IBM Power S812 (8284-21A)
You have an S812 8284-21A. Here's what that means in 2026: IBM's smallest Power8 box, out of standard IBM support since July 2025, and the last model in the family to lose it.
The Power S812 (8284-21A) was IBM's entry-level, single-socket Power8 server: one core licensed for IBM i at the P05 software tier (up to 25 users), or up to four AIX cores in the same 2U chassis. It was built for branch offices, small IBM i shops, and edge deployments that did not need the throughput of the larger S814 or S824.
If you are still running production workloads on an S812, you are past IBM's standard support window and inside the final year of IBM i 7.4 support. See our end-of-support and risk page for what that actually exposes you to, and our migration comparison for what replaces this model.
Sources
- IBM Power8 end of service announcement — IBM
- IBM Power End of Life Dates: Every Server and Release — Power Systems Advisors
Specifications
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | 1-socket, 2U rack |
| Max Cores | 1 core (IBM i, P05 tier, up to 25 users) or up to 4 cores (AIX) |
| Max Memory | Up to 64 GB DDR4 (IBM i) or 128 GB DDR4 (AIX), 1600 Mbps |
| Max Internal Storage | Model-dependent SAS/SSD backplane, no NVMe |
| Software Tier | P05 |
| EOS Note | The smallest and last-withdrawn Power8 model; IBM support ran longest here of any Power8 machine. |
Lifecycle and support status
| Attribute | Status |
|---|---|
| Withdrawn From Marketing | August 31, 2020 |
| EOS Date | July 31, 2025 |
| EOS Status | Past standard IBM hardware support as of July 2025 ... the last Power8 model to lose it. |
| IBM i Ceiling | IBM i 7.4 (IBM i 7.5 does not support Power8 hardware at all) |
| IBM i 7.4 Support Ends | September 30, 2026 |
Best fit
Was IBM's smallest Power8 footprint for branch offices and small IBM i shops under 25 users. In 2026 it is a decision point, not a purchase option: every S812 in production is past IBM's standard support window.
Related
IBM Power S814 (8286-41A)
You have an S814 8286-41A. Here's what that means in 2026: IBM's mainstream single-socket Power8 box, out of standard IBM support since May 2024, running on borrowed time on IBM i 7.4.
IBM Power S824 (8286-42A)
You have an S824 8286-42A. Here's what that means in 2026: IBM's dual-socket Power8 scale-out server, out of standard IBM support since March 2024, still carrying real production load at many IBM i shops.
IBM Power E850 (8408-E8E)
You have an E850 8408-E8E. Here's what that means in 2026: a 4-socket enterprise Power8 consolidation platform, the first Power8 model to lose IBM support, out of standard support since October 2023.
IBM Power E850C (8408-44E)
The E850C (8408-44E) is the refreshed 4-socket Power8 enterprise server. IBM standard support ended October 31, 2024, and IBM i on this box stops at 7.4.
Related Reading
What IBM Power8 End of Support Actually Means
End of support is not a shutdown switch. Here is exactly what changes ... and what doesn't ... when an IBM Power8 model passes its IBM end-of-service date.
Third-Party Maintenance for Power8, Explained
What a TPM contract actually covers, what it does not, and how to evaluate whether it is the right bridge for your Power8 system.