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IBM i 7.5 - TR6 Enhancements

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IBM i 7.5 - TR6 Software Enhancements

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You are in: IBM i Technology Updates > IBM i 7.5 - TR6 Enhancements
IBM i 7.5 -
Enhancements timed with
Technology Refresh 6 (TR6)
 Continuous i        

Note: The announcement materials for IBM i 7.5 TR6 can be found here.
The remainder of this landing page intends to make it easy to see the supporting detail for these enhancements.

 
Db2 for i Enhancements 
Note: The following Db2 for i enhancements are delivered by Db2 for i PTF Group SF99950 Level 9
image-20220207070838-1

Db2 for i - Database Engineer (DBE) enhancement

IBM i Services (new)

IBM i Services (enhanced)

Db2 for i - Services (new)

    Db2 for i - Services (enhanced)

    System Management 
    The Access Client Solutions and the new Web based Navigator continue to be enhanced as we strive to help the IBM i Administrator manage and update their IBM i systems.
    		 Navigator
      
    The following new features have been added to IBM Navigator as part of this delivery:
    • Angular & PrimeNG upgrade - update to handling columns for tables
    • Open in link in new tab support - tab names updated for each component launch
    • Web Administration migration
      • TLS Connections - Host Server port information and launch to wizard for host servers
      • Test TLS in the wizard to verify all host servers have correct certificates
        • image-20250319155052-6
      • DCM - TLS configuration wizard is new (under TLS Configuration > ADMIN3)
      • TLS Configuration > Deactive Unsecure Ports
        • Will also set Global TLS for system and turn on TLS for DCM by default
      • Application Servers now has all the data populated in each row for the server:
        • Subject Alternative Name verification - verifies hostname on certificate
        • Assigned Certificate information
        • Application Servers
    • Stop monitor server command has changed!  Refer to Monitor Stop and Start
    • New GUI Preferences panel for TLS Override and Localhost Override
      • TLS handling - Added "tlsOverride" option to preferences to override an user preferences for TLS.  This is a safety measure to allow easier non-TLS log in when certificate issues occur (expired, not updated, etc).  Will also require removal of any port restrictions (via 5250) that might be on.
      • Localhost override - For port forwarding and cloud environment.
    • Users - New function to disable a user profile across multiple systems
      • Actions > Disable on system
        • DISABLE ON SYSTEM
    • System > System Status
      • new Firmware card
        • Firmware
    • Network
      • SNTP Connection Status action is now supported
        • SNTP Connection Status
      • Alternative Subsystem Routing
        • Route by User
        • Route by IP - interface changes for Navigator
        • Added column for Number of Configured IPs
    • Performance Data Investigator (PDI)
      • Ability to view Incomplete collections
      • New Graph History charts for Job Count
        • Batch Jobs CPU Utilization - Number of Batch Jobs
          • image-20250319161813-2
        • Interactive Jobs CPU Utilization - Number of Interactive Jobs
          • image-20250319161830-3
    • Bookmarks - Improved handling for TLS
      • Added TLS column and port information
    For additional details see the IBM Navigator for i home page
    IBM i Access Client Solutions 
     
    IBM i Access Client Solutions (ACS) continues to be enhanced and updated to meet the needs of our system management folks for IBM i.  The new version for ACS is 1.1.9.8.
    The following new enhancements have been delivered in this new version
     
    General
    • Keep ACS host server connections from being disconnected due to inactivity
    • Launch ACS showing System Groups when that was the last active view

    Data Transfer

    • Added the "Update existing file" option to the Details panel for Data Transfer downloads to an existing xls or xlsx workbook.  This option will update an existing sheet or add additional sheets without changing the existing data or formatting in the workbook.
    • Added parameters to the cldownload command-line plugin for specifying the sheet, row, and column. An update parameter was also added so the existing data and formatting would not be changed.
    •  Support for the BOOLEAN SQL data type

    Run SQL Scripts

    • Support for viewing contents of binary result columns (BLOB, BINARY, VARBINARY)
      • View BLOB Data
    • Support for viewing formatted JSON data
      • JSON Data
    •  New Preference added on the General tab for bypassing the "Save As" menu
      • SAVE AS
    •  New Preference added on Results tab to format numeric values based on locale.  This is also available on the Results context menu as "Format Numeric Values"
      • Format Data
    • Improved behavior for the Toggle Comments action.
    •  Additional Insert from Examples.

