Does my Power5 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 Power5 model?

No. IBM phased Power5 support withdrawals in stages by machine type and feature code between 2019 and 2020, unlike Power6, which had one shared EOS date.

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What IBM Power5 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 Power5 operators most of all, since this is the oldest Power generation with any meaningful installed base left. 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. Some organizations still run Power5 systems in production today, typically backed by a third-party maintenance contract, though at this age that's an increasingly narrow bet.

See our end-of-support and risk page for the full detail, and our maintenance page for what third-party support can and can't do.

Related Models

IBM eServer i5 570 (9406-570)

You have an i5 570 9406-570. Here's what that means in 2026: one of the most widely deployed Power5 midrange models, outside IBM's standard support since staged 2019-2020 withdrawals.

IBM eServer i5 595 (9406-595)

You have an i5 595 9406-595. Here's what that means in 2026: IBM's flagship enterprise Power5 system, outside IBM's standard support since staged 2019-2020 withdrawals.