Notification
Risk classification
Informational
Subcategories for Informational notifications
Product Lifecycle Information
Affected Domain
Abstract
- Minimum code level for 3948-VED and 3957-VED updated to R5.4 PGA2 (8.54.2.17).
- Recommended "go to" code level for 3957-VED, 3948-VED and 3948-VEF updated to R6.0 GA (8.60.0.115) or R6.0 PGA0 (8.60.0.116).
- On July 6th 2026, 3948-VED and 3957-VED minimum Level will be updated to R6.0 GA (8.60.0.115) or R6.0 PGA0 - (8.60.0.116).
Description
| Model | Minimum Level | Recommended "go to" Level | Latest Level |
|---|---|---|---|
TS7780 (3948-VEF) | R6.1 GA - 8.61.0.60 (Sep 2025) | ||
TS7770 (3948-VED) | R5.4 PGA2 - 8.54.2.17 (Mar 2025) | ||
TS7770 (3957-VED)* | R5.4 PGA2 - 8.54.2.17 (Mar 2025) |
* Existing TS7770 (3957-VED) need to be upgraded to 128GB of memory (FC 3479, 64GB DDR 4 memory upgrade for P9 based VED), whereas TS7770 (3948-VED) offer 128GB memory by default.
** Code level R6.0 PGA0 - 8.60.0.116 has been released to address a compatibility issue on a critical server component that affects 3948-VEF machines shipped after September 29th. For more details refer to: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7246605
Note: For systems running R5.2 or above, support for copy export recovery has been restricted to R4.1 Phase 2 and above. Therefore, volumes created through copy export with older code level can't be restored on a system with R5.2 code level or above. See field information for further details.
Note: TS1150 and TS1160 tape drives only support JC media and above. Therefore, copy export volumes written on JA/JB media cannot be read for copy export recovery with these newer tape drive generations.
Note: Neither fixes nor root cause analysis will be provided for code level below minimum code.
Update TS7700 to appropriate minimum, recommended or latest level as applicable, preferably leveraging Remote Code Load https://tape.ibmrcl.enterpriseappointments.com/v2/.
.
Major Code Release specific recommendation and code upgrade path details:
| Model | Major Release | Minimum Level | Release specific Recommended Level | Latest Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
TS7780 (3948-VEF) | R6.1 | R6.1 GA - 8.61.0.60 (Sep 2025) | R6.1 GA - 8.61.0.60 (Sep 2025) | R6.1 GA - 8.61.0.60 (Sep 2025) |
| R6.0 | R6.0 GA - 8.60.0.116 (Sep 2025) | |||
TS7770 (3948-VED) | R6.1 | R6.1 GA - 8.61.0.60 (Sep 2025) | R6.1 GA - 8.61.0.60 (Sep 2025) | R6.1 GA - 8.61.0.60 (Sep 2025) |
| R6.0 | R6.0 GA - 8.60.0.115 (Dec 2024) or | R6.0 GA - 8.60.0.115 (Dec 2024) or | R6.0 GA - 8.60.0.116 (Sep 2025) | |
R5.4 | R5.4 PGA2 - 8.54.2.17 (Mar 2025) | |||
TS7770 (3957-VED) | R6.1 | R6.1 GA - 8.61.0.60 (Sep 2025) | R6.1 GA - 8.61.0.60 (Sep 2025) | R6.1 GA - 8.61.0.60 (Sep 2025) |
| R6.0 | R6.0 GA - 8.60.0.115 (Dec 2024) or | R6.0 GA - 8.60.0.115 (Dec 2024) or | R6.0 GA - 8.60.0.116 (Sep 2025) | |
| R5.4 | R5.4 PGA2 - 8.54.2.17 (Mar 2025) | R5.4 PGA2 - 8.54.2.17 (Mar 2025) | R5.4 PGA2 - 8.54.2.17 (Mar 2025) | |
| R5.3 | R5.3 GA and R5.3 PGA1 move to recommended code level R5.4 PGA2 * | |||
R5.2 | R5.2 Phase 2 move to recommended code level R5.4 PGA2 * | |||
R5.2 Phase 1 PGA2 move to recommended code level R5.4 PGA2 * | ||||
.
Notes:
* Neither fixes nor root cause analysis will be provided for code level below minimum code.
To upgrade a TS7770 with microcode levels R5.0 to R5.4, the system must first be upgraded to R5.2.
