IBM Storwize and FlashSystem End of Support: Dates and Your Options
IBM Storwize and FlashSystem end of service life dates: Storwize V7000 Gen2, Gen2+, Gen3 and V7000F on Dec 31, 2024; Storwize V5010, V5020, V5030 and V5030F on Dec 31, 2023; Storwize V3500, V3700, V5000 Gen1 and V7000 Gen1 on Dec 31, 2022; FlashSystem 710 to 900, V840, V9000, A9000 on Jan 31, 2018; Earlier models on Dec 31, 2022. 51 of the 51 dated models are already past OEM support and 0 reach it within the next 12 months. Third-party maintenance keeps every one of these systems supported for 5+ years past the OEM date, typically 40-70% below the renewal, across North America, the United Kingdom and Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Latin America.
IBM Storwize and FlashSystem end of service life dates by generation
| Generation | EOSL date | Models |
|---|---|---|
| Storwize V7000 Gen2, Gen2+, Gen3 and V7000F | Dec 31, 2024 (some models Dec 31, 2024 to Dec 31, 2025) | 6 |
| Storwize V5010, V5020, V5030 and V5030F | Dec 31, 2023 | 8 |
| Storwize V3500, V3700, V5000 Gen1 and V7000 Gen1 | Dec 31, 2022 (some models Jul 31, 2020 to Dec 31, 2022) | 24 |
| FlashSystem 710 to 900, V840, V9000, A9000 | Jan 31, 2018 (some models Jan 31, 2018 to Dec 31, 2024) | 11 |
| Earlier models | Dec 31, 2022 | 2 |
Dates are the OEM end of service life as published in our catalog; where a generation has more than one date the range is shown. Every model is listed below.
Why IBM Storwize and FlashSystem systems are still in production
Storwize and the FlashSystem family built on it are IBM's Spectrum Virtualize block platform, and the V5000 and V7000 generations are still the primary storage in many IBM i, AIX and Windows shops.
IBM publishes end of service per machine type and model. The code keeps running; IBM's hardware maintenance and parts supply for that machine type end.
What changes on the end of service life date
- IBM stops selling hardware maintenance for the machine type and stops qualifying new Spectrum Virtualize releases for it.
- Canister, drive, battery, power supply and SFP replacements have to come from outside IBM.
- Call Home to IBM stops creating cases; monitoring moves to the maintainer.
The systems themselves do not change. The OEM's willingness to sell support ends, and the renewals leading up to that date are usually priced to make a refresh look attractive.
Your three options
1. Refresh with the OEM
IBM proposes current FlashSystem 5000 or 7000 models, often with a virtualisation-based migration behind the existing LUNs. The right answer when the systems are at capacity, limiting applications, or the budget cycle has the money anyway. The wrong answer when they are doing their job quietly: a refresh buys newer hardware and another support term at a capital cost that usually exceeds several years of maintenance on what you have.
2. Extend with the OEM to the last date
Possible up to the end of service life date and occasionally beyond under a limited arrangement. The problem is price: final-years renewals are where OEMs recover margin, and each one tends to cost more than the last for the same coverage. It also leaves the deadline in place.
3. Third-party maintenance
Replaces the OEM contract with ours and removes the deadline. For IBM Storwize and FlashSystem systems that means:
- We hold node canisters, drives, batteries, power supplies and SFPs for Storwize V3700 through V7000 Gen3 and the FlashSystem 900 class, and take over Call Home alerting.
- IBM i and AIX environments get engineers who work on those platforms, not generic storage support.
- 24x7 support desk. Engineers on call around the clock, with a named escalation owner for every contract.
- 4-hour onsite in major metros. Four-hour onsite response available in major metro areas; next-business-day everywhere else we cover.
- Spares held for every model we quote. Global parts logistics with forward-stocked spares, so a replacement part is already on its way when you call.
- 5+ years past end of service life. We keep hardware supported long after the OEM date, on your retirement schedule rather than theirs.
What IBM Storwize and FlashSystem maintenance costs
We return an indicative price for IBM Storwize and FlashSystem systems within 24 hours and a firm quote within 48, per unit per year at the response level you choose, with multi-unit, multi-vendor and multi-year discounts.
