IBM Tape & Backup Tape & Backup Maintenance
side by side.
TechCare TPM vs. TLS / Hardware Maintenance Services. Cost range, EOSL advantages, migration path and DACH compliance at a glance — for IT leadership and procurement.
Cost comparison
Example Power S922 with 4-year HMS 24×7×4: TechCare TPM roughly 35–56% below the OEM price.
Active EOSL lines
- TS3500 Tape Library (Enterprise) · EOSL 2017-07-31
- TS3400 Tape Library (Mid-Range Legacy) · EOSL 2020-12-31
- TS4500 Tape Library (Aktive Plattform) · EOSL 2028-06-30
Which IBM Tape & Backup models we service
- TS series Tape-Drives
- TS1140 · TS1150 · TS1155 · TS1160
- TS series Tape-Libraries (Mid-Range)
- TS3100 · TS3200 · TS3310
- TS series Tape-Libraries (Enterprise)
- TS3500 · TS4500 (Generations 1-3)
- Spectrum Protect Appliances
- Spectrum Protect (ehem. TSM) · ProtecTier-Appliances · IBM Storage Protect
EOSL status of major generations
| Generation | Released | End of vendor support | TechCare TPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| TS1140 Drives | 2011 | 2020 | Recommended |
| TS1150 Drives | 2014 | 2023 | Recommended |
| TS3100/TS3200 | 2007-2010 | 2018-2020 | Recommended |
| TS3310 | 2008 | 2020 | Recommended |
| TS3500 (1. Gen) | 2003-2010 | 2020 | Recommended |
| TS4500 | 2014+ | 2024+ | Supported |
Why TPM maintenance instead of IBM Service Pac (Tape)
IBM Service Pac for tape is positioned in the premium segment — and on TS3500 1st generation, TS1140 drives or TS3100/3200 renewal becomes difficult. In the DACH banking and mainframe sector these platforms are often 15+ years old and still technically running.
We service all TS generations with OEM original parts — robotics modules (robot arms, pick-and-place), drive mounts, read/write heads, control electronics, PSUs. Spectrum Protect (formerly TSM) and ProtecTier inline dedup run separately via IBM.
OEM vs. TechCare — where the switch pays off
The full OEM-vs-TPM matrix (spare parts, SLA tiers, language, sub-outsourcing, compliance docs, reporting) is the same for every IBM line — see the IBM battle card.
Stays with IBM Tape & Backup
- AIX / IBM i / z/OS software licenses + updates
- PowerSC / IBM Cloud / Storage Insights subscriptions
- IBM TAC software tickets + microcode subscription
Moves to TechCare
- Hardware defects (memory, disk, PSU, mainboard, modules)
- 24×7×4 on-site SLA with German-speaking field service
- Spare-parts logistics DACH + global hub network
- Fixed-price contract in 48 h, one inventory — one contract
DACH compliance by design.
BAIT/MaRisk documentation package, DORA Art. 28 contract template, ISO 27001 and GDPR-compliant media handling apply identically to every IBM line — details on the IBM battle card.
Migration path from first contact to hand-over.
Same four steps for every IBM line: inventory → fixed-price quote in 48 h → contract (BAIT/MaRisk/DORA hooks) → hand-over with spare-parts provisioning. Details on the IBM battle card.
FAQ on IBM Tape & Backup maintenance
- Which IBM tape and backup hardware do you service?
- We service TS-series tape drives, TS-series tape libraries (TS3100, TS3200, TS3310 mid-range; TS3500 and TS4500 enterprise) and Spectrum Protect (formerly TSM) and ProtecTier backup appliances.
- What does TPM cost compared to IBM Service Pac?
- 30 to 60 percent savings vs. IBM Service Pac, up to 70 percent on EOSL models. For a TS3500 with 24×7×4, TechCare is roughly 60% below the IBM price.
- Can you service older TS3500 1st generation?
- Yes. TS3500 1st generation (released 2003-2010, EOSL 2020) is 15+ years old in many bank data centers and mainframe environments and still running. Robotics modules, drive mounts, control electronics and PSUs we stock.
- What about Spectrum Protect / TSM software licenses?
- Spectrum Protect (formerly TSM, now IBM Storage Protect) is software and runs separately via IBM. We service the hardware layer of the appliances.
- Which SLA levels for tape?
- Parts Only, 5×9 NBD, 24×7×4 — freely selectable. For productive backup windows and mainframe environments with hard backup SLAs we recommend 24×7×4.
- Tape robotics at TS3500 — how fast?
- For TS3500/TS4500 tape library robotics 4-hour on-site response with 24×7×4 is standard. Robotics modules we stock in DACH warehouse — TS robotics is a common failure point after 8-10 years.