IBM Storage Scale Software Version Recommendation Preventive Service Planning

• ✓ Security updates
• ✓ Bug fixes
• ✓ New features and improvements

Limited Support Contract (Using the final 5.1.9.x PTF available as of Oct 1, 2025)

• Check your current version and plan your upgrade accordingly by consulting the following deployment guides:
  • Storage Scale Upgrade via the preferred method of using the installation Toolkit
  • IBM Storage Scale Toolkit Quick deploymentGuide
  • IBM Storage Scale System Quick Deployment Guide
  • IBM Storage Frequently Asked Questions Overview
  • IBM Storage Scale Software interoperablility table
• Ensure that you are subscribed for product notifications by registering at the following link here.
• To obtain IBM Storage Scale Product Services to help you through your upgrade, contact the IBM Technology Expert Labs infrastructure services team:
  • https://www.ibm.com/products/expertlabs/infrastructure
  • Email for Expert Labs: systems-expert-labs@ibm.com
    • Please reference subject of Scale Upgrade

Detailed information on the product fixes contained within IBM Storage Scale v5.x releases can be found here.

Scale alerts and notifications can be found here.

The latest release stream is where new features and functions are introduced in the IBM Storage Scale product.  Additionally, this release stream will include all fixes that have been completed to address functional, performance, or security problems reported for IBM Storage Scale.  Generally, one or two updates, PTFs, are provided for the latest release stream before a new latest release stream is released.  The intent of the latest release stream is to get new feature and function into the product.  Customers who either need the new feature/function or are willing to do release upgrades often (usually once a year), are the intended users for the latest release stream.

The EUS release stream receives regular updates, PTFs, over an extended period of time, nominally 18 months.  The updates, PTFs, for the EUS stream are released every 7-10 weeks and include functional and security fixes and may include performance fixes.  The EUS stream is intended for customers that prioritize release stability over the integration of new features and functions.  Customers are expected to apply updates, PTFs, regularly, minimally once a year, to stay current with fixes made to the release stream.

Generally, EUS releases are planned to overlap by three to six months to support managed migration.

Note that, while it is IBM’s goal to incorporate all fixes, including security fixes, into an EUS release, it may not always be feasible to do so. There may be some fixes or updates that require the latest IBM Storage Scale code base for delivery because they are too large or pervasive to be retrofitted safely, without posing an unacceptable stability risk. In such instances, customers may need to update to a new release or modification level to obtain the corresponding fix or update.

Details regarding the actual lifecycle of Storage Scale releases can be found on the Product lifecycle page by entering “Storage Scale” in the search field.

The Container Native Storage Access (CNSA) and Container Storage Interface (CSI) products are based upon very dynamic and fast-moving community projects and therefore do not adhere to the general EUS approach described above.

IBM's statements regarding its plans, directions, and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice at IBM's sole discretion.

Release nomenclature at IBM

IBM identifies software using a four-digit string formatted as: V.R.M.F

• V = Version number (“5.0.0.0”)
  • Indicates a separate IBM licensed program that usually has significant new code or new function
  • Typically has new part numbers
  • Typically, major feature changes
  • Can include OS currency updates
• R = Release number (“5.1.0.0”)
  • Feature changes
  • Can include OS currency updates
• M = Modification level (“5.1.4.0”)
  • Can include new functionality
  • Can include OS currency updates
• F = Fix pack, commonly known as PTF (“5.1.4.1”)
  • Security and functional fixes
  • No new functionality
  • Can include OS currency updates

Summary of the intended release cadence for IBM Storage Scale:

• New version release (V.R) every three years or more
• New modification (M) level approximately every 3-6 months
• Extended Update Support (EUS) release approximately every 18 months
  • Approximately every sixth modification (M) level comes with EUS
  • Subsequent EUS releases are planned to overlap by three to six months to support managed migration
• Customers can regularly apply updates to their IBM Storage Scale systems
  • By applying PTFs released for the EUS stream
  • By moving to each successive modification (M) level
• The Container Native Storage Access (CNSA) and Container Storage Interface (CSI) products are based upon very dynamic and fast-moving community projects and therefore do not adhere to the general EUS approach
• IBM's statements regarding its plans, directions, and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice at IBM's sole discretion.