IBM i 7.6 supported

What it brought

• Integrated multi-factor authentication with time-based one-time passwords (TOTP), also for the SST and DST service tools
• A single authentication exit point, QIBM_QSY_AUTH, and the IBM profiles ending in _NC ("not changeable"): QSECOFR_NC, QPGMR_NC, QSYSOPR_NC, QUSER_NC
• The CFGHOSTSVR command enables or disables the host servers one by one on non-secure connections
• Db2 for i: parallel execution of UPDATE and DELETE, and UPDATE and DELETE as a data-change table reference (group SF99960 level 1)
• New SQL services including QSYS2.CHECK_TOTP, QSYS2.VERIFY_NAME, SYSTOOLS.DELETE_OLD_JOURNAL_RECEIVERS and QSYS2.SQLSTATE_INFO
• Encryption of the system ASP (ASP 1) on Power10 and Power11 machines
• BRMS is sold only as a subscription, under the new product number 5770-BR2, and gains a web interface
• The QIBM_RUN_UNDER_USER_NO_AUTH function usage stops a profile from being used without its credentials
• The cryptographic APIs add PBKDF2 to derive keys from passwords
• QIBM_IOSYSCFG_VIEW: a read-only role to view the I/O configuration without *IOSYSCFG
• ACS 1.1.9.8 asks for the additional factor when the 7.6 partition has MFA enabled
• PowerHA 6.0.3 brings volume switching and IASP FlashCopy to Power Virtual Server
• DSPPTFGRP shows the date a PTF group was applied

Which machines it runs on

• Power11 servers
• Power10 servers with minimum firmware FW1060
• Does not run on Power9 or earlier processors

What is gone

Products and functions that IBM lists as not supported on this release, on its upgrade planning page.

• The system BOOTP and DHCP servers (IBM points to ISC's Kea DHCP server as a replacement)
• The DNS server (option 31), RADIUS, RouteD and the QoS server
• VPN with IKEv1 and IPComp compression: IKEv2 remains
• Bisync, PPP and L2TP
• OptiConnect (option 23) and GDDM (option 14)
• Among the ADTS tools: SDA, DFU, RLU, FCMU, APF and CGU
• Facsimile Support for i, Business Graphics Utility, the HTTP Server FRCA, Performance Graphics and Performance Advisor
• Management Central, Universal Manageability Enablement and CICS Transaction Server for i
• 64-bit Java 11 (option 19), XML Toolkit and the perpetual BRMS licence (5770-BR1)

Technology Refreshes

A Technology Refresh adds function without changing the release number, through PTF groups. The date is when IBM made it available.

1. TR2 24 July 2026 SF99967 level 2 Db2 SF99960 level 3

   • SYSTOOLS.CVE_INFO: the vulnerabilities affecting the system, queryable in SQL
   • More new services: QSYS2.CREATE_DATA_JOURNAL_READER, SYSTOOLS.CHECK_COMMAND_SYNTAX, SYSTOOLS.OVERRIDE_INFO_ALL, SYSTOOLS.GROUP_PTF_CURRENCY_LOCAL
   • Db2: the QSYS2.SQL_ERROR_LOG view and trigger pseudo columns
   • Encryption keys managed outside the system (Bring Your Own Key) with IBM Key Protect for IBM Cloud
   • RPG: the ASSERT-F and ASSERT-T assertions, LIKE(*EXT) to define a field like one in a file, %LOOKUPNE and %TLOOKUPNE
   • Cluster version 12, to use MFA-enabled profiles in cluster operations
   • ACS 1.1.9.13

   IBM page →

2. TR1 21 November 2025 SF99967 level 1 Db2 SF99960 level 2

   • SQL: INSERT with VALUES accepts column names, plus the SYSTOOLS.EVEN and SYSTOOLS.ODD functions
   • New services: QSYS2.CERTIFICATE_USAGE_INFO, QSYS2.JOURNAL_CODE_INFO, SYSTOOLS.OVERRIDE_INFO, SYSTOOLS.PROBLEM_INFO
   • RPG: enumeration data types, and the *DMYY, *MDYY and *YYMD date formats with a four-digit year
   • Integrated Web Services Server 3.0, based on Jakarta EE
   • BRMS: backup history queryable in SQL (QUSRBRM.BACKUP_HISTORY and related views) and LTO-10 tapes
   • IBM i Testing for VS Code: unit tests and code coverage for RPG and COBOL
   • Navigator: creating and deleting HTTP servers, moved over from the old Web Administration

   IBM page →

3. Power11 25 July 2025 SF99411 level 1

   • The "Power11 GA" PTF group brings support for the Power11 servers: E1180, S1124, S1122, L1124, L1122
   • IBM i Secure Boot and NVMe hot spare, on Power11 only
   • zlibNX acceleration of compression in PASE programs

   IBM page →

Individual PTFs are not listed: there are thousands per release and nearly all of them fix a defect. New function comes with releases and with the Technology Refresh PTF groups, which are here.