Hi.............

That has been like that for years.  X-servers, p-servers, storage systems, etc. 
need to be on at least NBD IBM hardware support to get firmware code.  My boss 
has not been happy with IBM hardware support when IBM made the change a few 
years ago.  So, we placed most of our IBM hardware on NBD IBM hardware support 
so we have access to current firmware versions.

-----Original Message-----
From: ADSM: Dist Stor Manager [mailto:ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU] On Behalf Of 
Ryder, Michael S
Sent: Monday, June 09, 2014 9:49 AM
To: ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
Subject: Re: [ADSM-L] When did IBM become so closed (kinder word than I was 
going to use)?

I don't know, but it's probably within the past 6 months.  HP started the same 
campaign on 1-Jan-2014.

It's a ridiculous - you pay for the hardware, and expect to be able to keep at 
least the firmware up-to-date.

Best regards,

Mike, x7942
RMD IT Client Services


On Mon, Jun 9, 2014 at 10:40 AM, Zoltan Forray <zforray AT vcu DOT edu> wrote:

> <rant on>
> I went out looking for firmware updates for my IBM 3592E06 drives that 
> live in my IBM 3583 Library.  I realized I needed to go to Fix Central 
> from the last time I went looking (a year ago) and couldn't find them 
> on the FTP site.
>
> What I wasn't expecting is the need for my tape drive serial numbers.  
> Then after supplying one of them, I was denied the firmware since our 
> drives are not under an IBM maintenance contract.
>
> Anybody care to share?
> <rant off>
>
> --
> *Zoltan Forray*
> TSM Software & Hardware Administrator
> BigBro / Hobbit / Xymon Administrator
> Virginia Commonwealth University
> UCC/Office of Technology Services
> zforray AT vcu DOT edu - 804-828-4807
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