Software for members (Eligible product list)
IBM Academic Initiative members can get full versions of a large selection of IBM software, at no charge. Most of the software can be downloaded from the Software Catalog, and a few additional products are available on CD by request. Members can also request virtual access to some software through the Amazon Web Services cloud or to IBM Power Systems or System z enterprise computing environments.
To download or request any IBM software, you must be a member of the IBM Academic Initiative. Not a member? Join now!
Download full-version software
All software downloads are available to members at no charge. The Software Catalog contains products from each IBM software brand (Information Management, Lotus, Rational, Tivoli, and WebSphere) that you can use to teach about database management, team collaboration, software development, systems performance and management, Web services, and many other technologies.
You can search for software in the catalog by specifying text (such as a product name), a category, or a part number.
Request software on CDs
Only the products listed below are available on CD. Please note that each Academic Initiative member may request a maximum of one CD per product. We do not offer a CD that contains all of our products; you must request each product CD individually.
- AIX operating system and documentation
- Cluster Systems Management for AIX and Linux
- Deep Computing Visualization for Linux and Windows
- Engineering and Scientific Subroutine Library (ESSL) for AIX and Linux
- Parallel ESSL and Parallel Environment for AIX and Linux
- Performance Toolbox and Performance AIDE for AIX
Request virtual access
IBM Academic Initiative members can get no-charge remote access for themselves and their students to an IBM mainframe system or IBM Power Systems. They can also get access to IBM software in a cloud environment.
Get remote access to mainframe systems
Members can give their students the opportunity to explore, learn, and perform course lab exercises in a real mainframe environment without having to install and maintain the system — all at no charge.
Request access to IBM mainframe systems
Note: Specify which courses you plan to teach and the number of educator and student IDs you need.
Get remote access to Power Systems
Members can get no-charge access to the latest Power Systems technology for teaching purposes — without the expense of owning and maintaining your own system. The IBM Power Systems Connection Center, managed by Systems Education Association Limited (SEAL), will work with you to understand your application requirements, set up your student profiles, as well as handle other administrative responsibilities.
Preview the environment before getting access Request access to IBM Power Systems
Get remote access through Amazon Web Services cloud
IBM software is now available in the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) virtual environment. The cloud offers Development Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) of full-function code for a growing set of Information Management, Lotus and WebSphere software products.
Learn more about the AMIs that are available
For a limited time, Academic Initiative members can obtain teaching grants to provide their students with no-charge usage of select IBM products. The grants will provide up to $100 USD in free usage for each student enrolled in degree-earning courses at accredited institutions. Other limitations may apply.