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ORACLE ZFS STORAGE MAINTENANCE · TPM FOR ZS3 · ZS5 · ZS7 · PILLAR AXIOM

Oracle ZFS Storage Maintenance — vendor-independent service for ZFS Storage Appliance and Pillar Axiom

We service Oracle storage hardware after Oracle Premier Support expiry — ZFS Storage Appliance (ZS3, ZS4, ZS5, ZS7) and the legacy lines Pillar Axiom plus Sun StorEdge. Vendor-independent, with OEM original parts and SLA up to 24×7×4. Your ZFS software, Oracle Solaris licenses and database licenses stay untouched. Also in the EOSL period. 30 to 60 percent below Oracle Premier Support. Fixed-price quote in 48 hours.

Which Oracle storage platforms we service

Oracle ZFS Storage Appliance is its own storage platform with ZFS filesystem and tight Oracle Database integration — it's often operated productively for years past official EOSL because storage migration with running RMAN backups or Oracle Database workloads triggers substantial migration overhead. Pillar Axiom and Sun StorEdge are legacy storage lines with established install bases in DACH enterprise environments. We service all generations with OEM original parts.

Oracle ZFS Storage Appliance · ZS7 series (current)
ZS7-2 (mid-range, dual-controller) · ZS7-2 HE (high-end configuration) · DE3-24P / DE3-24C disk shelves · launched 2018, in active OEM support
Oracle ZFS Storage Appliance · ZS5 / ZS4 (predecessors)
ZS5-2 / ZS5-4 (2016 generation, dual-/quad-controller) · ZS4-4 (2014 generation) · DE2-24P / DE2-24C disk shelves · many install bases in DACH enterprise still productive, OEM support approaching EOSL
Oracle ZFS Storage Appliance · ZS3 / 7000 series (legacy)
ZS3-2 / ZS3-4 (2013 generation) · 7320 / 7420 (Sun branding from 2010-2012) · older DS2 disk shelves — hardware already EOSL, still productive in long-term archive and RMAN backup setups
Oracle Pillar Axiom · block storage (legacy)
Pillar Axiom 600 (quality-of-service-capable block storage) · Pillar Axiom 500 / 300 (older generations) · hardware EOSL — we service install bases with OEM original parts from our own warehouse
Sun StorEdge · legacy storage
StorEdge 6140 / 6180 / 6580 / 6780 · StorEdge T3 / 3320 · older Sun storage generations from the pre-Oracle era — still productive in install bases for legacy Solaris workloads

Why TPM for Oracle storage instead of Oracle Premier Support

Oracle Premier Support for storage hardware bundles hardware replacement, ZFS software updates, patch bundles and Oracle Database integration into one package. For pure hardware maintenance — typically the majority case for stable storage install bases — you pay for components rarely used in normal operation. We separate the layers: we handle hardware with OEM original parts at 30 to 60 percent lower cost. ZFS software subscription, Oracle Solaris and database licenses stay contractually with Oracle, since they remain required for active licensing.

For generations where Oracle increases Premier Support renewal cost steeply or discontinues it — ZS3 family and older 7000 generation are already out of support, ZS4 and ZS5 are approaching EOSL — TPM becomes the only economical option. Pillar Axiom has been EOSL for years and is only serviced by TPM providers. Important in the Oracle context: storage maintenance is not a license audit risk, since the ZFS software subscription relationship runs separately from hardware maintenance — different from database or engineered systems setups.

30–60 %
Savings vs. Oracle Premier Support on operational ZFS storage install bases
100 %
ZFS subscription, Solaris and Oracle Database licenses fully usable
48 h
Fixed-price quote after we receive your storage configuration and disk shelves
4 h
Onsite response time with 24×7×4 SLA, all of Germany

Generations timeline & TPM coverage

Per hardware generation: vendor phase (slate) and TechCare coverage window (teal) up to ~5 years post-OEM EOSL.

Premier Support status of Oracle storage generations

Oracle retires Premier Support for storage generations typically six to eight years post-launch or offers only Sustaining Support, which includes no new patches and no hardware replacement. Since ZFS storage in Oracle Database and RMAN backup setups often stays productive for years, most EOSL models remain in use. TPM bridges exactly this gap.

Model family Released OEM support ends TPM status
Sun 7320 / 7420 (ZFS Storage frühe Generation) 2010-2012 2018-2020 Recommended
ZS3-2 / ZS3-4 2013 2021 Recommended
ZS4-4 2014 2022-2023 Recommended
ZS5-2 / ZS5-4 2016 2024-2025 Recommended
ZS7-2 / ZS7-2 HE 2018 ca. 2026-2027 Supported
Pillar Axiom 600 / 500 / 300 2008-2011 2017-2019 Recommended
Sun StorEdge 6140 / 6180 / 6580 / 6780 2007-2010 2015-2018 Recommended

As of 2026. EOSL data based on official vendor roadmaps and subject to change. Binding case-by-case information available on request.

What we deliver

OEM original parts for ZFS and Pillar Axiom

Our own warehouse with storage controllers, NVMe and SAS SSDs, HDDs, NICs and PSUs for ZS3, ZS4, ZS5, ZS7 and Pillar Axiom generations — including end-of-life models like Sun 7420 or older Pillar generations.

