IBM Power cloud migration options, compared objectively
Whether you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux on Power, there is a cloud path that keeps your applications intact, and one or two that don't fit at all. We weigh PowerVS, hosted Power, an on-prem refresh, and DR on cost, risk, and fit, with no platform of our own to sell.
Moving IBM Power to the cloud doesn't mean rewriting your apps
AIX and IBM i run natively on Power in the cloud. A lift-and-shift to IBM Power Virtual Server or a partner-hosted Power cloud keeps your operating system, your applications, and your runbooks intact, no re-architecture, no green-screen rewrite. For most teams it's the lowest-risk route off aging hardware.
Your operating system decides your options
AIX and IBM i are proprietary to Power, so their realistic destinations keep them on Power, in the cloud or on-prem. Linux on Power is the portable one. Find the workload you're moving and start there.
IBM i
Decades of RPG and COBOL business logic that still runs the company. The goal is rarely to rewrite it, it's to get it off aging hardware and, where it helps, put modern web and API front-ends over the core without touching the logic underneath.
AIX on Power
Mission-critical UNIX, usually the database, ERP, or core-banking tier. A lift-and-shift to cloud Power keeps it exactly as-is. A replatform to Linux is the only true exit from Power, and the longest, riskiest road, justified only by a strategic mandate.
Linux on Power
The flexible one. It can stay on Power to sit beside your AIX and IBM i estate, or move to x86 and the hyperscalers like any other Linux workload. Here the decision is about consolidation strategy and cost, not technical feasibility.
Every IBM Power path at a glance
Seven destinations, from a same-OS lift-and-shift to a full exit off the platform. Use this to narrow the field, then read the deep-dives on the routes most teams actually choose.
| Option | Type | Cost | Complexity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IBM Power Virtual Server PowerVS |
Cloud (IBM) | $$$ | Low | AIX / IBM i lift-and-shift |
Skytap on Azure Skytap |
Cloud (Azure) | $$$$ | Low | Azure-adjacent Power workloads |
Partner-managed Power cloud Hosted MSP |
Managed | $$$ | Low | Hands-off operations |
On-prem Power10 refresh Modernize in place |
On-prem | $$$$ | Low | Sovereignty & control |
AIX → Linux replatform Re-architect |
Migrate off Power | $$ | Very high | Long-term x86 / cloud strategy |
IBM i modernization IBM i / RPG |
Cloud + modernize | $$$ | High | Green-screen app estates |
Power DR-as-a-Service DRaaS |
Hybrid | $$ | Moderate | Resilience without a 2nd site |
PowerVS and hosted Power, side by side
IBM Power Virtual Server (PowerVS)
IBM's own IaaS for Power, running AIX, IBM i, and Linux on Power9/Power10 across IBM Cloud regions worldwide. The OS and apps move largely as-is, with private connectivity into IBM Cloud and, via interconnect, the other hyperscalers. You operate the environment; IBM owns the hardware.
Hosted & managed Power cloud
Specialist providers run Power in their data centers and, in the managed tier, operate AIX/IBM i administration, backup, and DR on your behalf. You consume Power as a service instead of owning the hardware or the day-to-day work. The spectrum runs from raw hosted Power to fully managed, and includes Power adjacent to Azure via Skytap.
Refresh on-prem, or move to cloud Power?
An end-of-support Power8 or Power9 fleet forces the question. An on-prem Power10 refresh keeps full control but means fresh capital and another hardware lifecycle to own. Cloud Power shifts to consumption billing and ends the refresh cycle, but cost discipline becomes the new job. Here's how the decision usually breaks.
Lean on-prem Power10 if…
- You're in a strict data-residency or air-gapped environment
- Latency to other on-prem systems is critical
- You have the team to run Power well
- Capital budget is available and preferred over OpEx
Lean cloud Power if…
- You're consolidating or exiting data centers
- Hardware is at or near end of service now
- Power skills are thin and getting thinner
- You want DR and resilience without a second site
Many teams land on a hybrid: production on cloud Power, or production on-prem with cloud-Power DR. We model both against your numbers rather than defaulting to either. For a full cost and risk breakdown of the decision, see our Power10 refresh vs. cloud migration guide.
Power DR-as-a-Service: the low-risk on-ramp
Not ready to move production? Replicate AIX and IBM i workloads to a cloud Power target for failover. You get DR coverage without standing up a second physical site, and a real-world proving ground for cloud Power before you commit to a full migration. For many teams it's step one of the journey, not a detour from it.
Let's find your best IBM Power cloud path, honestly
Tell us your OS mix, hardware models, and DR posture. We'll narrow every option down to the one or two that actually fit, and connect you with the partner to deliver it.
No obligation, no platform pitch. A Foretel advisor responds within one business day.