Product Lifecycle
Abstract
UPDATE 30 April 2023: IBM announces the end of Continuing Support for Db2 effective 30 April 2024. See details here - https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6986871
Content
IBM offers Continuing Support for Db2 and Db2 Connect across select versions and editions when your Db2 software reaches End of Support (EOS). This offering provides you with continued access to the same knowledgeable global support team you are working with today.
World-class software support
Under the Software Subscription and Support (S&S) terms of your IBM Passport Advantage agreement (International Passport Advantage Agreement or International Passport Advantage Express Agreement), you receive comprehensive cross-platform technical assistance from a team of highly skilled support experts.
You also get the following services:
Continuing Support option
Continuing Support extends support for your Db2 software beyond its EOS date. When your Db2 software versions reach their EOS dates and support is no longer available through standard Software S&S, you now have the option for Continuing Support. You no longer need to tackle support issues on your own.
Continuing Support program benefits
This exciting program offers many of the S&S benefits. These benefits include:
World-class software support
Under the Software Subscription and Support (S&S) terms of your IBM Passport Advantage agreement (International Passport Advantage Agreement or International Passport Advantage Express Agreement), you receive comprehensive cross-platform technical assistance from a team of highly skilled support experts.
You also get the following services:
- Flexible upgrade protection.
- Access to the latest software versions and releases.
- Remote technical support.
- 24 x 7 support for business-critical outages.
- Online self-help resources.
- Unlimited electronic and voice access (where available) to world-class global IBM Software Support Centers.
Continuing Support option
Continuing Support extends support for your Db2 software beyond its EOS date. When your Db2 software versions reach their EOS dates and support is no longer available through standard Software S&S, you now have the option for Continuing Support. You no longer need to tackle support issues on your own.
Continuing Support program benefits
This exciting program offers many of the S&S benefits. These benefits include:
- 24 x 7 support for mission critical emergencies (Severity 1)
- Provided by voice in most countries.
- Provided in English, with the local language accommodated when possible.
- Remote problem analysis and assistance during normal country business hours in your time zone.
- Support for routine, short duration installation and usage questions.
- Response time objective of two hours during prime shift for voice and electronic problem submissions.
- Response time objective of two hours for critical or emergency problems during off-shift hours.
- An unlimited number of technical support incidents.
- Access to documentation, tech notes and other online product material.
- Access to existing available fixes to correct known defects, including Security Special Builds.
The Continuing Support offering does not include:
- Voice and electronic access support for code-related problems.
- Development analysis of new defects.
- Development of or packaging fixes that are not already available.
- Support for bundled or included IBM programs (e.g. "Supporting programs" or "Other IBM Programs" identified in the License Information for the Db2 program) and third-party components.
- Infrastructure that is not included in the software version’s Hardware and Software Requirement page.
- Patching any database files for recovery purposes.
Note: Db2 versions that are past their EOS date can contain defects, errors, or security vulnerabilities that are not fixed as part of Continuing Support, and that remain vulnerable to exploitation and disruption of data and service availability. Notwithstanding coverage of these versions under Continuing Support, IBM strongly recommends upgrading to a currently supported version. Your continued use of versions of Db2 that are past their EOS date is done at your own risk, and IBM has no responsibility or liability for any damages arising from such use.
Program participation
To receive Continuing Support, you need only to maintain active S&S for licenses deployed for the Db2 software. If you do not have active S&S, contact your IBM sales representative to discuss reinstatement options.
Complete coverage for mission critical installations
In addition to Continuing Support, IBM still provides the option for Service Extension (SE). For mission critical installations, it is highly recommended that you continue to proactively purchase a Service Extension to receive full defect and development support assistance. By adding this offering, you are maintaining the same full defect support coverage that you received before your product's EOS date, further protecting your installation.
If you require development or defect support assistance after the EOS date for any version, you need to purchase a Service Extension at IBM's specified charge to receive such support. This requirement applies during the life of Continuing Support as well as to an active Upgrade Bridge contract.
Contact your IBM sales representative for more information, or to purchase these options.
Frequently asked questions
For more information
To get more information about the Continuing Support offering, contact your IBM sales representative.
Frequently asked questions
- Why should I take advantage of Continuing Support?
Continuing Support provides flexibility for you to remain up and running on your software version with non-defect Support until you are able to upgrade to the latest version. Continuing Support provides uninterrupted access to many of the benefits of S&S and is more affordable than other options, such as a Service Extension.
- What is the cost of Continuing Support and how do I buy it?
Continuing Support is available when you maintain active S&S for Db2 licenses. To avoid possible delays in receiving Support, you are encouraged to contact your IBM sales representative.
- I am on a Db2 software version that is out of support. How can I benefit from this offering?
Continuing Support is now available to clients running Db2 and Db2 Connect on version 9.7 and later until 30 April 2024. To learn more about the latest Support options for your installations, contact your IBM sales representative.
- Are special builds included with Continuing Support?
Continuing Support assistance provides you with access to preexisting and available fixes. Special builds are NOT created as part of this offering.
- Should I purchase a Service Extension (SE) instead of relying on Continuing Support assistance?
If your business requires the same comprehensive full-defect coverage it relied on before the EOS date, you might want to purchase an SE, if available. An SE is recommended for maximum coverage of your mission critical installations.
- What if I have already purchased a Service Extension (SE) for my software licenses?
You can take advantage of Continuing Support upon expiry of your Service Extension.
- How long will Continuing Support be available?
IBM announced the withdrawal of Continuing Support for Db2 effective 30 April 2024, providing twelve months prior notice of withdrawal.
- Does Continuing Support apply when Db2 is bundled in another product?
Continuing Support is not applicable when Db2 is part of a product bundle. Continuing Support is offered where there is active S&S for licenses deployed for Db2 software only.
- Does Continuing Support apply to products or components bundled in Db2?
Continuing Support does not include support for bundled IBM programs, such as Supporting Programs or other IBM Programs. or programs for third-party components.
- Which versions of Db2 do not have Continuing Support?
On September 30th, 2022, IBM ended Continuing Support for Db2 versions 8.2, 9.1 and 9.5. On 30 April 2023, IBM announced the withdrawal of Continuing Support for Db2 effective 30 April 2024, for all Db2 versions.
See End of Support dates for Db2 LUW here - https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/578841
For more information
To get more information about the Continuing Support offering, contact your IBM sales representative.
Related Information
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Modified date:
02 May 2023
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