IBM Support

Official Support Statement for the IBM WebSphere Application Server Product on the IBM i OS

Question & Answer


Question

What IBM WebSphere Application Server Traditional versions, editions, and fix levels are supported on the IBM i OS releases?

Answer

The IBM WebSphere Application Server Traditional product is supported on the IBM i OS based on the following criteria.
 
1) The IBM WebSphere Application Server Traditional product is only supported on supported versions of the IBM i OS.  If your current IBM i OS VRM is out of support or you do not have an extended support contract, then no support is available for IBM WebSphere Application Server Traditional.
Please refer to the following table and URL regarding the current supported versions of the IBM i OS.

For information on supported releases and subsequent upgrades to newer releases, see IBM i Release support .

IBM i Release Lifecycle

image-20220527111339-1image-20221017071522-2

* All dates are shown in MM/DD/YYYY format.
 

Note 1: End of program support date will be announced with at least 12 months notice prior to the effective termination date.

Note 2: For 6.1, includes both Machine Code Level V6R1M0 and V6R1M1.

Note 3: IBM i 7.1 extended Service Extension started on May 1, 2021. The duration of IBM i 7.1 extended Service Extension is dependent on the Power hardware generation. The extended Service Extension coverage is usage and known defect support, and there some exceptions of products and functions which are not supported. For notes regarding extended Service Extension duration and support coverage, see Service Extension Offering for IBM i 7.1 and 7.2.

Note 4: IBM i 7.2 Service Extension Offering started on May 1, 2021. For details regarding support coverage for the various products in the IBM i portfolio, see Service Extension Offering for IBM i 7.1 and 7.2.

Note 5: The IBM i 7.3 Service Extension Offering will be announced prior to the standard end-of-service date of September 30, 2023.
2) Only current supported versions of the IBM WebSphere Application Server Traditional product are FULLY supported.
FULLY supported = best-effort AND development/defect support

WebSphere Application Server Traditional v9.0 with JDK 8.0 - FULL SUPPORT
WebSphere Application Server Traditional v8.5 with JDK 8.0 - FULL SUPPORT
WebSphere Application Server Traditional v8.5 with JDK 7.0/7.1 - NO SUPPORT - End of Support after July 31st, 2022
WebSphere Application Server Traditional v8.5 with JDK 6.2.6 - NO SUPPORT - End of Support after December 31st, 2017
Reference URLs
End of Support for WebSphere V7.0, V8.0 after April 30th, 2018 & JDK 6.0 after December 31st, 2017
WebSphere Application Server Traditional v8.0, v7.0 and earlier versions - NO SUPPORT (Best effort (Usage and Known Defect) support for Express edition only with IBM i OS Extended Service contract)
Reference URLs
Refer to these URLs for further information:
3) IBM WebSphere Application Server Traditional v8.0.x and v7.0.x Express (Web Enablement only) editions (Base and ND are not included) are still supported on a best-effort (Usage and Known Defect) basis on IBM i 7.1 and IBM i 7.2 (WebSphere Application Server v8.0 Express Web Enablement edition only) with a valid service extension.

NOTE: IBM reserves the right to require clients to download and install the latest IBM i Group PTFs and WebSphere Application Server Fix Pack level for out of support IBM i OS VRMs and WebSphere Application Server versions.

Best-effort (Usage and Known Defect) support is still provided for the IBM Web Enablement 5722-WE2 product on the IBM i OS even though the WebSphere Application Server version and release have reached End of Support (EOS).
4) IBM WebSphere Application Server v6.1.x, v6.0.x, and v5.1.x and earlier versions are no longer supported by IBM. No support will be provided by IBM on these products.

==================================================================================================
Here is a table that summarizes the currently supported versions of IBM WebSphere Application Server Traditional on the IBM i OS
==================================================================================================
Not supported (No) = Technical support is no longer available from IBM without a special extended support contract.
Best effort support = As long as a valid support contract exists for the IBM i OS VRM, clients can create IBM Support cases and IBM Support will assist the best they can. Usage and Known Defect only.  No defect or development support is available.
Full support (Yes)= As long as a valid support contract exists for the IBM i OS VRM, defect and development support is available.
IBM i 6.1 (No Extended Support)
IBM i 7.1 (w/ valid service extension contract)
IBM i 7.2 (w/ valid service extension contract)
IBM i 7.3
 IBM i 7.4 IBM i 7.5
WAS v6.0.x
Express edition
No
N/A
N/A
N/A
 N/A N/A
WAS v6.0.x
Base and ND editions
No
N/A
N/A
N/A
 N/A N/A
WAS v6.1.x
Express edition
No
No
N/A
N/A
 N/A N/A
WAS v6.1.x
Base and ND editions
No
No
N/A
N/A
 N/A N/A
WAS v7.0.x
Express edition
No
Best effort support
7.0.0.7 and later
 N/A
N/A
 N/A N/A
WAS v7.0.x
Base and ND editions
No
No
N/A
N/A
 N/A N/A
WAS v8.0.x
Express edition
No
Best effort support
Best effort support
8.0.0.8 and later
N/A
 N/A N/A
WAS v8.0.x
Base and ND editions
No
No
No
N/A
 N/A N/A
WAS v8.5.x
Express edition
No
Best effort support
Best effort support
8.5.5.9 and later
JDK 8.0 only
Yes
8.5.5.10 and later
JDK 8.0 only
Yes
8.5.5.16 and later
JDK 8.0 only
 N/A
WAS v8.5.x
Base and ND editions
No
Best effort support
Best effort support
8.5.5.9 and later
JDK 8.0 only
Yes
8.5.5.10 and later
JDK 8.0 only
Yes
 8.5.5.16 and later
JDK 8.0 only 
 N/A
WAS v9.0.x
Base and ND editions
N/A
Best effort support
Best effort support
Yes
 Yes
Yes
9.0.5.11 and later
NOTE: N/A indicates the WebSphere Application Server Traditional version and edition is not supported and will not function on the IBM i OS version and release.

For IBM WebSphere Application Server Traditional Base and ND editions that are no longer supported, please refer to the following information if you want to inquire about a Support Extension Offering:

Support Extension Offering, if necessary: 
IBM WebSphere Application Server recognizes that there might be unique situations where a Client is not able to migrate to a supported product version prior to an End of Support date. Application Server may, at its discretion, extend customer technical support and defect support for a withdrawn release. Extended support for a product will be considered and provided on an individual Client basis. Information on how to pursue requesting and purchasing a Support Extension can be found in the IBM WebSphere Application Server Support Extension technote. 

Information about our expanded lifecycle support policy for our IBM WebSphere Application Server products can be found in the IBM Software Support Lifecycle Policy. 

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Document Information

Modified date:
18 October 2022

UID

nas8N1020185

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