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Abstract
This wiki page contains a description of the updates, enhancements, and improvements that have been made to IBM i Migrate While Active.
Content
This wiki page contains a description of the enhancements made to IBM i Migrate While Active by PTF Group level and year. Instead of listing individual PTFs, updates to Migrate While Active are denoted by the Db2 Mirror PTF Group level in which the enhancements are enabled.
Use the WRKPTFGRP (Work with PTF Groups) CL command or the QSYS2.GROUP_PTF_INFO view to list the current Db2 Mirror PTF Group level for your node:
SELECT CHAR(PTF_GROUP_NAME, 7) AS GRPPTF, PTF_GROUP_LEVEL
FROM QSYS2.GROUP_PTF_INFO
WHERE PTF_GROUP_NAME IN ('SF99961', 'SF99951', 'SF99668')
AND PTF_GROUP_STATUS = 'INSTALLED'
ORDER BY PTF_GROUP_LEVEL DESC LIMIT 1;For a complete list of Migrate While Active updates, enhancements, and improvements, see the What's new section within the IBM i Documentation for each corresponding release:
November 2025 update
| IBM i 7.6 PTF Group | IBM i 7.5 PTF Group | IBM i 7.4 PTF Group |
|---|---|---|
| SF99961 - Level 2 | SF99951 - Level 10 | SF99668 - Level 28 |
- [IBM i 7.5] A new method of migration is available: Migrating using partition mirroring. This method uses host-based storage replication technology to copy SYSBAS from the source node to the copy node. It has the advantage of avoiding the initial outage on the source node.
- [IBM i 7.5] Test mode is available during a migration using partition mirroring, which gives you the ability to evaluate and test the copy node before completing the migration.
- A new method of migration is available: Migrating using manual migration. This method allows a user to complete system migration using storage replication, save and restore, or a combination of both while Migrate While Active tracks changed objects. Some of the migration types contained within this new method have the advantage of minimizing the long outage required to perform a full system save that is required in the assisted save and restore method.
- Updated tracking and resynchronization process for Db2 Mirror replication-eligible library objects that allows for rename operations against libraries with tracked objects. Other existing restrictions on the renaming of library objects will still be enforced.
- Performance improvements:
- Parallel migration of integrated file system objects that have been modified on the source node since the initial system migration.
- Updated services:
- New SAVE_RESTORE_OVERHEAD_LIB result column added to QSYS2.MIGRATION_NETWORK_BANDWIDTH table function that returns the time required to perform a save and restore operation for a single library-based object.
- The QSYS2.ESTIMATE_FINAL_SYNCHRONIZATION_TIME table function has been enhanced to return a more accurate estimation of the time needed to migrate the remaining objects on the Migrate While Active tracking lists.
July 2025 update
| IBM i 7.6 PTF Group | IBM i 7.5 PTF Group | IBM i 7.4 PTF Group |
|---|---|---|
| -- | SF99951 - Level 9 | SF99668 - Level 27 |
- [IBM i 7.4] A new method of migration is available: Migrating using partition mirroring. This method uses host-based storage replication technology to copy SYSBAS from the source node to the copy node. It is an alternative to using the assisted save and restore method and has the advantage of avoiding the initial outage on the source node.
- [IBM i 7.4] Test mode is available during a migration using partition mirroring, which gives you the ability to evaluate and test the copy node before completing the migration.
April 2025 update
| IBM i 7.6 PTF Group | IBM i 7.5 PTF Group | IBM i 7.4 PTF Group |
|---|---|---|
| SF99961 - Level 1 | SF99951 - Level 8 | SF99668 - Level 26 |
- Significantly updated the Db2 Mirror GUI for IBM i Migrate While Active to give a clean, modern look consistent with other GUI's that are part of the IBM i family.
- SCP was replaced with RSYNC for the automatic transfer of install media and user data saved from the source node during system migration. The RSYNC utility allows for efficient transfer of larger datasets between the nodes and allows the transfer to be resumed if an interruption occurs.
Coordination with IBM is required to make use of the partial system save option for system migration of user data. Choosing this option means that during the system save, Migrate While Active avoids saving most Db2 Mirror replication-eligible objects. Instead, these objects are automatically migrated later during the data synchronization stage.
NOTE: To use this option, send an email to iessspt@us.ibm.com requesting the use of partial system save. The email will be answered by a member of IBM's Technology Expert Labs (formerly Lab Services).- Performance improvements:
- Synchronization of delete, move and rename operations for replication-eligible objects
December 2024 update
| IBM i 7.6 PTF Group | IBM i 7.5 PTF Group | IBM i 7.4 PTF Group |
|---|---|---|
| -- | SF99951 - Level 7 | SF99668 - Level 25 |
- The IBM i Migrate While Active product is introduced to provide a new method to migrate on-premises IBM i instances to IBM Power Virtual Server (PowerVS) and other cloud providers while providing continuous availability for IBM i workloads.
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Modified date:
20 November 2025
UID
ibm17230936