  • Locally stocked parts 
  • Adjustable and penalty-free terms
  • Easy-out agreements and locked-in pricing

IBM i AND AIX SOFTWARE SUPPORT

Unbundle IBM hardware and software support 

Whether your IBM i and AIX operating systems are experiencing system outages, poor performance or replication issues, you can count on our software support team for a quick resolution. 

  • 24/7×365 remote support
  • Dedicated software support team
  • Extended support for older versions
  • Annual health check
  • Layered product support
  • Upgrades, Service Pack and Technology Level updates require OEM entitlement to access — contact us for more information.
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Partner with data center support experts

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30+ years of experience

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Average 10-minute engineer callback

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97% first-trip repair success

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13,000+ IBM products on contract

All IBM supported products

BladeCenter

Flex System

iSeries – AS/400

Power Systems

pSeries – RS/6000

PureFlex

xSeries

zSeries

3584 Tape Library

DS Series

ESS Series

FlashSystem

N Series

PureData System

Storwise


SVC Series

TS Series

XIV

Server Networking

Storage Networking

AIX

IBM i

Understand your equipment life cycle

 Where is your IBM hardware in the product life cycle? Select the year below to discover equipment support options and the next steps for your equipment.

General Availability

New equipment is introduced and made available to consumers. OEM warranties are typically sold with the equipment and vary in timeframes between 1–5+ years.


Support options:

End of Life (EOL) / End of Sale (EOS)

Manufacturers begin sending EOL alerts for equipment. This means the OEM no longer produces, markets or sells the equipment. At this point, firmware, patches or upgrades are reduced.


Support options:


Action:

  • Connect with a third-party maintenance provider if you have immediate concerns regarding bug fixes, security, performance, etc. Third-party software maintenance may be a good fit if firmware or microcode is freely available.
  • Evaluate your immediate and long-term infrastructure strategy. Just because your equipment has approached the EOL milestone doesn’t mean it’s time for a hardware refresh. Your hardware will continue performing well beyond the 6-year lifespan. Consider a third-party maintenance provider to help you extend the life of your equipment and save critical budget dollars.

End of Development (EOD) / End of Service Life (EOSL)

Manufacturers no longer produce, develop, update or support the equipment.


Support options:


Action:

  • Take the time to determine if a hardware refresh is the best decision for your business needs. If your equipment is meeting immediate compatibility, capacity and reliability needs, consider delaying a hardware refresh to extend the life of your investment.

Real customers, powerful solutions

Service Express

Data Center and Network Third-Party Hardware Maintenance

Gartner Peer Insights Custom First
  • 5 Reviewed Nov 8, 2023

    SEI has been a great resource for us. Their techs have been knowledgeable and even when we need only parts shipped to sites that have our own staff, they always make sure we

    (read more)
  • 5 Reviewed Oct 27, 2023

    Service Express has made it easier for us to keep our legacy hardware past the OEM support contract. When it comes time to renew most of our purchases we usually check first

    (read more)
  • 5 Reviewed Oct 27, 2023

    I could not have asked for better customer support, which includes technical design and architecture, understanding of our requirements and pain points, and post-sale support

    (read more)
  • 5 Reviewed Oct 31, 2023

    Fantastic experience overall – Service Express has been very flexible and responsive. They came in at a price point that worked for the organization and are very easy to work

    (read more)
  • 5 Reviewed Jul 31, 2023

    The engineers are well experienced and have good knowledge. They have timely responses.

    (read more)
  • 5 Reviewed Jul 21, 2023

    Service Express has provided hardware services for our older servers and storage well after the manufacturer has dropped support and they do it for much less.

    (read more)
  • 5 Reviewed Jul 17, 2023

    They truly try to help customers save money without sacrificing support or degraded service. This service will truly help you optimize your budget dollars and extend the life of technology hardware.

    (read more)
  • 5 Reviewed Jul 13, 2023

    Switching Service Express is the best decision we have made

    (read more)
  • 5 Reviewed May 1, 2023

    We had a great experience with them. They are more concerned with getting things fixed for us than making sure they get paid. We had one location that was not in the contract.

    (read more)

IBM maintenance FAQ

EOL and EOSL are terms used to indicate an equipment life cycle stage related to OEM support, updates and development. Your hardware will continue to perform well after its EOL or EOSL milestone. View our EOL vs. EOSL Tip Sheet to learn more about what these terms mean for your equipment. 

Our team of IBM experts can help you determine what equipment is best to remain on OEM maintenance or switch to third-party maintenance. We’re always available to discuss your options — contact us to get started. 

Switching to third-party software support ensures your IBM hardware continues to operate at peak performance without the high price tag. 

  • Access to our dedicated software support team without phone trees or delayed callbacks  
  • Assistance troubleshooting performance and reconfiguration issues 
  • Maintain legacy equipment without upcharges or penalties 
  • Easily make changes as they occur with flexible coverage 

Contact us for more information about third-party software support.  

Coverage that meets your needs

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24/7

30-minute engineer callback

Four hour onsite response

24/7×365

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Same business day

30-minute engineer callback

Four hour onsite response

M–F, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

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Next business day

30-minute engineer callback

Next business day onsite response

M–F, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

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Custom

Need a customized solution?

We’ll work with you to create an SLA that meets your needs.

Other IBM services

Improve efficiency, stability, security and performance. Our team of certified engineers, technicians and consultants are
committed to helping you protect and extend the life of your IBM equipment.

Additional resources

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Videos

What is Third-Party Maintenance (TPM)?

EPISODE TWO Our In a Flash video series aims to educate IT professionals on popular topics and solutions for data centers in a concise and straightforward way.   In this episode, Service Express IT aficionado, Chad, covers the basics of third-party maintenance and how it fits into your overall data center maintenance strategy. How is third-party data center maintenance different than OEM support? What […]

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Articles & Insights

Third-Party Maintenance (TPM) vs OEM Support

OEM support vs. third-party support – be prepared with what to know for each: how costs differ and why, coverage and service offers of each, flexibility and support options for both, is there possibility of customization?Which fits your needs better? Which option should you choose?

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Discover what’s next for your IBM hardware and software support