IBM has finally unveiled its much-anticipated Technology Refreshes for 2026, marking a significant milestone for the IBM i community. The announcements for IBM i 7.6 TR2 and 7.5 TR8 come after a slight delay, which IBM attributed to the need to align with the launch of the new Power S1112 entry-level server. These updates, set to go live on Friday, bring a host of enhancements across various aspects of the operating system.
The delay in announcing these refreshes was strategic, as IBM wanted to ensure that the new TRs included support for the newly unveiled Power S1112 server. This approach ensures that the operating system is fully compatible with the latest hardware, providing a seamless experience for users. The announcements were made on Wednesday, July 15, deviating from the traditional Tuesday release schedule.
Key Enhancements in IBM i 7.5 TR8 and 7.6 TR2
While the summer 2026 TRs do not introduce any groundbreaking capabilities, they offer a wide range of incremental enhancements that improve the These updates span across several key areas, including security, database capabilities, and development tools.
Security Upgrades
IBM has placed a strong emphasis on enhancing security in the latest TRs. One notable addition is the Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) capability, which is available in IBM i 7.6 TR2. This feature allows users to manage their encryption keys through IBM Cloud Key Protect a centralized cloud-based key management service. According to Tim Mullenbach IBM i security architect, BYOK is particularly beneficial for users running IBM i in the cloud who have compliance requirements for external key management. It also offers an option for on-premises use.
Another significant security enhancement is the support for OAuth 2.0 with the integrated Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) server. This capability, available across all OSes from IBM i 7.4 onwards, brings IBM i email up to current industry standards for email authentication. Mullenbach highlighted that this feature is crucial for compatibility with major email service providers like Google and Office 365.
IBM has also introduced a new SQL service that automatically polls the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) database. This service, known as the CVE_INFO function, provides users with a list of CVEs that could impact their specific IBM i release, along with detailed information about each vulnerability. Scott Forstie Db2 for i database architect, expressed his enthusiasm for this new feature, which leverages SQL functions and RESTful services to improve the understanding of CVEs on IBM i.
Database Improvements
The latest TRs bring several functional enhancements to Db2 for i along with the introduction of 17 new IBM i services across SYSTOOLS and QSYS2. Among these, the CREATE_DATA_JOURNAL_READER scalar function stands out. This function simplifies the process of understanding changes made to journaled database files by converting hexadecimal data into a readable format. Forstie demonstrated the utility of this function using an example of a file named ‘Toy Story library,’ showcasing how it can help users easily interpret data journal entries.
Access Client Solutions and Navigator for i
The latest version of Access Client Solutions (ACS) 1.1.9.13, is now shipping as part of the 2026 summer TRs. This update includes support for the SQL Error Logging Facility (SELF) within the Run SQL Scripts component, along with seven new SQL examples supporting SELF. Additionally, Forstie’s database team has added several security-related SQL examples to Run SQL Scripts, focusing on measuring the security posture of IBM i.
Navigator for i has also seen significant updates, with several new features such as BYOK, OAuth 2.0, and the CVE SQL service being integrated into the Navigator column. The GUIs for hundreds of Performance Data Investigator (PDI) charts have been overhauled, transitioning from the old Dojo framework to the Angular framework. This upgrade enhances the user experience by making it easier to understand the performance of IBM i servers over time. Users can now also view database output in a Jupyter notebook thanks to the support for the Code for i database extension within Navigator.
Migrate While Active Enhancements
Migrate While Active (MWA) introduced in, has received major improvements in this TR. MWA allows customers to continue running their IBM i workloads while migrating data to PowerVS. The product has expanded to support on-prem migrations and now includes support for external storage-based replication technologies like FlashCopy and Global Copy. Additionally, MWA now supports operating system upgrades, enabling customers to upgrade their IBM i OS as part of an MWA-based migration. These enhancements aim to simplify the migration process and improve the
Code for i Updates
The popular web-based development environment Code for i, has received over a dozen updates in the latest TR. These updates include support for SSH key passphrases a new context view, an improved schema browser in the database extension, and better support for RPG and CL. These enhancements reflect IBM’s ongoing commitment to improving the development tools available to IBM i users.
As the IBM i community begins to explore these new features, more in-depth analyses will follow in the coming weeks. In the meantime, users can review the IBM announcement materials for detailed information on the updates.