    SQL Performance Center

    • Additional filtering on Index Advisor
      • Index Advice Filtering
    • Additional filtering on Active Query Info
    • Individual column values can be copied from Plan Cache Statements by using the "Copy Column" option on the context menu.
    • Added the "Condense Advised Indexes" option to the Index Advisor button
      • Condensed Index Advice

    Visual Explain

    • Added an action to view indexes considered during optimization (available on each table and the entire plan)
      • Considered Indexes on Visual Explain
    •   The indexes considered will have a reason code and description of why it was or was not used
      • Visual Explain Reason Code

    IFS

    • A new Duplicate action for files and folders

    Key Management

    • A new option "Open Java default" under menu "Key Database File" makes it easier to view the Certificate Authorities (CAs) in the installed Java truststore and to optionally push them to a Windows environment making them available to the optional ACS Windows Application Package.

    Additional updates can be found on the IBM i Access Client Solutions page
     

     
    IBM PowerHA® SystemMirror® for i (5770-HAS)
    		 Power HA

    IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for IBM i 7.5 with HA version 5.7.3
    IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for IBM i 7.5 with HA version 5.7.3 continues to add strategic integrations with the IBM Power Virtual Server offering. Previously, PowerHA for i was available in PowerVS when utilizing technologies such as Global Replication Services (GRS) and storage agnostic technologies including Geographic Mirroring.
    With HA 5.7.3, PowerHA has introduced support for integrating several IASP-based replication and switching technologies to Power Virtual Server including IASP Volume (LUN-Level) Switching and IASP-based FlashCopy.
    IASP Volume (LUN-Level) Switching
    Volume switching provides the capability to switch a set of volumes between systems. This technology is used between two IBM i cluster nodes that reside within the same Power Virtual Server workspace (data center) and is often combined with technologies such as GRS to enable local HA within a data center along with replication to a remote location with GRS to provide protection against outages of a data center.
    IASP FlashCopy
    PowerHA now brings the ability to take a FlashCopy of an independent ASP in Power Virtual Server, simplifying the ability to offload backups or testing to another node. The FlashCopy integration comes with similar built-in automation and integration that on-premise FlashCopy contains including the ability to combine it with either GRS or Geographic Mirroring technologies for both cloud and hybrid-cloud environments.
    Additional Enhancements
    There are several other enhancements to PowerHA. For more information on these enhancements and to get started, see the IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i documentation page.
    IBM Backup, Recovery and Media Services for i (BRMS) (5770-BR2)

    Backup, Recovery and Media Services for i (BRMS)

    • BRMS Web Interface enhancements which allow monitoring of BRMS control group attributes and backup lists from the web browser.

    These and other enhancements are described in the Enhancements to BRMS landing page.

     
    IBM Db2 Mirror for i
    The IBM i continuous availability solution. Lets take down time to near zero...
    		 Db2 Mirror for i

    The GUI interface for Db2 Mirror has been refreshed to better align with the expectations of a modern user interface. 

    • Db2 Mirror
    Enhancement detail for IBM Db2 Mirror for i can be found here.

    IBM i Migrate While Active

    Enhancement detail for IBM i Migrate While Active can be found here.

    IBM Rational Developer for i  
    (5733-RDW or Passport Advantage - D0C5FLL/D07RQZX
    IBM i Eclipse based full feature IDE 
    		 RDi

    IBM Rational Developer for i (RDi) continues its commitment to developer productivity and ease of use by updating its core components. The RDi 9.8.0.4 has been enhanced as follows:

    • Access Client Solutions updated to version 1.1.9.7
    • IBM Java updated to version 11.0.25+9
    • Security updates

    These and other enhancements are described in the IBM Rational Developer for i Hub and RDi Latest Fixes landing page.


    IBM Rational Development Studio for i (5770-WDS) 
    Continual improvements to Modern RPG 
    		 Modern RPG
     

    IBM Rational Developer Studio continues to respond to the requirements from the user community to meet the needs of our RPG applications. The following new features have been added:

    • New compile-time error/warning option for 2-digit year dates
    • New built-in functions: %HIVAL (highest value) and %LOVAL (lowest value)
    • Support for the %PROC built-in function in the ON-EXIT section of procedures.

    These and other enhancements are described in the RPG Cafe landing page.



