IBM Power5 FAQ
Real buyer questions about IBM Power5 end-of-support status, third-party maintenance, and migration.
How do I find out exactly which Power5 model I have?
Check the machine type/model label on the physical unit, or run WRKHDWRSC / DSPSYSVAL in IBM i, or lscfg -vp | grep -i model in AIX. It reads as a 4-digit machine type, a dash, then a 3-character model code, for example 9406-570 for an i5 570. See our Identify Your Power5 page for the full model-to-machine-type table.
I'm still running Power5. How serious is that?
More serious than it feels day to day. Power5 hardware has been outside IBM's standard support for years, on parts sourced only from decommissioned units, running an IBM i release that is itself years past its own end of program support. It's the oldest generation with any meaningful installed base left, which usually means the replacement decision has been deferred multiple times already.
When exactly did IBM end support for Power5?
In stages, by machine type, between January 2019 and October 2020, roughly 15 years after the line launched in 2004. There was no single shared date the way there was for Power6; check your exact machine type and feature code against IBM's own withdrawal documentation for the precise figure.
Should I migrate to Power6 or Power7 first, or go straight to current hardware?
Go straight to current generation. Power6, Power7, and Power8 are all themselves out of, or close to, IBM's standard support, so landing on one of them just relocates the same risk this site exists to help you avoid, for the cost of a second migration project later. See our migration paths page.
How much slower is Power5 than current Power hardware, really?
Dramatically. Seven processor generations separate Power5 from Power11, spanning core-count increases, per-core performance gains, and architectural changes like Micro-Partitioning's evolution into modern PowerVM. A direct CPW comparison isn't close.
Can I still get replacement parts for Power5 hardware?
Not from IBM directly. Third-party maintenance providers source parts from decommissioned units and specialized inventory, but supply for hardware this old is a shrinking pool, not a manufactured one.
What's the difference between the eServer i5 and eServer p5 lines?
Same POWER5 processor family, different operating system focus and machine types. The i5 line (9406 series) ran i5/OS, now IBM i. The p5 line (9111/9113/9117/9119 series) ran AIX or Linux. IBM renamed them System i and System p in 2006, then unified both into Power Systems in 2008.
What's the newest IBM i release Power5 can run?
Power5 hardware tops out around IBM i 6.1, several releases behind what even Power6 supports, and far behind current IBM i. That release reached its own end of program support long ago.
How much does migrating off Power5 cost?
There's no meaningful generic number, it depends entirely on the target generation and model, IBM i user count and software tier, and migration services scope. See our resource library and directory for reseller and service partner discovery to get a specific quote.
Does running Power5 create a compliance problem?
Often, yes, and more acutely than with newer legacy hardware. Running core business systems on hardware this far outside vendor support, on an operating-system release this old, is a common finding in security and compliance reviews, regardless of whether the hardware is currently stable.
What did Power5 replace?
POWER4-based iSeries and pSeries hardware. POWER5, released in 2004, added Micro-Partitioning and simultaneous multithreading, capabilities POWER4 didn't have.