Third-party maintenance
IBM Third Party Maintenance
Save 40-60% vs IBM Hardware Maintenance. Full coverage for IBM System x servers and storage.
With over 6,500 IBM-compatible parts in our catalog, ICD is one of the few maintenance providers that can still source processors, memory, drives, ServeRAID controllers, and power supplies for IBM’s entire x86 server portfolio. When IBM and Lenovo have moved on, ICD has not.
40-60%Cost savings
24hQuote reply
6,500+IBM parts available to order
Per ContractResponse levels
Service tiers
Silver — ICD Parts+
- Response: NBD / 8H
- Coverage: 8×5 (Sun-Thu 9AM-5PM)
- Parts: Next Business Day
- Remote Diagnostics: Phone & email
- Best For: Legacy systems with low criticality, archival servers, test environments
Gold — ICD Care+
- Response: 4H
- Coverage: 24×7
- Parts: 4-Hour urgent, advance replacement
- On-Site Engineer: ICD engineer
- Monitoring: Proactive alerting via IBM IMM/IMM2 integration
- Best For: Production legacy systems, application servers still running critical workloads
Platinum — ICD Care+ Premium
- Response: 2H
- Coverage: 24x7x365
- Parts: 2-Hour emergency, on-site depot
- On-Site Engineer: Priority dispatch + escalation
- Monitoring: Predictive failure alerts
- Account Manager: Dedicated single point of contact
- Best For: Mission-critical IBM infrastructure with no migration path, compliance-bound systems
Supported IBM models
ICD supports the complete IBM x86 server catalog. All of these models are EOSL — IBM no longer provides hardware maintenance for any of them.
System x M2 Series All EOSL
x3100 M2x3200 M2x3250 M2x3400 M2x3500 M2x3550 M2x3650 M2x3755 M2x3850 M2
System x M3 Series All EOSL
x3100 M3x3200 M3x3250 M3x3400 M3x3500 M3x3530 M3x3550 M3x3620 M3x3630 M3x3650 M3x3690 X5x3755 M3x3850 X5x3950 X5
System x M4 Series All EOSL
x3100 M4x3250 M4x3300 M4x3500 M4x3530 M4x3550 M4x3630 M4x3650 M4x3750 M4x3850 X6x3950 X6
System x M5 Series All EOSL
x3250 M5x3500 M5x3550 M5x3650 M5x3850 X6 (M5 refresh)
System x M6 Series All EOSL
x3250 M6x3550 M6 (transitioned to Lenovo ThinkSystem)
IBM BladeCenter All EOSL
HS12HS21HS22HS22VHS23HS23EHX5BladeCenter EBladeCenter HBladeCenter SBladeCenter T
IBM Flex System All EOSL
Flex System x220x222x240x240 M5x280 X6x440x880 X6Flex System ManagerFlex System Enterprise Chassis
IBM Storage
Storwize V3500V3700V5000V5010V5030V7000XIV Storage SystemDS3500DS4700DS5000DS5020DS5300DS8000 seriesFlashSystem 810/820/840/900/V9000
What’s included
Genuine Replacement PartsOEM-compatible IBM System x components — Xeon processors, DDR3/DDR4 DIMMs, SAS/SATA drives, ServeRAID controllers (M5014-M5210), Emulex/QLogic HBAs, power supplies, fans, and cabling
On-Site LaborHardware installation and replacement by trained engineers (Gold and Platinum tiers)
Remote DiagnosticsPhone, email, and remote session troubleshooting to isolate hardware faults before dispatch
Firmware UpdatesGuidance and support for IBM IMM/IMM2, UEFI, ServeRAID, and adapter firmware updates
Hardware MonitoringIntegration with IBM IMM2 and IBM Systems Director for proactive failure detection (Gold and Platinum)
Flexible Contracts1-year, 3-year, or 5-year agreements with no auto-renewal traps. Defined escalation paths with SLA-backed resolution targets.
ICD vs IBM Hardware Maintenance
| IBM Hardware Maintenance | ICD Third Party Maintenance | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Discontinued for most System x models | Available for all IBM System x |
| Annual Cost | $$$$+ (if available at all) | 40-60% less than last IBM pricing |
| Parts Supply | IBM exited x86 — parts supply uncertain | 7,104 IBM parts in our active catalog |
| Multi-Vendor | IBM only | IBM + Dell + HPE + Lenovo + Cisco + NetApp |
| Response Time | Varies (if available) | NBD / 8H to 2H by tier |
| Migration Pressure | Pushes to Lenovo or IBM Power | Zero — we support what you run |
IBM sold its x86 business over a decade ago. Finding genuine IBM hardware maintenance today is nearly impossible through official channels. ICD fills that gap with a dedicated IBM parts supply and engineers who know the System x platform inside and out.
End-of-life & end-of-service-life coverage
Every IBM System x model — from the M2 series through the X6 platform — has reached end of service life, by the dates in Lenovo’s end-of-service lookup.
System x M2/M3Lenovo end of service 2019-2021. ICD covers them.
System x M4Lenovo end of service 2019-2022. ICD covers them.
System x M5/M6Transitioned to Lenovo, which ended service for the M5 models between 2021 and 2025. ICD covers them.
BladeCenter & Flex SystemEntire platforms EOSL. ICD covers all models.
If your IBM servers still run your workloads, ICD keeps them maintained. Period.
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone still provide official IBM support for System x servers?
IBM sold its x86 server business to Lenovo in 2014. Lenovo initially provided transitional support but has since focused on its own ThinkSystem line. Third party maintenance providers like ICD are now the primary source of hardware support for IBM System x servers.
Are IBM System x parts still available?
Yes, through the secondary market. ICD maintains over 6,500 IBM-compatible part numbers. Common components like DDR3/DDR4 memory, SAS drives, ServeRAID controllers, and power supplies remain readily available.
I have both IBM System x and Lenovo ThinkSystem servers. Can ICD cover both?
Absolutely. ICD covers the full lineage from IBM System x through Lenovo ThinkSystem under a single maintenance agreement. This is especially valuable for organizations that have been gradually transitioning from IBM to Lenovo but still operate both platforms.
Does ICD cover IBM BladeCenter chassis, not just the blades?
Yes. ICD covers the complete BladeCenter ecosystem — chassis (E, H, S, T), compute blades (HS22, HS23, HX5), I/O modules, management modules, and power modules. We also support IBM Flex System chassis and compute nodes.
My IBM x3650 M4 runs a compliance-bound application that cannot be migrated. Can ICD help?
This is exactly the scenario ICD was built for. Many organizations run compliance-bound, regulation-locked, or legacy applications on IBM hardware that cannot be easily migrated. ICD provides indefinite maintenance coverage so you can meet compliance requirements without the risk of unsupported hardware.
Get an IBM TPM Quote
Tell us what IBM System x or BladeCenter servers you need covered. We will deliver a custom quote within 24 hours.
Related resources
EOSL LibraryCheck end-of-life dates for IBM System x and other platforms
Parts FinderSearch compatible parts for your IBM System x servers
Browse IBM System x PartsFull catalog of genuine IBM System x components
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