IBM Support

5733-OPS Open Source software support statement

Question & Answer


Question

An overall summary of open source support for IBM i can be found at http://ibm.biz/ibmi-oss-support

This document serves to provide a software support statement for the deprecated 5733-OPS (Open Source for IBM i) product.  

Answer


The world of open source continues to rapidly evolve and change. This is also very much the case for the IBM i. Over the past few years, we have seen an increased number of Open Source Technologies added to the IBM i.

Some of the open source technologies for IBM i are created and delivered through a partnership with our solution providers and business partners. Recently, the IBM i development  team has taken a more active role in delivering open source components (most run in the PASE environment) for IBM i. In order deliver these new technologies in a safe manner, a new license program option (5733OPS - Open Source for IBM i) was created in 2014. It has since been replaced with RPM technology.

There is no support (nor has there ever been) for 5733-OPS.  The planning pages indicate that no more fixes will be available after December 15, 2019. After that time, 5733-OPS may no longer be available.

An overall summary of open source support for IBM i can be found at http://ibm.biz/ibmi-oss-support



The following is a more complete formal statement on support, specifically for the 5733-OPS product

The IBM i Open Source Solutions product is governed by an IBM Agreement for Non-warranted license which states "IBM DOES NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT OF ANY KIND, UNLESS IBM SPECIFIES OTHERWISE. " IBM does not provide support. Some of the open source delivered with Open Source Solutions is delivered under its own open source license (e.g. GPL or LGPL),. All in all, not covered via IBM support.

For open source delivered with IBM products, there are two major categories:
a. "third party code": this is either open source or other acquired code and the default terms in the IBM agreements is that it's licensed under the IBM agreement: Here are the terms for third party code:
"12. Third Party Notices

The Program may include third party code that IBM, not the third party, licenses to Licensee under this Agreement. Notices, if any, for the third party code ("Third Party Notices") are included for Licensee's information only. These notices can be found in the Program's NOTICES file(s). Information on how to obtain source code for certain third party code can be found in the Third Party Notices. If in the Third Party Notices IBM identifies third party code as "Modifiable Third Party Code," IBM authorizes Licensee to 1) modify the Modifiable Third Party Code and 2) reverse engineer the Program modules that directly interface with the Modifiable Third Party Code provided that it is only for the purpose of debugging Licensee's modifications to such third party code. IBM's service and support obligations, if any, apply only to the unmodified Program."

Support: For third party code included in an IBM agreement, if the IBM product is fully warranted and supported, the third party code is supported, unless the specific product license specifies otherwise. Products like IBM i Open Source Solutions are provided under a non-warranted license: no warranty, and no support.

b. "Separately Licensed Code": this is open source or other acquired code where the code is licensed to the end user under the open source license or third party license, not licensed by IBM.

Refer to the attachment for the Separately Licensed Code terms. Basically IBM is not licensing, providing warranty, anything. Also:
"Note: IBM may provide limited support for some Separately Licensed Code. If such support is available, the details and any additional terms related to such support will be set forth in the License Information document."

In the case of IBM i Open Source Solutions, the Separately Licensed Code does not have support.

Here is the latest Open Source Solutions license:
The base IBM Agreement for Non-warranted Programs, where you'll see section 12 Third Party Notices:
LA_en.txtLA_en.txt
The IBM i Open Source Solutions program-specific License Information, where you'll see the Separately Licensed Code provisions:
LI_en_IBM i Open Source Solutions.txtLI_en_IBM i Open Source Solutions.txt

The notices file referenced by "Third Party Notices." As mentioned, this code is under the IBM Agreement for Non-warranted Programs:
notices.txtnotices.txt

Related Information

[{"Product":{"code":"SWG60","label":"IBM i"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU058","label":"IBM Infrastructure w\/TPS"},"Component":"Operating System","Platform":[{"code":"PF012","label":"IBM i"}],"Version":"Version Independent","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB57","label":"Power"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
18 December 2019

UID

nas8N1021450