Does my Power6 server stop working on its end-of-support date?

No. The hardware continues to function exactly as it did the day before. What ends is IBM's commitment to hardware maintenance, machine code updates, and security patches for that model.

Is end of support the same for every Power6 model?

Yes, for Power6 specifically, IBM set one shared EOS date of March 31, 2019 for all Power6 and Power6+ machines, per announcement letter 917-163.

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What IBM Power6 End of Support Actually Means

Updated August 22, 2026

"End of support" is one of the most misunderstood phrases in enterprise IT, and it matters for Power6 operators, because every Power6 and Power6+ system reached its date on March 31, 2019. Here is exactly what does and does not change.

What stops

Hardware maintenanceIBM no longer commits to break-fix support or parts availability

Firmware (machine code) updatesNo further IBM-issued microcode releases, including security patches

New IBM support contractsIBM will not sell a new standard maintenance contract for the model

What doesn't stop

The hardware itself keeps running exactly as before. Many organizations run Power6 systems in production well past the EOS date, typically backed by a third-party maintenance contract to cover hardware break-fix support.

See our end-of-support and risk page for the full detail, and our maintenance page for how organizations extend Power6's life responsibly.

Sources

https://www.itjungle.com/2017/09/25/ibm-inks-end-support-power6-power7-iron/

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