With Power11 Coming, the Time to Prepare is Now
Rob McNelly on planning for Power11 and the end of standard service for Power9; plus, he outlines freely available AIX resources and more
Even though it can feel like we have all the time in the world, it has a way of sneaking up on us. If you’re looking ahead to Power11, now is the time to take action and get budgets and project plans approved in advance of the anticipated hardware GA.
Something else to keep in mind is that your current technology may need to be refreshed:
“IBM is announcing End of Standard Service for select models of IBM Power9 systems with an effective date of January 31, 2026. By that time IBM’s Power9 systems will have been available for over 8 years.
“What does this mean for you? After End of Standard Service, IBM no longer provides preventive service, new updates or fixes, or development of new machine code updates, patches, or fixes (including security fixes)….
“You can upgrade your system to the latest IBM Power10 offerings or move your workload to IBM Power Virtual Server (PowerVS) in the IBM Cloud.”
Note that IBM will provide options during your tech refresh transition:
“Here is what you can only get with an IBM Hardware Support Extension: a) IBM certified parts, based on availability b) Per call limited to IBM clients who maintain service with IBM c) The latest IBM certified firmware and machine code d) Maintain access to usage and known defects information e) Receive proactive notifications of product issues and security exposure.”
Longtime readers know how I feel about the adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” In short, it’s precisely the wrong attitude to have with older, unsupported hardware. Even if your hardware isn’t that old, forgoing support isn’t worth the risk.
Getting Started with AIX
I am always looking for ways to get more people exposed to the operating system and trained on how to use it. Some of the best resources are freely available, starting with Nigel Griffiths’s YouTube channel.
I also recommend the recordings of the webinars from the IBM Power Virtual User Group. Also check out the Power VUG technical webinar series archives.
Of course, not everything is a recording. IBM offers its own training options, and IBM Redbooks cover an array of AIX and Power Systems topics. (And don’t assume that the only helpful information is “current.” This Redbook from 2001, last updated at the close of 2004, still serves as a pretty helpful starting point.)
Service Appointments Explained
A periodic reminder from IBM Support:
“There are times when IBM needs to visit your site to give you the help you need with your products. When this is necessary, IBM will work with you to find a convenient time for service appointments. Recent updates to the Support site have made it easier to confirm and reschedule your appointments. In many cases, you can make scheduling changes to your work orders through the Support site, without needing to email or phone IBM.”
invscout Vulnerability
IBM recently issued an alert about a vulnerability in AIX invscout command. The vulnerability could allow a non-privileged local user to execute arbitrary commands. IBM strongly recommends taking immediate action. AIX and VIOS fixes are available for download. That link is a .tar file containing the signed advisory, fix packages, and OpenSSL signatures for each package. The fixes include prerequisite checking. This will enforce the correct mapping between the fixes and AIX Technology Levels.
I wrote about invscout some time back, but it remains a useful tool that allows you to see what needs to be updated.
Two Decades In
This being the new year, I wanted to take a quick look back, as well as look ahead.
I started out writing for my high school newspaper on an electric typewriter. If memory serves, it was an IBM Selectric. I continued writing and editing the campus paper on a computer when I started college. In high school we literally cut and pasted the newspaper into individual pages that were then sent to a printing press. The introduction of computers into this process was a revelation.
I’ve been writing on AIX and Power topics for 20 years now, my article archives go back to 2004. Naturally, much has changed in all that time. And yet, many of the topics I covered back then are things I still write about and comment on today.
For many years (2007-2020, to be precise) I wrote a weekly blog on AIX and Power. I came to see that process as “feeding the beast,” because each week I had to come up with another topic. With TechChannel, the article cadence is monthly. I feel this schedule keeps me engaged. I’m constantly tracking IBM announcements and security alerts, and I’m reading essays and opinions about the tech industry in general.
Over two decades, the computing power on my desk and in my pocket has exploded. The servers in the computer room are vastly more powerful. And yet, my model M keyboard is still clacking away.
I was named a Lifetime IBM Champion, and a great deal of that recognition comes from the words that I have written and continue to write.
My children have grown into adulthood. I have moved three times.
Through it all I have done my best to help customers use their Power machines and manage their AIX environments.
I feel there’s much to look forward to. New updates to the HMC. New updates to the operating system and VIO servers. New problems to solve, and new ways to solve them.
What we do matters. Businesses run on these systems. People’s daily lives, their health and their finances are directly impacted by what we do. Immersed as many of us are with infrastructure and operating systems—as opposed to working with applications and end users—it can be easy to lose sight of that. I try not to.
Will I be writing for another 20 years? No one knows what the future will bring, of course, but I like to think that I’ll still be at it.