Upgrading from r16.0 - to most current release

[Andre Hanai]

We have a Customer in prospect, who is still under CA Endevor SCM r16.0, and in order to estimate working hours for planning, testing and implementation, would like to know what is recommendable: go to r18.1 first and then to 19.0, or from r16.0 to r19.0 ? 
Advice would be appreciated, we are still in the process to get Customer ID in order to be entitled to open cases on it.

thanks

[John Dueckman]

I would go with 19. As I understand it, its basically 18.1 with rolled up maintenance. 

[Steve Blackett]

I am guessing it depends on the reasoning for upgrading to a newer version. r16 had a sunset date of 30th June 2016, so things have worked upto now.
The base version 18.0.12 has been GA'd since 28th August 2015 and now V19 has been available since 31st August 2022.
Our site has been running 18.0.12 successfully over many instances since March 2019 and as John says V19 is really a roll up of PTF's and other pieces.
From V19 the new features are allowed to be installed but switched off at an admin level which may give you more relaxation about which version to choose.

Personally I would go for V19 as this will give you a longer shelf life for support if that is your primary concern.

[Andre Hanai]

Thanks, John and Steve, for your inputs... Could not find a reply to option to select.
Actually my concern was about jumping directly, I only remember zOS team upgraded from 16.0 to 18.0 directly when 18 came out, and with no issues.      I liked the idea of deactivating 19.0 options and perform testing, and then activate them and test again... Thank you!

[Roberta Jones]

Andre 
The amount of time you have to put into your upgrade depends on many things. - Please upgrade to v19.  We have many sites that have already upgraded to v19 and are in the process of upgrading.  Please open a case with the Endevor Support Team so we can further assist you with the upgrade process.  This will help us to ensure that nothing gets missed and the transistion from v16 to v19 is smooth.  

[Andre Hanai]

Thank You, Roberta
I will see to the Customer ID with the Customer and submit cases then.
Regards