Skip to Main Content
IBM Power Ideas Portal


This portal is to open public enhancement requests against IBM Power Systems products, including IBM i. To view all of your ideas submitted to IBM, create and manage groups of Ideas, or create an idea explicitly set to be either visible by all (public) or visible only to you and IBM (private), use the IBM Unified Ideas Portal (https://ideas.ibm.com).


Shape the future of IBM!

We invite you to shape the future of IBM, including product roadmaps, by submitting ideas that matter to you the most. Here's how it works:

Search existing ideas

Start by searching and reviewing ideas and requests to enhance a product or service. Take a look at ideas others have posted, and add a comment, vote, or subscribe to updates on them if they matter to you. If you can't find what you are looking for,

Post your ideas
  1. Post an idea.

  2. Get feedback from the IBM team and other customers to refine your idea.

  3. Follow the idea through the IBM Ideas process.


Specific links you will want to bookmark for future use

Welcome to the IBM Ideas Portal (https://www.ibm.com/ideas) - Use this site to find out additional information and details about the IBM Ideas process and statuses.

IBM Unified Ideas Portal (https://ideas.ibm.com) - Use this site to view all of your ideas, create new ideas for any IBM product, or search for ideas across all of IBM.

ideasibm@us.ibm.com - Use this email to suggest enhancements to the Ideas process or request help from IBM for submitting your Ideas.

Status Delivered
Workspace IBM i
Categories Merlin
Created by Guest
Created on Jun 24, 2022

Merlin Try and Buy

It would be great if IBM could provide "Try and Buy" or "FREE (limited)" version of Merlin.
I need to evaluate the software before buy it.

Idea priority High
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Mar 20, 2024
    Not doing a try and buy... we have provided a 'test drive'. Users can receive access to a fully configured and supported Merlin environment where they can play with and learn about Merlin Details - https://ibm.github.io/merlin-docs/#/./guides/overview/sandbox
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jul 27, 2022
    .IBM Understand this request and will consider as part of a future enhancement though no commitment is made nor implied.

    IBM Power Systems Development - Merlin team
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jul 26, 2022

    The CAAC has reviewed this requirement and recommends that IBM view this as a high priority requirement that is important to be addressed. Having a trial to check out Merlin before doing the purchase would speed adoption -- the suggestion among the comments of having a Sandbox is also an excellent idea to avoid the need to take the time to set it up to try it out.


    Background: The COMMON Americas Advisory Council (CAAC) members have a broad range of experience in working with small and medium-sized IBM i customers. CAAC has a key role in working with IBM i development to help assess the value and impact of individual RFEs on the broader IBM i community, and has therefore reviewed your RFE.


    For more information about CAAC, see www.common.org/caac


    Nancy Uthke-Schmucki - CAAC Program Manager

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jun 28, 2022

    > What about a "Sandbox" type system?

    I agree. It might be similar to "Developer Sandbox for Red Hat OpenShift". Hopefully the Sandbox can be utilized with on-premise IBM i.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Jun 24, 2022

    Good suggestion. What about a "Sandbox" type system? Maybe create a cloud instance of Merlin connected to a cloud IBM i and let people sign up for actual user ID's and let users play around in the sandbox? That way people wouldn't even have to install anything to get to evaluate it. But this is probably much more complicated not to mention an authority nightmare. Just a thought.