IBM Continuous Delivery Support Lifecycle Policy

IBM Continuous Delivery Support Lifecycle Policy

This page describes the IBM Continuous Delivery (CD) Support Lifecycle Policy.  Additional details and answers to commonly asked questions regarding the CD policy can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page.

The Continuous Delivery software support lifecycle policy (CD support) facilitates a consistent and predictable support experience. Clients will continue to receive the same world-class support and assistance that they are accustomed to from IBM. This support is included for eligible products purchased under the terms of an IBM Client Relationship Agreement (CRA) or the IBM International Passport Advantage Agreement (IPAA).

IBM software products announced with CD support or ‘2+1’ policy, include a minimum of two years of standard product technical support (defect and non-defect). Upon End of Support (EOS), IBM may offer a one-year support extension, for an additional fee.

For IBM software products that are announced with CD support (Policy type "C"), IBM will provide the following technical support to customers with a current Subscription and Support (S&S) or applicable Software Maintenance (SWM) agreement for the minimum two-year period:

  • Standard product technical support (defect and non-defect), which starts on the date the product becomes generally available for purchase. Technical support applies only to the IBM licensed product and its components.
  • New functionality, product maintenance and security updates are delivered via CD update packages at the latest version.
  • Product maintenance and security updates provided through your support agreement will be delivered in the next CD update package. For high severity defects, an interim fix may be provided for the most recent CD update package.
  • New product functionality is not available for previously released CD update packages.
  • Some CD update packages may include significant new functionality and/or updates to IBM software, third-party and open-source software bundled with the product. These updates may require additional testing and more time to install. IBM may optionally declare a recent CD update package as a Long Term Support Release (LTSR), which is supported for a longer period (see below), allowing clients additional time to plan for and install the latest CD update package.
  • A notice of software support withdrawal (End of Support) at least twelve months before the effective date. The support period for products that are affected by this announcement can be found on the IBM Product Lifecycle website.
  • Alignment of the effective date of support withdrawal to occur on common dates, either in the month of April or September.

Long Term Support Release

IBM may elect to declare any CD update package a Long Term Support Release (LTSR). An LTSR does not follow the ‘2+1’ CD support policy; rather an LTSR is supported for a minimum of one year. Standard product technical support (defect and non-defect) for LTSRs includes product maintenance and security updates only (no new functionality) until fix support is withdrawn.


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In Figure 1, Product 1.0 is released as Continuous Delivery, policy type ‘C’, followed by incremental CD update packages. Standard technical support will be provided for a minimum of 2 years, with product maintenance and security updates provided for the most recent CD update package. A CD update package may be declared an LTSR, which is supported for a minimum of one year.  In the example above, clients on LTSR 1.2.0 would be able to remain on that version as it has been declared an LTSR and would be entitled to standard technical support, including product maintenance and security updates for the minimum one year. 

Visit the IBM Product Lifecycle website to determine if CD support is available for your IBM product(s) and to verify the lifecycle dates for other IBM software products.

IBM reserves the right to modify this policy at any time and will communicate any modification and exceptions with a product announcement, a general policy announcement, a support flash, or other form of IBM announcement.

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