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IBM Blockchain Platform

IBM Blockchain Platform

Overview

What is IBM Blockchain Platform?

Hyperledger Fabric tools and technologies to help build, govern, operate and grow blockchain solutions that can be deployed anywhere. The IBM Blockchain Platform is IBM's commercial deployment of Hyperledger Fabric open source and comes with 24x7x365 support with…

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Recent Reviews

Very Useful Platform

8 out of 10
December 28, 2020
Incentivized
IBM Blockchain Platform is used to develop and manage the blockchain network of an insurance organization's solution with other companies. …
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good value

4 out of 10
October 19, 2020
Incentivized
IBM Blockchain Platform is helpful for maintaining and securing important and classified information to ensure everything is not only …
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Awards

Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards

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Pricing

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IBM Blockchain Platform - Software

$0.29

On Premise
per virtual processor core(VPC) hour

IBM Blockchain Platform - SaaS

$0.29

Cloud
per virtual processor core(VPC) hour

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.ibm.com/cloud/blockchain…

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services
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Product Details

What is IBM Blockchain Platform?

Hyperledger Fabric tools and technologies to help build, govern, operate and grow blockchain solutions that can be deployed anywhere.

The IBM Blockchain Platform is IBM's commercial deployment of Hyperledger Fabric open source and comes with 24x7x365 support with production grade SLA's to insure blockchain open source solutions stays running.

IBM Blockchain Platform Features

  • Supported: Powerful, easy to use developer productivity tools: The IBM Blockchain Platform helps make any developer a blockchain developers. Enjoy smooth integration between smart contract development and network management with our new Visual Studio (VS) Code extension. With simplified DevOps in a seamless environment, your team can move easily from development, to test, to production. Plus, smart contracts can be developed in JavaScript, Java, and Go languages.
  • Supported: Operate and govern networks with total control: Deploy only the Hyperledger Fabric components you need (Peer, Ordering Service, Certificate Authority). You can manage all network components through a single console, no matter where they are deployed — and maintain complete control over identities, ledger, and smart contracts.
  • Supported: Manage multicloud, Hybrid-cloud, on-premises networks: Connect to nodes running in any environment (on-premises, public, hybrid clouds) and easily connect a single peer to multiple industry networks. You can start small, with no upfront investment, pay as you grow, and upgrade easily through Kubernetes.
  • Supported: Production grade blockchain support for open source: The IBM Blockchain Platform is IBM's commercial deployment of Hyperledger Fabric (a blockchain open source project of the Linux Foundation). IBM certifies an image of the fabric open source and checks for security vulnerabilities daily. IBM offers 24x7x365 support for the Fabric open source code with SLA's suitable for even the most regulated production environments.

IBM Blockchain Platform Integrations

IBM Blockchain Platform Competitors

IBM Blockchain Platform Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsLinux, Hyperledger Fabric
Mobile ApplicationNo
Supported CountriesWorldwide support
Supported LanguagesNode.js, Golang, JavaScript, and Java

IBM Blockchain Platform Downloadables

Frequently Asked Questions

Corda, Oracle Blockchain Cloud, and Azure Blockchain Service are common alternatives for IBM Blockchain Platform.

Reviewers rate Support Rating highest, with a score of 9.4.

The most common users of IBM Blockchain Platform are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).

IBM Blockchain Platform Customer Size Distribution

Consumers0%
Small Businesses (1-50 employees)30%
Mid-Size Companies (51-500 employees)30%
Enterprises (more than 500 employees)40%
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(46)

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-5 of 5)
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December 30, 2020

