IBM Power cloud migration, end to end
Everything that goes into moving IBM i, AIX, and Linux on Power to the cloud, what your options are, what they cost, how long they take, and how to de-risk the whole thing. Independent guidance, with no platform of our own to sell.
Request a migration assessment →What IBM Power cloud migration involves
IBM Power cloud migration means moving AIX, IBM i, and Linux on Power workloads to cloud infrastructure — without rewriting the applications. These workloads don't drop into a generic public cloud: AIX and IBM i are proprietary to Power and stay on Power wherever they go, through IBM Power Virtual Server, a partner-hosted Power cloud, or a hybrid of the two. Linux on Power can stay on Power or be replatformed to x86.
The hard part is rarely the technology, it's choosing the right destination, sizing the cost honestly, sequencing the migration, and getting disaster recovery right along the way. The guides below break the decision into the pieces that actually matter. Start with your workload, then work through the destination, cost, and timing.
Host your operating system in the cloud
IBM i cloud hosting
Where to host IBM i (System i / AS/400) in the cloud, PowerVS, partner-hosted, and fully managed Power, and which fits your shop.
Read the guide →AIX cloud hosting
Run AIX in the cloud without re-architecting, PowerVS, Skytap on Azure, and managed Power, plus when a replatform makes sense.
Read the guide →Linux on Power cloud options
The portable one, keep it on cloud Power or move it to x86 and the hyperscalers. The trade-offs and when each makes sense.
Read the guide →Pick the right model and protect it
PowerVS vs. hosted Power
IBM Power Virtual Server or a partner-hosted/managed Power cloud? Control, cost, operations, and DR, side by side.
Read the guide →Power10 refresh vs. cloud migration
Buy new Power10 on-prem or move to cloud Power? Cost, control, risk, and timing, plus the hybrid most teams choose.
Read the guide →IBM Power disaster recovery
DR-as-a-Service for AIX and IBM i, RTO/RPO planning, and a low-risk on-ramp to a full cloud migration.
Read the guide →Want the full landscape in one view? Compare every IBM Power cloud option →
Cost, timeline, and modernization
IBM i migration cost
What an IBM i cloud migration costs, hosting, labor, licensing, and DR, with the hidden costs to plan for on three-year TCO.
Read the guide →AIX migration timeline
How long an AIX cloud migration takes, a 3–6 month lift-and-shift phase by phase, versus a longer replatform.
Read the guide →IBM i modernization without replatforming
Add web and API front-ends over your RPG/COBOL core, no risky rewrite, while you move to cloud Power.
Read the guide →More background reading in our IBM Power migration guides →
Frequently asked questions
What does "IBM Power cloud migration" actually mean?
It's moving the AIX, IBM i, or Linux on Power workloads that run on your own Power servers onto cloud Power infrastructure, in most cases without rewriting the applications.
Do I have to leave the Power platform to move to the cloud?
No. AIX and IBM i run natively on cloud Power through PowerVS, hosted, or managed Power. Only a replatform to Linux on x86 leaves Power, and that's an optional strategic choice, not a requirement.
How long does an IBM Power cloud migration take?
A lift-and-shift to cloud Power is typically 3–6 months. An IBM i modernization or AIX-to-Linux replatform runs 9–18 months or more, because application work, not infrastructure, sets the pace.
Is Foretel tied to a particular cloud or Power provider?
No. We're an independent advisor with no platform of our own to sell, so the recommendation is driven by your workloads and constraints, not by our incentives.
How IBM Power migrations actually play out
Every estate is different, but the patterns repeat. Here are two representative moves, and what we look for in the partner who executes them.
Situation. Core banking on AIX and a Db2 for i system on end-of-support Power8, with a thin internal Power team.
Approach. Lift-and-shift both to managed cloud Power, production first, with DR replicated to a second region.
Outcome. Off unsupported hardware in roughly four months, no application rewrite, and operations handed to the provider.
Situation. Linux on Power9 sitting beside an AIX ERP, facing a hardware refresh decision.
Approach. Keep AIX on cloud Power; weigh the Linux tier for x86 consolidation against staying on Power for proximity.
Outcome. A hybrid that ends the hardware refresh cycle while keeping the latency-sensitive tier on Power.
Representative scenarios reflect common IBM Power migration patterns and typical ranges, not specific named client engagements.
A pre-migration readiness checklist
Most of the migration decision can be made before you talk to anyone. Work through these and you'll arrive already knowing your shortlist.
Plan your IBM Power cloud migration with an independent advisor
Tell us your OS mix, hardware, and DR posture. We'll map the right path, model the cost, and connect you with the partner to deliver it.
Free and no obligation — we respond within one business day.