IBM i License topics

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IBM i will enable the transfer of IBM i processor and user (when applicable) entitlements from one machine to another within the same end user's enterprise under certain qualifying conditions.

IBM i Processor and User Transfer Guide GI11-9824-23 (386 KB) - Updated July 2022

IBM i License Transfer Configuration and FAQ (5 MB) - December 2015

As announced in June of 2022, many Licensed Program Products (LPPs) for IBM i are now zero priced.

IBM i Portfolio Simplification (100 KB) - Effective June 2022

IBM offers a set of containerized applications that will act as a set of guides, or patterns, to help IBM i software developers more easily take on the task of moving into a DevOps, modular, services-oriented world. The IBM i Merlin tools will make it easier for clients to use a combination of on-premises IT infrastructure and one or more clouds.

IBM i Merlin Overview

IBM i Merlin Frequently Asked Questions (178 KB) - August 2, 2022

IBM offers you the ability to acquire a virtual serial number and assign it to a logical partition, also known as a virtual machine (VM). IBM i software can then be ordered on or transferred to the virtual serial number rather than a IBM Power machine serial number.

Virtual Serial Number with IBM i (196 KB) - January 25, 2022

• Service Extension for IBM i 7.1 and IBM i 7.2 - February 2021
• IBM i 7.1 on selected Power Systems S922 and E980 servers - December 2021
• IBM i Group SWMA Products
• Licensed Program Products (LPPs) for i with separate SWMA
• IBM i Support Roadmap  includes roadmap, service extension dates, and FAQs regarding IBM i SWMA and service extensions.
• IBM i Release Lifecycle
• IBM Software Support Lifecycle Policy
• Java and IBM i
• 5250 Enterprise Enablement (5250 EE) 60-day Activation

• Download the form Request for designation of primary and backup machine pairing . (Request temporary keys for a backup machine)

• Hot, Warm, Cold Backup Solutions and Policy for Disaster Recovery Testing - February 2018

• PowerHA SystemMirror for i 7.5 Upgrade Information - January 2023

• Capacity Backup (CBU) offerings

  • IBM Capacity Backup for Power Systems  has details regarding CBU for i and CBU for Enterprise Systems.

  • Refer to CBU for i with PowerHA  for the latest information on environments with CBU for i and PowerHA for i. 

• For MSP licensing options in HA/DR environments, refer to IBM i MSP Licensing Options . The document refers to the following offerings:

  • IBM Capacity Backup for Power Systems  has details regarding CBU for i.   Refer to the CBU license agreement for the latest terms and conditions for CBU, including Virtual CBU.

  • VM Recovery Manager DR (VMR DR)  is a disaster recovery solution based on virtual machine restart technology. 

As of January 8, 2019: IBM changed the ordering of IBM Query for i (5770-QU1), formerly known as Query/400, and IBM Db2 Web Query for i (5733-WQX). Previously, Query for i was bundled with Db2 Web Query orders. Now Query for i is available to order separately and no longer bundled with Db2 Web Query. Refer to the January 8, 2019 announcement letter "IBM Db2 Web Query for i and IBM Query for i offer more flexible ordering".

•   IBM i products which are available via IBM i Temporary Licensing (5733-ITL)
•   IBM Advanced Function Printing (AFP) Utilities for i (5770-AF1) Adjusted Plan
•   What happened to Application Runtime Expert (5733-ARE), Facsimile Support for i (5798-FAX), and other Program Products for i?
•   Map Systems and IBM i Version/Releases
•   Java and IBM i
•   IBM i Self-Serve Interim Keys
•   IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) and IBM i
• 5250 Enterprise Enablement 60-day Activation

This Web site provides access to and management support for IBM i and System i program entitlements and software keys. IBM i and AIX customers will also find Web initiated release upgrades, electronic software download and software maintenance inventory information support.

Entitled Software Support (ESS)

Note: Refer to IBM i Self-Serve Interim Keys for details on one method to acquire emergency temporary keys for qualifying situations.

For more information on ESS, go to the Entitled Software Support (ESS) Web site: Registration and User Guides . These documents provide a detailed overview of ESS web site functionality.