Parts and engineer onsite next business day; 24x7 phone support.
4-hour onsite response in major metros, business hours.
Mission-critical: 4-hour onsite response around the clock, 365 days.
Every IBM Storwize and FlashSystem model and its EOSL date
Each row links to the model's support page, which carries the same dates, the indicative price and a quote form.
Storwize V7000 Gen2, Gen2+, Gen3 and V7000F (6)
| Model | EOSL date | |
|---|---|---|
| Storwize V7000 (2076-U7A) | Dec 31, 2024 | Get price |
| Storwize V7000 SFF Control Enclosure (2076-624) | Dec 31, 2024 | Get price |
| Storwize V7000F (2076-AF6) | Dec 31, 2024 | Get price |
| Storwize V7000F SFF Control Enclosure (2076-AF6) | Dec 31, 2024 | Get price |
| Storwize V7000F (2076-A9F) | Dec 31, 2025 | Get price |
| Storwize V7000F (2076-AFF) | Dec 31, 2025 | Get price |
Storwize V5010, V5020, V5030 and V5030F (8)
Storwize V3500, V3700, V5000 Gen1 and V7000 Gen1 (24)
FlashSystem 710 to 900, V840, V9000, A9000 (11)
| Model | EOSL date | |
|---|---|---|
| FlashSystem 710 (9830-AS1) | Jan 31, 2018 | Get price |
| FlashSystem 720 (9831-AS2) | Jan 31, 2018 | Get price |
| FlashSystem 810 (9831-AE1) | Jan 31, 2018 | Get price |
| FlashSystem 820 (9831-AE2) | Jan 31, 2018 | Get price |
| FlashSystem 840 | Dec 31, 2019 | Get price |
| FlashSystem V840 | Dec 31, 2019 | Get price |
| FlashSystem 900 | Dec 31, 2022 | Get price |
| FlashSystem V9000 | Dec 31, 2022 | Get price |
| FlashSystem A9000 | Jul 31, 2023 | Get price |
| FlashSystem A9000R | Jul 31, 2023 | Get price |
| FlashSystem 900 (9840-AE3) | Dec 31, 2024 | Get price |
Earlier models (2)
| Model | EOSL date | |
|---|---|---|
| Storwize V7000 Disk System 10 GbE Control Enclosure (2076-312) | Dec 31, 2022 | Get price |
| Storwize V7000 Disk System 10 GbE Control Enclosure (2076-324) | Dec 31, 2022 | Get price |
IBM Storwize and FlashSystem end of support: frequently asked questions
When does IBM Storwize and FlashSystem reach end of support?
Storwize V7000 Gen2, Gen2+, Gen3 and V7000F: Dec 31, 2024. Storwize V5010, V5020, V5030 and V5030F: Dec 31, 2023. Storwize V3500, V3700, V5000 Gen1 and V7000 Gen1: Dec 31, 2022. FlashSystem 710 to 900, V840, V9000, A9000: Jan 31, 2018. Earlier models: Dec 31, 2022. The full list of 51 dated models is on this page, each linking to its own support page and quote form.
Can a Storwize V7000 Gen2 stay supported after IBM end of service?
Yes. Third-party maintenance covers canisters, drives, batteries and power supplies with 24x7 engineering and onsite response for five or more years past the IBM date.
Does leaving IBM hardware maintenance affect our Spectrum Virtualize software support?
Software subscription and support with IBM is a separate agreement and can continue. We cover the hardware; many customers keep IBM on the software until the release they run leaves support.
How much does third-party maintenance for IBM Storwize and FlashSystem cost?
We return an indicative price for IBM Storwize and FlashSystem systems within 24 hours and a firm quote within 48, per unit per year at the response level you choose, with multi-unit, multi-vendor and multi-year discounts.
How far ahead of the IBM Storwize and FlashSystem EOSL date should we decide?
Six to twelve months. That leaves time to compare the OEM's final renewal with third-party maintenance, decide whether to extend or refresh, and move coverage without a gap. The last OEM renewal before the date is usually the most expensive one.