ZFS software and Oracle licenses untouched

ZFS software subscription, Oracle Solaris licenses, Oracle Database licenses and all Oracle-specific patch bundles continue contractually with Oracle. We address only the hardware layer — no license audit implications.

Onsite engineer with ZFS storage experience

German-speaking technicians experienced with the ZFS storage stack — disk swap, controller replacement and disk shelf maintenance. 4-hour response time guaranteed. Also for Pillar Axiom and Sun StorEdge legacy generations.

Flexible SLA per storage system

Parts Only, 5×9 NBD or 24×7×4 — combinable by system criticality. Production ZFS storage with RMAN backup workload typically on 24×7×4, archive storage often fine with NBD. With Oracle often only available as a uniform Premier Support package.

Multi-vendor contract

One contract for Oracle ZFS Storage plus Pillar Axiom plus other Oracle hardware (SPARC, Exadata, StorageTek) plus storage from other vendors. Consolidating contracts noticeably reduces admin overhead.

EOSL tracking & Premier Support comparison

Monthly SLA reports plus a semi-annual analysis: Oracle Premier Support list price vs TechCare TPM for each storage generation. Migration recommendations when Oracle Premier Support renewal becomes economically unviable vs. hardware refresh.

FAQ on Oracle ZFS storage maintenance

Which Oracle storage platforms do you service?
We service all current and older Oracle storage generations: ZFS Storage Appliance ZS7 series (ZS7-2, ZS7-2 HE), ZS5 series (ZS5-2, ZS5-4), ZS4-4, ZS3 series (ZS3-2, ZS3-4) plus earlier Sun 7000 generations (7320, 7420). Plus Pillar Axiom 600, 500 and 300 as legacy block storage line, and Sun StorEdge 6140/6180/6580/6780 and older StorEdge generations. DE2 and DE3 family disk shelves included.
What does TPM cost for ZFS Storage Appliance vs. Oracle Premier Support?
In the DACH mid-market we typically see 30 to 60 percent hardware-layer savings vs. Oracle Premier Support. For EOSL generations like ZS3 or Sun 7420 up to 70 percent. Important: the Premier Support bundle also includes ZFS software lifecycle support — that stays with Oracle, the hardware portion is what we offer cheaper. A ZS5-4 with two DE2 shelves costs about 18,000 to 25,000 EUR/year on Oracle Premier Support 24×7×4, 7,500 to 12,000 EUR with TechCare.
Does switching to TPM affect our Oracle Database licensing?
No. Storage hardware maintenance is separated in Oracle's licensing context from database, Solaris and ZFS software subscriptions. We address only the hardware layer — database licenses, Solaris subscriptions, ZFS software patches and Oracle support tickets for software continue contractually with Oracle. For Engineered Systems setups (Exadata) the licensing mechanics would be more tightly coupled — but for pure ZFS Storage Appliance or Pillar Axiom hardware this is not a factor.
Can you service Sun 7000 or older Pillar Axiom?
Yes, this is even one of our core areas in the Oracle storage segment. The Sun 7000 generation (7320, 7420) has been EOSL since 2018-2020, Pillar Axiom 600/500/300 since 2017-2019. Oracle no longer offers Premier Support for these generations, only Sustaining Support without hardware replacement. We continue maintenance with OEM original parts from our own warehouse — especially in long-term archive or RMAN backup setups where storage migration would trigger high migration overhead.
How does disk and controller replacement work on ZFS Storage Appliance with TPM?
We deliver the hardware swap (disk, NVMe SSD, controller, disk shelf component) like regular Oracle maintenance. ZFS pool resilver or controller failover logic runs via the ZFS Storage Appliance management interface afterwards — exactly as it would under OEM maintenance. The procedure is identical because the software layer (ZFS Storage Appliance OS, Analytics, Replication) stays unchanged.
What about Pillar Axiom — the hardware is fundamentally different from ZFS?
Correct, Pillar Axiom is block storage with quality-of-service mechanics, not ZFS-based file/NAS storage. We service both platforms with OEM original parts — for Pillar Axiom 600 these are primarily Bricks (storage modules), Slammers (controllers), RAID controller boards and the Pilot management system. Pillar Axiom has been EOSL for years and is now serviced only by TPM providers like us — Oracle no longer offers extensions.
Which SLA levels do you offer for Oracle storage?
We cover all common SLA levels: Parts Only with 4-hour shipping, 5×9 Next Business Day with onsite engineer in business hours, and 24×7×4 with guaranteed 4-hour onsite response. For production ZFS storage with RMAN backup workload we recommend 24×7×4. Archive storage or DR replicas often fine with NBD. SLA can be chosen per storage system.
How fast do we get a quote, and what data do you need?
Within 48 hours of receiving your storage configuration you get a binding fixed-price quote with a clear comparison to Oracle Premier Support. Required: storage model and generation (e.g. ZS5-4), number and type of disk shelves (DE2-24P / DE3-24C), disk configuration, site and desired SLA level. For Pillar Axiom: brick/slammer configuration and pilot management status. For an initial estimate, the ROI calculator on the homepage suffices.
Service performance

Real actuals Q1 2026 — straight from our ITIL ticketing.

99,2 %
Tickets resolved within agreed response time
2,4 h
Avg. first response on 4h SLA tier
88 %
First-time fix on initial dispatch
97 %
Spare part on site within 4 h, DACH depots
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