     
    VsCode - Code for i 
    The Code for i project continues to move forward providing the IBM i developers the latest and greatest tools to develop IBM i applications 
    		 Code for i
     
    As 7.5 TR6 releases, Code for IBM i 3.0.0 will be released around the same time. Both IBM and the open-source community have worked hard at delivering bug fixes and new features for this release. 
     
    Code for IBM i
    • 3.0.0 is being released with new stability enhancements
    • Compiling source members (DDS for example) from a git repository is automated
    • Solved a majority of CCSID issues for EU and JP IBM i systems
    • Debug integration will be smoother as VS Code will not longer manage the Debug Service. Navigator will be handling the management of the certificates for the debug service allowing for a smooth experience after 3.0.0.
    Db2 for IBM i
    • Real time SQL syntax checker
    • The ability to edit table data in the result set view
    • Run All/Selected/From statements, with 'stop' support
    RPGLE in VS Code
    • Enhanced support for fixed-format/mixed-format ILE RPGLE
      • Ability to see references through large code bases for fixed-format code
    • Workspace Symbols support: The ability to find all export procedures/functions in the working library through VS Code
    • Go to implementation support: Go to the export procedure implementation for export procedures/functions
    Source Orbit
    • Support for the QSYS file system internally: we can now support sources inside the traditional file system
    • Improved support for fixed-format and mixed-format RPGLE - we are working towards field level information throughout your codebase
    Additional details can be found at the Code for i GitHub docs
     
    IBM Content Manager OnDemand for i (5770-RD1)  
    IBM Content Manager OnDemand automatically captures and stores documents and offers powerful search and retrieval options
    		 Content on Demand
     

    IBM Content Manager OnDemand for i (CMOD) delivers significant functional enhancements in IBM I 7.5 TR6, including support for command modifications, and IBM Navigator for i – Content Manager OnDemand for i component improvements.

    Key Enhancements in IBM Content Manager OnDemand for i  include:

    Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):

    • IBM i multi-factor authentication is now supported for both the OnDemand Client and OnDemand Administrator client applications.

    Enhanced Commands:

    • The default value for the Database files CCSID (DBFCCSID) parameter of the Create Instance (CRTINSTOND) command has changed from locale to UTF-8
    • The SSL application name (SSLAPPL) parameter of the Create Instance (CRTINSTOND) command can be specified when creating an instance; however, the SSL key file (SSLKEYF) parameter can no longer be specified
    • A new *DIR3 parameter value is allowed for the Type (TYPE) parameter of the Start Monitor (STRMONOND) command to process stream files with the following extensions: .afp, .lin, .line, .txt, and .pdf
    • A new Stash file (STASHFILE) parameter has been added to the Remove Report (RMVRPTOND), Retrieve Document (RTVDOCOND), and Query Document (QRYDOCOND) commands.
    • On the Start Monitor (STRMONOND) command, the default Check interval (CHKITV) parameter value is reduced from 90 seconds to 30 seconds. The Job name (JOB) parameter is deprecated; use the Job name (JOBNAME) parameter instead
    • New parameter values are allowed for the Application group name (APPGRP) and Application name (APP) parameters of the Add Report (ADDRPTOND) command
    • A new Job name (JOBNAME) parameter is available on all Content Manager OnDemand for i commands that have a Submit to batch (SBMJOB) parameter. The default job name for some submitted commands has changed
    • Additional command enhancements have been implemented to multiple commands, improving usability and system administration

    These command enhancements are also available through PTFs for CMOD for i versions 7.4 and 7.5.

    Enhanced IBM Navigator for i – Content Manager OnDemand for i component functions:

    • A new output queue and directory monitor jobs page is available, including monitor status
    • New fields have been added for instances, including snippets of the ARS.CFG and ARS.INI configuration files
    • Migration policy levels now indicate whether data exists at the level
    • More field values are validated as they are being set and before the request is sent to the server, which avoids having to enter all fields again after an invalid request
    • Optical volumes associated with an optical storage group can be listed directly from the optical storage group list

    These command enhancements are also available through PTFs for CMOD for i versions 7.4 and 7.5.

    Additional Enhancements:

    • Instance startup speed is significantly improved by making automatic ARSSUPPORT data collection asynchronous
    • The Network File System (NFS) mount process is enhanced to be faster and more configurable

    These command enhancements are also available through PTFs for CMOD for i versions 7.4 and 7.5.

    These and other enhancements are described in the Content Manager OnDemand for i  "Read This First" document. 

     

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    Document Information

    Modified date:
    08 April 2025

    UID

    ibm17181272

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