Best solution in the market--flexible and easy to deploy

Verified User
Engineer in Engineering
Internet Company, 1-10 employees
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
We are using IBM Blockchain Platform across the whole organization to sign transactions, documents, videos and any other type of documentary evidence. We are designing a solution that makes the verification process easy and understandable to the final consumers, making the data record friendly and readable
Pros and Cons
  • Rich repository of documentation
  • Amazing tools
  • Easy to understand
  • Fast to start
  • Good technical and sales support
  • Does not have a free trial
  • Some general error messages in extension of VS Code
Likelihood to Recommend
This is a very flexible solution that can be used in almost any sector. They have very good documentation and use cases to help you understand the power of the tool. The deployment is simple and there is a lot of documentation that can be reviewed before your implementation. The use cases are in different sectors, you can invite your team to review the demonstrations to better understand the scope of the solution.
Return on Investment
  • For us it is too early to have any figures but it will definitely have a positive impact.
Alternatives Considered
The scalability and the good documentation, which is built on Hyperledger fabric--the most widespread corporate network--the possibility of integration with other cloud structures. Another interesting factor is the ability to add users in just minutes. An aspect valued by the developers teams was the VS Code extension. Finally, the control panel definitely simplifies the user experience.
Support Rating
9
In many cases I do not have to reach out to support because the knowledge base is very detailed, presenting the solutions step by step in a very detailed and intuitive way. At other times the first-level support does not have the necessary knowledge and you must wait for technical support. This is common in any provider but I would love to receive immediate, qualified support through the chat
Other Software Used
December 28, 2020

Very Useful Platform

Verified User
Engineer in Information Technology
Insurance Company, 10,001+ employees
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
IBM Blockchain Platform is used to develop and manage the blockchain network of an insurance organization's solution with other companies. The main organization works as the Certificate Authority and the other companies make everyday transactions.
IBM Blockchain Platform is used to manage and change the chain code, review the peers and the peer's configuration, manage the channel, track the transactions that are made, etc.
Pros and Cons
  • The UI is quite intuitive and easy to learn how to use
  • Peer and chain code management is very useful and easy to understand
  • Both the VS Code extension and IBM Blockchain Platform work pretty well and complement each other
  • Sometimes when I try to instantiate a chain code, it won't let me and the error messages aren't clear so I can't work on a solution
  • When a peer is not working, it's hard to know why just from the console
Likelihood to Recommend
It's a really useful platform, specially if you're learning Blockchain and how to create a network, how it works, etc. Using it with the VS Code IBM Blockchain extension can also help you learn a lot.
Support Rating
7
It's fine; they answer relatively fast, they are willing to help, and they have some options or alternatives to resolve your issue.
Other Software Used
November 30, 2020

Blockchain PoC and deployment made quick and easy

Verified User
Director in Corporate
Apparel & Fashion Company, 1-10 employees
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
We are a startup with a focus on developing next generation applications using enterprise blockchain. We use IBM Blockchain Platform for all blockchain-related development and offer solutions to our clients that are backed by IBP. We are addressing two business problems 1) we are simplifying how covid test results can be provided by the users/patient to the employers or business for easy and secure access and 2) we are working to improve traceability in the fashion & apparel supply chain.
Pros and Cons
  • IBM Blockchain Platform simplifies the whole process of deploying Hyperledger Fabric to business applications. Once you have understood the concepts of Hyperledger Fabric, IBM Blockchain Platform makes it straightforward in terms of deployment. The UIs are very intuitive and setting up the desired network is a matter of minutes.
  • Also, IBM Blockchain Platform maintains a very rich repository of documentation, which makes it easier for first-timers to get going. All of our developers were getting into blockchain for the first time, however, we found it very easy to follow the documentation to get started and then build our application taking cues from the documentation or the blogs.
  • IBM Blockchain Platform makes it easy to scale up the solution as network grows, a very important aspect to take the PoCs to production environment.
  • We did observe some idiosyncratic errors at times, those are difficult to reproduce. However, we have logged them as issues and have been resolved from IBM's side.
  • IBM Blockchain Platform Extension in VS Code provides very general error messages, which doesn't provide much insight. So, at times, it becomes difficult to identify the actual issue and resolve it.
  • Some of the the more nuanced but important topics such as Private Data Collection has fewer examples. We understand that most beginners may not be interested in them but when we take the solution to actual businesses, privacy concerns are paramount and these advances concepts come up in implementation.
Likelihood to Recommend
IBM Blockchain Platform is very well suited for quick PoCs and deployment. We have used the platform for developing applications in two separate industries and things worked out well.

However, if you are working under a tight budget or the client is expecting a cost comparable to normal cloud platforms, then it may become hard to deliver that with IBM Blockchain Platform. It is a bit expensive for sure.
Return on Investment
  • We are still at early stages to really define the ROI for using IBM Blockchain Platform, but we will not shy off from saying that IBM Blockchain Platform has really simplified for us to adopt a new technology and explore applications around the same.
Alternatives Considered
The IBM blockchain platform is very comprehensive for hyperledger fabric and we find it easy to ramp-up our development on the blockchain side.
For application service development, we moved to AWS Lambda for its established market position in the domain.