To upgrade a TS7770 with microcode levels R5.1 to R5.4, the system must first be upgraded to R5.2 or R5.3.
To upgrade a TS7770 with microcode levels R5.2 or older to R6.0, the system must first be upgraded to R5.3 or R5.4.
To upgrade a TS7770 with microcode levels R5.3 to R6.1, the system must first be upgraded to R5.4 or R6.0.
TS7700 Recommended vtd_exec Matrix: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6416101
TSSC / IMC / TS3000 Code Update Recommendation: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6334617
TS4500 Code Update Recommendation: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/697693
IBM has tested compatibility of TS7700 with z114, z14, z15, z16 and z17.
Historical Information
| Model | Minimum Level | Recommended "go to" Level | Latest Level |
|---|---|---|---|
TS7760 (3957-VEC) End of service | R5.2 Phase 1 PGA2 - 8.52.102.13 (Sep 2022) | R5.2 Phase 1 PGA3 - 8.52.103.23 (Feb 2023) | R5.2 Phase 1 PGA3 - 8.52.103.23 (Feb 2023) |
| V07/VEB (R4.x) - compatible to upgrade to R4.x (32GB memory)** End of service | 8.41.200.113 (Apr 2018) | 8.41.201.4 (Dec 2018) | 8.42.2.12 (Oct 2019)*** |
| V07/VEB (R3.3) - not compatible to upgrade to R4.x (16GB memory)** End of service | 8.33.2.9 (Jan 2017) | 8.33.3.14 (May 2018) | 8.33.3.14 (May 2018) |
| V06/VEA (R2.1) End of service | 8.21.0.178 (Dec 2014)* | 8.21.0.178 (Dec 2014)* | 8.21.0.178 (Dec 2014)* |
V07/VEB customers running R3.3 or earlier code on older 4Gb/s FICON systems with 16GB of memory must upgrade their systems to 32GB of memory (Feature Code #3462 – 16GB Memory Upgrade) before upgrading their systems to R4.x, or upgrade to 8Gb/s FICON, which includes the memory upgrade.
Notes:
To upgrade a V07/VEB TS7700 with microcode levels R2.1 through R3.0 to R3.3, the system must first be upgraded to R3.2, and then to R3.3.
To upgrade a V07/VEB TS7700 with microcode levels R2.1 through R3.0 to R4.0, the system must first be upgraded to R3.2 and then to R4.0.
To upgrade a TS7700 with microcode levels R3.1 to R4.0, the system must first be upgraded to R3.2 or R3.3, and then R4.0.
To upgrade a V07/VEB TS7700 with microcode levels R2.1 or R3.0 to R4.1, the system must first be upgraded to R3.1 or R3.2, followed by an upgrade to R3.3 (two hops required), and then finally an upgrade to R4.1.
To upgrade a TS7700 with microcode levels R3.1 or R3.2 to R4.1, the system must first be upgraded to R3.3 and then to R4.1.
To upgrade a TS7700 with microcode levels R2.1 through R3.3 to R4.2, the system must first be upgraded to R4.0 and then to R4.2.
* A TPF-specific-exposure exists in R2.1 PGA7 - http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ssg1S1012222
** Code update considerations for TS7740/TS7720 - http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ssg1S1009599
*** Code update considerations for R4.2 - http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ibm10732663
Notes:
* Neither fixes nor root cause analysis will be provided for code level below minimum code.
To upgrade a TS7760 with microcode levels R4.0 to R5.0, the system must first be upgraded to R4.1 or R4.2.
To upgrade a TS7760 with microcode levels R4.0 to R5.1, the system must first be upgraded to R4.2.
To upgrade a TS7760 with microcode levels R4.1 to R5.1, the system must first be upgraded to R4.2 or R5.0.
To upgrade a TS7760 with microcode levels R4.x to R5.2, the system must first be upgraded to R5.0 or R5.1.
To upgrade a TS7770 with microcode levels R5.0 to R5.3, the system must first be upgraded to R5.1 or R5.2.
Note: As a reminder, End of Development (EoD) support was announced for TS7760, effective 31 December 2023, at which time no more code fixes will be provided.
https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/announcements/2023-hardware-maintenance-services-withdrawal
Recommended Action
Date first published
28 September 2020
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Document Information
Modified date:
13 January 2026
UID
ibm16334607