Disadvantages of owning/operating IBM servers?

Question

Iron

Disadvantages of owning / operating IBM servers
Colleagues, we are solving the issue of purchasing various servers, and apparently we will continue to live with this manufacturer.
But I would like to know what real problems you faced when operating IBM servers.
For example: Memory after 3 years cannot be found, or cannot be bought without a service contract. Firmware update only with contract.

Answer 1

Specify about which servers - just x86 is now sort of like Lenovo. From practice on x86 servers - in terms of service, IBM (well, now Lenovo also) has pretty good support, there is good experience in replacing both hard drives and motherboards under warranty. Moreover, they first send a replacement, and after the "repair" they provide a courier to return the faulty hardware. As for memory - after 3 years you can look at the websites of Transcend or Kingston for their memory for your server. As for updating the firmware, I don’t know, now it may have changed, but three months ago I calmly downloaded the updated firmware for the motherboard sent to replace it and updated it to the latest firmware versions. Of the minuses - only the payment of the requested IMM functionality (without an extended key - only viewing, there is no sensible control (KVM). In this regard, I like Supermicro more - everything is there at once. It’s convenient - I stuck the server into the rack a kilometer away (just kidding - in the next room) from myself, turned on the power and the grid to the necessary ports, found the IPMI address - and do whatever you want (the last server started up like that, especially since it there was no physical CD / DVD drive - I installed everything through virtual machines in KVM). Of the minuses of Supermicro - IPMI (KVM) only works with older versions of Java (not higher than 1.6) - i.e. it’s just that you don’t always steer in the browser, but the native control software has its own Java machine and works quietly. especially since there was no physical CD / DVD drive in it - I installed everything through virtual machines in KVM). Of the minuses of Supermicro - IPMI (KVM) only works with older versions of Java (not higher than 1.6) - i.e. it’s just that you don’t always steer in the browser, but the native control software has its own Java machine and works quietly. especially since there was no physical CD / DVD drive in it - I installed everything through virtual machines in KVM). Of the minuses of Supermicro - IPMI (KVM) only works with older versions of Java (not higher than 1.6) - i.e. it’s just that you don’t always steer in the browser, but the native control software has its own Java machine and works quietly.