IBM Support

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications Software Support Lifecycle Addendum

Release Notes


Abstract

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications adheres to the Support Cycle-2 (SC-2) software lifecycle policy and V.M.F. versioning.

Content

The software support lifecycle policy for IBM Cloud Pak for Applications is now based on the Support Cycle-2 (SC-2) Support Lifecycle Policy. 

Overview

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications (Advanced, Standard, and Limited)  is an enterprise-ready, containerized software solution for modernizing existing applications and developing new cloud-native apps composed of several bundled products (programs) and components.  The bundled products and components may be used separately from one-another, except where otherwise stated by the license.

Individual versions or releases of the bundled products continue to follow their own individual upstream support lifecycles.  Components without a separately defined lifecycle, follow the IBM Cloud Pak for Applications lifecycle. 

Unless otherwise indicated in the license, the relationship between both standard or extended support for IBM Cloud Pak for Applications and a bundled product is as follows:

  • Support is available for currently supported versions or releases of the bundled programs, where "currently supported" refers the programs upstream or standalone distribution. 
  • When support for a deployed version or release of a bundled program is subsequently no longer being made available , support will not be available through IBM Cloud Pak for Applications either. 

These are the bundled products:

  • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform (RHOCP): 

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications support includes support for RHOCP releases within any of the following phases as defined by RedHat: Full Support, Maintenance Support, Extended Support Update and Add-On (Term1) phases.

  • Red Hat Runtimes (RHR): 

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications support includes support for RHR releases within any of the following phases as defined by RedHat: Full Support, Maintenance Support, and Extended Life Support (ELS1) phases.

  • WebSphere Application Server (“base”), WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment, WebSphere Application Server Liberty Core: 

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications support includes support of these products while the bundled products are within "standard support" under the policies of the following documents:

IBM Cloud Pak for Applications Support Lifecycle Policy Addendum

The IBM Cloud Pak for Applications is now based on the Support Cycle-2 (SC-2) Support Lifecycle Policy.  

  • In addition to IBM software and products, Cloud Pak for Applications includes components derived from Red Hat products. Support for all of these is available through your usual IBM Support channels, with defined response goals. If the defect is determined to be in a Red Hat product, then your IBM Support representative will work with Red Hat to resolve the defect and deliver a fix. More details are available in the next section.
  • The numbering scheme for the version of IBM Cloud Pak for Applications is based on  V.M.F. versioning where only a version change starts a new lifecycle.
 

Support Lifecycle Policies of Included Products

As described in the Overview section, Cloud Pak for Applications bundles the products listed below, which continue to exist as standalone products with their own support lifecycle policies. The existing support lifecycle policy of each bundled product remains unchanged even though that product is included in IBM Cloud Pak for Applications.

The ratio table in the license also governs how much of each bundled product can be deployed using Cloud Pak for Applications (Advanced, Standard, or Limited) entitlements. Note that fractional entitlements are not allowed.

For a description of the existing policies that apply, refer to the following links:

Support Schedule for Cloud Pak for Applications

Software support discontinuance, or end of service, for a product is announced at least twelve (12) months before it becomes effective. If you require additional technical support from IBM, including an extension of support beyond the discontinuance date, contact your IBM representative or IBM business partner. 

Related documentation and updates on the support schedule is kept on the IBM Documentation site.

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Document Information

Modified date:
03 November 2025

UID

ibm11136218

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