Briefly, we did look at Microsoft and Amazon's offerings in blockchain platforms, however, we felt that IBM has a much stronger ecosystem around Hyperledger Fabric and that was indeed helpful at different stages as we progressed on the development.
Support Rating
8
The team responds fast and solved most of the issues. We felt that IBM was very welcoming and even put some very senior resources to look into the issues and help us out. We are very thankful for that help.

However, as said earlier as well, at times, we thought that the issues were idiosyncratic in nature and hence the only approach was to just start afresh rather than trying to really find out the issue.
Other Software Used
November 05, 2020

Try IBM Blockchain Platform together with Cloud Foundry and Kubernetes Service

Verified User
Engineer in Other
Higher Education Company, 1001-5000 employees
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
We use IBM Blockchain Platform to develop students' projects for learning purposes. Students analyze the potential of Blockchain technology in several fields, like industry, legal, finance, commerce, [and] social relationships, and study its economic, social, and behavioral impact on people, procedures, and society. Then, they implement several uses cases using IBM Cloud and IBM Blockchain Platform and create a web app to show the implementation of this technology and several transactions.
Pros and Cons
  • Use of Hyperledger Fabric.
  • Integration with Web App Development.
  • Integrated Dashboard.
  • Clarifying concepts about contracts, Certificate Associations and other components.
  • Providing detailed information when an error occurs.
Likelihood to Recommend
IBM Blockchain Platform is well suited for scenarios where you need secure transactions, like in logistics, finance, legal agreements. Especially I think is well-suited for smart contracts between devices under the IBM IoT platform, and using Watson AI for predicting future scenarios. In this case, an end-to-end powerful platform can be created from sensor data to business insight.
Return on Investment
  • Improved satisfaction from our students using the platform.
  • Facility to set up a Blockchain platform in the Cloud.
Alternatives Considered
The use of Hyperledger Fabric from the IBM Blockchain Platform is a clear advantage against the other platforms, because [it] is an open standard and it is more efficient because of the centralized ordering service.
Support Rating
5
Using the free account, the support is limited. The response times were days or weeks.
Other Software Used
September 17, 2020

My IBM Blockchain Platform Review

Hasnaeen Ferdous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Hasnaeen Ferdous
Software Infrastructure Egineer(DevOps)
NuArca (Computer Software, 11-50 employees)
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
In NuArca we are using IBM Blockchain Platform to solve real problems. We have several products based on blockchain. We used this across the projects and departments. We are solving several business problems with it. For example, we've built a voting solution, certificate solution, and an asset distribution solution. We are partnering with several US companies to provide these solutions to them.
Pros and Cons
  • This is a well managed private chain so, best in providing solutions to private organizations.
  • For an organization that manages a large amount of data, IBM Blockchain Platform is highly recommended.
  • Security-wise it's well designed to work with several organizations and consortia.
  • IBM Blockchain Platform dashboard can be better and fast.
  • Feature-wise many advanced features can be added for better management of IBM Blockchain Platform.
  • The certificate is difficult to handle and not auto-renewed when it's expired. It's a really difficult process to renew it.
Likelihood to Recommend
This is a huge platform. This whole platform can be managed inside the Kubernetes by themselves but for production-level support and throughput, it's strongly recommended to use IBM Blockchain Platform. There are some pros and cons, but they are improving. So, I think if an organization needs a private blockchain platform, then this is recommended.
Return on Investment
  • We worked with AST (American Stock Transfer) to record their votes. It was our first product to run in production, which gave us really a big ROI after we started our project.
  • We also started working with PipelineDL and tracking their assets, which made a big impact on supply chain industries.
Alternatives Considered
We used Kubernetes for many purposes. We deployed IBM Blockchain Platform in Kubernetes. We manage our own cloud application in Kubernetes. We used Event Streams to stream incoming requests before processing in Blockchain. We have used VPC to manage our own SDK and apps before processing data in Blockchain.
Support Rating
5
Support is not bad, but it could be better. It's a slow response even for production-grade problems. We expect faster responses while facing issues in real-time.
Other Software Used
IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service, IBM Cloud Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), IBM Event Streams (formerly Message Hub), IBM Load Balancer, IBM Cloud SQL Query, IBM Cloud Object Storage
Users and Roles
10
We have several departments working in different project but most of them connect with blockchain.
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