IBM i Modernization Software

Do I need new IBM i software licenses when I move off Power 9 hardware?

Expect a licensing conversation, even when it is not a full repurchase. IBM i and most third-party IBM i software are priced against the processor group, or P-group, of the machine they run on, and Power 10 and Power 11 systems map to their own P-group tables that do not simply mirror Power 9. Moving hardware generations almost always means IBM, and separately every ISV whose software runs on the box, needs to re-issue or reprice entitlements against the new processor group.

Answer

How much this costs and how much friction it creates varies by vendor. Some handle it as a straightforward re-key once the new machine's serial number is on file. Others treat it closer to a new purchase with trade-in credit for the old entitlement. The practical step is building a full inventory of every IBM i license and entitlement tied to the current Power 9 serial number before ordering new hardware, so the licensing cost is part of the budget from the start rather than a surprise after the machine arrives.

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